Original Paintings by Stacy Caldwell News

Welcome 2012!

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:04:32 CST

I am super excited for 2012. Mostly because I was mentally done with 2011 back in September. I don't know what it is about the start of this new year that seems much more significant this time. After all, it's just another day. I suppose there were things - obligations, revelations, complications - that more closely coincided with the end of 2011, and I am so glad to be moving on.

Jack and Lucy
11 x 14"
Oil on Canvas

Already I've made some exciting plans for this year. In fact I would have to say the plans I've made would rank in the very top most adventurous and meaningful things I've ever done for myself. Now that you're on the edge of your seat, try not to be disappointed when I tell you I signed up for a painting workshop. But this isn't just any workshop. Since there is a lot more I'd like to say about it, I'll save it for its own post later on!

Since the new year, I've done two small commissions and have two more small ones lined up. There are a few commissioned paintings from December that didn't get posted on this blog. But they can be viewed in the pet portraits gallery. And now that I'm thinking of it, I haven't even posted an update about the December show at the Candy Factory. Needless to say, I have some catching up to do in the blogging department.

Allow me to start catching up with this little challenge (above) that I finished up yesterday. Painting portraits of people, for me, is way more intimidating than painting animals. But this has been a good exercise, and I enjoyed the chance to venture out of my comfort zone.

This is an image of the initial sketch or underpainting. Below are the pictures the purchaser sent to me to use as references. As you can see, the photographs don't need to be perfect or exactly like the finished painting. I usually edit them on my computer, adjusting the contrast and sometimes editing out the color and working from black and white, especially in the beginning.

If I were working larger for this project, I would have made this the painting! I love this picture :)

Upcoming Show at The Candy Factory

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:55:20 CST

This Friday December 2nd, is the opening reception for a collaborative show that I've been honored to coordinate. Thanks to an invitation by The Candy Factory, this was an opportunity I simply could not pass up.

RSVP on Facebook

What it's about... "Everyday..."

The idea of finding and expressing the extraordinary in the ordinary is not a new theme. But for me, the idea has become more and more a part of my experience. This is how I'm learning to see the world in which I live. In fact, I can't even say I'm learning it... it's more as if it's happening whether I like it or not. Everywhere I look, there is a new visual image that needs to be captured, explored, devoured.

Who are these artists?

Every one of the artists involved in this show has a story to tell. Each one of them inspires me by their work, their artistic and professional paths, their sense of humor and their outlook on life. These are the kinds of people you want to be surrounded by in life.

The Candy Factory is located at 323 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.

Check out these amazing artists...

Kim Klabe Oil
Linda Billet Glass
Laura Keen Photography
Ralph Nardell Photography
Christine Goldbeck Acrylic/Photography
Elaine Brady Smith Mixed Media Collage
Jami McEvoy Photography
Dora Ficher Encaustic

Morning View

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:29:43 CDT

Having some fun here with a view many of us may be all too familiar with...

Morning View
36" x 24"
Oil on Board

Quite honestly, this painting kept me up last night. After a marathon session working on this yesterday, I ended up with what I could only call a disturbingly ugly painting. The colors were muddy and the whole thing looked like someone puked on my palette. Okay, maybe I exaggerate...

Today I added the tiles, brightened the yellow, added the blue, and I'd say something somewhere clicked a little better. I should sleep better tonight.

Scenes from Everyday

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:52:39 CDT

I've been working on some paintings for an upcoming show in December. More about that coming soon. For now, here's a painting from yesterday.

Donnerville Road Scape

24 x 24"

Oil on Board

I'm in love with the yellow. Don't be too surprised if it shows up more prominently in some upcoming work. I wish I could remember the name of the 19th century painter who loved yellow and included it as a focus point in almost every painting. I also love the red barn. This is actually the same bright red barn the appeared in the last painting, but from a much different perspective.

Timed Paintings

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:02:22 CDT

The first class I ever took with Bob Andriulli a few years ago, I remember him being all about painting fast. A student brought a painting in, one that looked as if she must have labored over it for weeks. Andriulli looked at it and said, okay, now do that painting again in 45 minutes.

This morning I decided to time my painting - one hour - and see what I could come up with.

Sheep Grazing 24 x 24" Oil on Board

Over the centuries there have been master painters who truly believed that a good painting must involve suffering. Others I've read about disagree. There is something to be said for time and labor and detail and realism in painting, but what attracts me personally to a painting is the one that looks as if the artist quickly laid down a few intelligent, strategic brush strokes, and voila, there's a crowded New York city street scape on a rainy day.