Weathering Storms

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A rain painting in progress.

When I was a child a rainstorm was an event. My mother and I would stand in the doorway, watching the New Mexico desert transform. I’d breathe that earthy perfume and watch as the water collected, miraculously, into shiny pools.

I never lost that feeling of rain as transformative and when I moved to Seattle the rain eventually became part of my painting practice. Acrylic paint uniquely lends itself to this rain collaboration. The pigment dries quickly, acting as a ground for drops and rivulets to leave their mark. The planned and accidental merge to form a beautiful juxtaposition of human exertion and the simple, natural process of water falling to earth.

The world in which we live can be noisy, jarring, overwhelming. These works are, for me, sacred. They are a shelter from that constant storm. A quiet place to hide and listen to the rain.

Women United

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I was delighted to be informed that I got into the Spring issue of the international arts magazine Women United. The caliber of the work from around the globe is truly thought provoking and inspiring. Thank you to all who labor to promote women in the arts. It’s an exciting time to be a creative.

An American in Portugal

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Works on paper created in Portugal.

In January of this new year, I was offered a short residency on some property in rural Portugal owned by the lovely folks at Welcome Road Winery. I packed my bags and stowed 3 tubes of paint – red, yellow, and blue (these can make all the colors of the rainbow).

Once I landed in Lisbon I found an art supply store and with in my tortured Portuguese I asked for paper and tape. Luckily, the very friendly clerk was better at English and I found what I was able to buy some very good cold press watercolor paper.

The Portuguese weather was rainy with sun breaks so I was able to capture rain on the page and get some work accomplished outdoors on the gorgeous property. I incorporated the dark, loamy soil from the acreage in some of the works to inform the heart and soul of the place.

I’m looking forward to finding a venue to show these little gems in the coming year. For now I’m busy naming, matting and framing each piece. What a dream of an experience for any artist to be able to work in such a special place. Thank you to the award-winning Welcome Road Winery for their generosity and kindness.

First Friday in Camas, WA

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Attic Gallery in Camas, WA has a rich and illustrious history. The gallery was started in, of all things, the attic of Diana Faville’s home in 1973. Since then the gallery has grown into an institution in the arts community, with collectors world wide. I’ve enjoyed the gallery’s representation since 2020, and was asked if I’d host a solo show for First Friday in February. To round out the show I was paired with sculptor Anna Wiancko-Chasman. The work complemented each other well, as Anna and I both draw upon influences from the natural world.

The reception was a lot of fun and the gallery was filled with people coming and going, as the conversation and the wine flowed. I met some lovely people, talked art and listened to the jazz stylings of virtuoso guitarist John Stowell. What a great night. A big thank you to Maria, Diana and Tommer for their generosity and care on behalf of local artists. If you are in the Portland, Oregon area, check out this gem of a gallery!

Sculptor Anna Wiancko-Chasman and I soaking up First Friday in Camas.

A little gem in progress

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I started this painting a little more than four years ago. The background was painted, with falling rain used to create a nice, organic pattern. And that’s about as far as it got. I usually keep a number of paintings in progress and this poor little board was shuffled to the bottom of the pile over and over. Recently I was working on another small piece and I found this in the stack. It was brand new to me again and that gave me what I needed to get it to the finish line. Hope you enjoy the process.

Auction wine label commission to benefit Woodland Park Zoo

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Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo hosts a yearly fundraiser/celebration called Jungle Party. Welcome Road Winery kindly offered a unique wine for the occasion and the winning auction bidder requested a special wine label celebrating the life of Melati, Woodland Park Zoo’s curious and playful orangutan. I was lucky enough to be selected to create the label. Here’s how the label was created.

The Nature of Art

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More and more I find myself taking inspiration from natural processes, i.e. rain, snow, fire, etc. Finding new and innovative ways to organically use the machinations of the natural world seems to me a very harmonious and intuitive way to create. I’m excited to incorporate these elements into upcoming pieces and I invite you to join me on this journey. Find me on Instagram @deb_mccarroll for more video demonstrations, works currently in progress in the studio and more. Thanks for watching!

Playing With Fire

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Elemental fire spewing material, forming red hot molten beads like a mini eruption. Watching as the surface melts and turns to ash. It’s just another nice tool for creating texture and color. I’ve used rain as a texture and pattern tool so it’s a natural evolution to utilize fire as well. The problem is how to control the heat, the timing and the result. Gun powder (or black powder) is the answer. It burns fast and hot, the placement can be controlled and it’s relatively easy to make. I’m still refining the recipe but I’m happy with the results so far. I want to get it volatile and hot enough to be able to have it actually burn in the rain. I think the results could be pretty exciting. Stay tuned, viewers. I hope to have updates soon!

That Figures.

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Icarus Lives 40″ x 40″ x 1.5″ (102cm x 102cm x 4cm) – Acrylic with gold leaf under selective gloss/matte varnish on stretched canvas.

I’m pleased to tell you that my painting (Icarus Lives 40″ x 40″), has placed in the Light Space and Time ‘Figurative competition. The gallery received 623 entries from 27 different countries around the world. I placed in Special Merit – Paint & Other Media. There’s some really lovely and compelling work and I encourage you to peruse. Special shout out to dancer Savannah Fuentes for the inspiration and poses.

Now that’s deep…

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I’m always striving to bring complexity and depth to my work. I want to give viewers everything I can in a painting, so years ago I began to experiment with surface treatments to add a little more depth and richness to a work as a whole.

Light is inconstant and transitional. A painting is ever-changing in color and mood at different times of day and with various light sources so I wanted to be able to use this phenomenon to, literally add another layer to the viewing experience.

In contrasting varnish types, a painting can almost vibrate with energy in certain light or appear placid and peaceful from another angle or in evening, versus morning light.

At exhibitions of my work I love seeing people move around a painting, bobbing up and down to read a ghosted word or see blocks and strips of surface appear and fade. Strangers discuss the work. They smile and study the piece, nodding and pointing. To me, this is what art is. A human interaction, causing communication and introspection. It makes the creation of a painting an exciting prospect and I hope it encourages people to dive deep with a full, personal experience.