Verdant Venture Via Bicycle Size:  35.5 x 28 cm (14 x 11 in) Medium:  Acrylic Support:  Gessoboard Notes:  — I’m not a landscape painter. Even so, since I like my backgrounds to look interesting, I do, from time-to-time, have to paint landscapes. In order to do that well, that means actually painting them to exercise one’s painterly muscles. I found this reference image that required a lot of work doing trees. It also incorporated a small figure, which I like to add to landscape or architectural pieces if they aren’t already there, just so there is some enigmatic story that goes along with the picture. Being a storyteller, it’s little elements like that which make a work such as this eternally interesting to me. Why is he on the road? Where is he going / where is he coming from? Why is he on a bicycle? Is this someplace familiar? Is he pressed for time? And so forth and so on. This image and many other images by CJ Carter are ready for purchase in a variety of formats: prints, canvas prints, phone cases, and so much more. Help support this site and the artist by dropping by the store and getting gifts for yourself, for family, and friends.

Autumn Park Empty Seat Size:  30.5  x 30.5  cm (12 x 12 in) Medium:  Acrylic Support:  Gessobord Notes:  Cradled 3/4″ I’ve made it fairly common knowledge that I’m not the first to volunteer when it comes to landscapes. While I appreciate them in real life and when they are executed well in art, it’s just not something that I’m compelled to do for my own satisfaction. That said, unless you are determined to either do still lifes or portraits with indistinct backgrounds, landscapes will be a significant part of every painter’s work. I chose to do this painting because of the challenge that all of those autumn leaves presented. The range of colors and values despite the largely overcast day offered up something that never failed to demand I pay attention to what I was doing. I put in the seat because I love to at some enigmatic element to entice the viewer to come up with their own stories — whether drawn from real life or imagination. This image and many other images by CJ Carter are ready for purchase in a variety of formats: prints, canvas prints, phone cases, and so much more. Help support this site and the artist by dropping by the store and getting gifts for yourself, for family, and friends.

We Fear No Elephants Size:  40.5 x 51 cm (16 x 20 in) Medium:  Scratchboard Support:  Scratchbord Notes:  — I wanted to do one of the big cats in a pose that isn’t typical. Me being me, I also had in mind that I wanted the piece to tell a bit of a story. The sleeping lion was delightfully not typical. Studying him a bit, I realized that he seemed unconcerned that he was sleeping on his own. Then again…lion. Duh. But, I reasoned, what if he had a protector guarding him from one of the few animals that even lions don’t toy with (much) — elephants? Enter the sleeping mouse. Now the story was set. These unlikely companions have joined up so that neither has to fear an elephant disturbing their sleep. Here's a little bit of the scratch detail. Many images by CJ Carter are ready for purchase in a variety of formats: prints, canvas prints, phone cases, and so much more. Help support this site and the artist by dropping by the store and getting gifts for yourself, for family, and friends.

Arachne Reborn Size:  61 x 45.5 cm (24 x 18 in) Medium:  Acrylic Support:  Gessoboard Notes:  Airbrushed with stylized realism. Visualizing the climax of a myth. Arachne, the daughter of a renowned dyer, was known for her skill at weaving. She boasted that Athena herself couldn’t best her. Though warned, Arachne refused to acknowledge that at least some of her knowledge came from the goddess. Athena went in disguise to warn Arachne not to be so conceited and to not offend the gods. Arachne scoffed and wished that she could engage in a contest with Athena to prove her skill. Athena revealed herself and accepted. Athena wove a perfect scene of her victory over Poseidon which inspired the people of Athens to name their city for her. Arachne’s effort showed 21 depictions of the failings and transgressions of the gods. Even Athena agreed that Arachne’s work was immaculate. Whether for that or for the subject matter, Athena’s anger caused her to lash out at Arachne, destroying her loom and smiting her face. Refusing to bow to Athena (though some say it was due to realizing her folly), Arachne hanged herself. Out of pity, or perhaps spite, Athena transformed Arachne–the rope becoming spider silk. In this painting, Athena is looking at the result of her handiwork. Much of the painting is intentionally softly focused. Though the dominant image is that of Athena, I wanted the viewer’s gaze to always be drawn to Arachne. I also opted to not be overly beholden to the idea of realism for this piece in order to enhance the emotion–which, for Athena, can be interpreted as either lingering anger or pity/compassion. The dramatic lighting was chosen to further [...]

Akela Size:  28 x 35.5 cm (11 x 14 in) Medium:  Scratchboard Support:  Clayboard Notes:  Airbrushed acrylics provided the pigment for the scratch work. I was requested to do a wolf by a family member, so I did a wolf (yep…that’s about all the inspiration I need, sometimes). I chose to do an airbrush/scratchboard mix because that’s a natural for mammal and bird close-ups. Plus, I enjoy it because it allows me to do both of the techniques I like doing. This image and many other images by CJ Carter are ready for purchase in a variety of formats: prints, canvas prints, phone cases, and so much more. Help support this site and the artist by dropping by the store and getting gifts for yourself, for family, and friends.

Painted Turtle Size:  40.5 x 30.5 cm (16 x 12 in) Medium:  Acrylic Support:  Gessoboard Notes:  Airbrushed When my father was ill, I needed to do a simple little something to take a break every once and a while. I can’t say that I progressed very far. This is the state it stayed in for quite a while: When I was able to devote my full attention to this piece, I went at it with gusto, no longer content to do this as an exercise. Why a turtle? Having gone to the University of Maryland, whose mascot is the terrapin, turtles will forever loom large in my life. More than that, at the time I wanted to take a step away from mammals and try a reptile. When I found this reference image, I knew that it would be a great subject. This image and many other images by CJ Carter are ready for purchase in a variety of formats: prints, canvas prints, phone cases, and so much more. Help support this site and the artist by dropping by the store and getting gifts for yourself, for family, and friends.