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My Visit to San Miguel de Allende

April 17, 2022 By Carol McIntyre

My visit to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, in March, brought me intense colors, wonderful food, old cobblestone streets, fascinating murals, rooftop restaurants at sunset, ancient cobble stone streets and much more.

International travel is one of my favorite ways to experience our world and open my eyes to new perspectives, cultures and life styles. In addition, it challenged me physically because San Miguel de Allende (SMA) is built on a hill and there is rarely a flat area larger than a block. Stairs are everywhere and the old streets and sidewalks require vigilance to avoid tripping. Despite this, I walked for miles. I can’t remember when I last walked 2-5 miles a day for 8 days (thanks to my Fitbit I know)!

visit to san miguel de allende

Why SMA? It was an art workshop that enticed me to Mexico. Last fall I had decided that I wanted to improve my ability to convey drama and to be more consistent with impactful compositions. When a workshop taught by an abstract painter entitled “Contrast and Composition,” crossed my email, I decided to sign up. I was also ready to travel after a long dry spell. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Art Travels & Preparations, Inner Artistic Journeys Tagged With: an artist's musings, Carol A. McIntyre, Colorado artist

How Do I Prevent a Train Wreck?

June 18, 2019 By Carol McIntyre

Have you ever tried to avoid a train wreck — not literally, but personally?

My body has been sending several unhappy messages these past few months and it’s time for me to acknowledge them. I am mentally exhausted; sleep isn’t what it used to be and there I days I wake up not wanting to do anything. I dread opening my email or trying to think of something creative to write for a blog post. These signs indicate that all is not well.

Instead of waiting for a train wreck to happen, which would force me to stop, I have decided that it is time for me to take a sabbatical. My tank is empty, and it needs to be re-charged. Writing, producing, printing, marketing and distributing my book I Just Want to Paint: Mixing the Colors You Want! has drained my reserves. I entered this book publishing journey not knowing the extent of the time, energy and money commitment required nor that it is like an elderly uncle who won’t leave.burnout, color mixing

The amount of information and experience I have taken in during the past two and half years has been like a graduate doctoral crash course. Not only do I need to take a step back to re-fuel, I think I would benefit from assessing everything that I have learned and accomplished.

Interestingly, about the time I started to think about taking a sabbatical, the World Health Organization stated that Burnout is Officially a Workplace Crisis. Its handbook International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems lists burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” It is characterized by three key factors: “feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy.” This announcement didn’t surprise me .

When I began taking stock of my emotional and physical state, I started journaling and asking myself some challenging questions, such as:

  • How did I get here?
  • How do I want to live the rest of my life (I am 68)?
  • What does joy mean to me? What brings me joy? Etc.

These questions lead me to several insights, the one that stood out the most is:

I was an artist who wrote, who became an author who paints. Ah! Time to switch back to the former.

No regrets as I love the quality and content of I Just Want to Paint! It is doing exactly what I intended it to do as stated by the many testimonials I have received such as this one from Ruth Jansson:

Carol McIntyre has done an extraordinary job taking a very complex subject and breaking it down to its simplest form, unravelling the mysteries of color mixing along the way.  Not only is this book very attractive, it is easy to follow and understand and is written in a wonderful conversational style rich with colorful graphics and photographs.

Whether you are a seasoned painter or a beginner, if you want a clear, concise, easy-to-understand explanation of how to mix the colors you want, this book belongs next to your palette.

Best of all, I found a renewed enthusiasm for painting. 

I love knowing that my book is helping to unleash the creative spirit.

Another positive aspect of I Just Want to Paint’s is that its evergreen content, which means I do not need to be the hare anymore. One of the challenges with taking a sabbatical will be to see if and how I will shut my book marketing engine down. As a person known for her persistence and high expectations, I suspect that throwing the throttle back might take some time. It will also require learning how to let go, even though it is temporary.

The good news is that I have lots of paint, yummy art materials and blank canvases to distract and re-direct me. Soon, I depart for my annual month-long stay at our remote mountain cabin, which is my sacred place.

Me in the cabin’s porch last summer hanging-out on the hammock

Fortunately, I Just Want to Paint! sales are going well. Most importantly, I have a fulfillment company that can take care of any sales that come in while I take a break.

I won’t be disappearing completely, though my appearance in your email box and online will be sporadic announcement of events and blogs as my muse moves me. At the time of this writing, I plan to take a two-month sabbatical, but is could be longer.

I do need to return to marketing my book, teaching and coaching, as I have over 1,000 books to get out into the world! Your assistance is welcome.

How might you help?

  • Continue to spread the word and tell your artists friends about I Just Want to Paint!
  • Ask your library to carry it.
  • Write an Amazon Review. Currently I have about ten and I need 25 or more to motivate the Amazon algorithm to give I Just Want to Paint! attention to people browsing the site. Please go to: https://amzn.to/2F4FWZ1 and scroll down a bit. On the left you can write, after you have logged in, how my book has impacted your painting and/or solved your color mixing problems.
  • Consider having me speak or teach at your art society or art center in 2020-21.
  • Jot down ideas for appropriate podcasts and other events and send them along to me.

Have you ever experienced burnout? What did you do? How did you recover?

With deep gratitude and appreciation, your support and understanding are cherished.

Colorfully yours,

Carol

color theory, book publishing, burnout

Filed Under: Inner Artistic Journeys Tagged With: an artist's musings, artistic process, Carol A. McIntyre, Creative Process

Invitation to Two June Art Events!

May 21, 2018 By Carol McIntyre

You are INVITED!

Friday, June 1st, First Friday Art Walk and

June 7 through July 2nd, Wine & Spirits Show

~~~~~~~~~~~~

#1. On Friday, June 1st, my new Colorado Springs downtown studio will be opened during First Friday Art Walk, from 5pm-8pm. If you are in the area, please stop in. Several other art venues in the neighborhood will be open during this art walk. There are many wonderful restaurants near-by.

Location:

Michael Garman Second Floor Studios,

2418 W. Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80904.

Entrance is in the middle of the block of Colbrunn Ct, just north of Colorado Avenue. Note: There is no available elevator to the 2nd floor. There are 22 stairs with two landings.

I am in Studio “T.” Each studio is identified by a letter and its own door color. Of course I had to paint mine purple.

studio opening, oil painting lesson, color theory, acrylic painting lesson

~~~~~~~~~~

#2. June 7 – July 2nd, Wine & Spirits Show, Creekside Winery in Evergreen, CO

Location:

Creekside Cellars Winery & Cafe
28036 Highway 74
Evergreen, Colorado 80439
Phone: 303-674-0222
http://www.creeksidecellars.net

The winery and restaurant hours of operation are:  7 days a week, 11:00am – 5:00pm. There will be no opening reception for this show.

I will be showcasing my wine and spirits paintings that will delight you in color and in concept. They just might make you smile. Several abstract paintings conveying color harmony and intrigue will also be on display. Here is my most recent painting, “Let It Pour!” 24″x18″ mixed media on board.

wine art, merlot wine,

Feel free to invite others by forwarding this post or sharing it on social media.

learn color theory

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: Carol A. McIntyre, Colorado artist

New Downtown Studio Opening May 4th

May 3, 2018 By Carol McIntyre

You are INVITED!

On Friday, May 4th, my new downtown studio is opening during First Friday Art Walk, from 5pm-8pm. If you are in the area, please stop in. Several other art venues in the neighborhood will be open during this art walk. There are several wonderful restaurants near-by.

This is the first time I will have my poured paintings available for sale.

Location:

Michael Garman Second Floor Studios

2418 W. Colorado Avenue

Colorado Springs, CO 80904.

Entrance is in the middle of the block of Colbrunn Ct, just north of Colorado Avenue. Note: There is no available elevator to the 2nd floor. There are 22 stairs with two landings.

I am in Studio “T.” Each studio is identified by a letter and its own door color. Of course I had to paint mine purple.

studio opening, oil painting lesson, color theory, acrylic painting lesson

The hallway view of Studio “T.”

PS If you want to come before the main door opens at 5pm, please call me at: 719-510-0006. I am sure I will be there from 3pm on.

studio opening, oil painting lesson, color theory, acrylic painting lesson

I had fun jazzing up the “T” for my door. I even poured some paint on it.

I look forward to seeing you Friday!

learn color theory, painting lesson, color wheel

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: abstract painting fused with realism, Carol A. McIntyre, Color Mixing, Colorado artist

How Do You Mix Pink?

December 13, 2017 By Carol McIntyre

Painters, how do you mix pink? I suspect you grab a red, add white and Voilà! Or watercolorists just add water. However, executing this color mixing approach does not always result in a satisfactory pink for a particular subject or painting. A more systematic method to mixing this seemingly simple color can be helpful.mix pink

Like every color, pink encompasses a full range of hues. Pink is a pastel color sitting in the light value range. This can be one reasons why it can be a challenge to mix.

How Do You Mix Pink?

When confronted with this question of “How do I mix pink?” as for any desired mixture, I start with identifying the base or source color. In this situation, the base color is a red. Next I start thinking about designing a color mixing chart I want to create. Since I am not matching a particular pink for a specific subject or abstract painting, a chart is a good way to discover what I might available when I want a pink. There are many options and I encourage you to be creative in making your color charts. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Color Mixing, Tips & Concepts Tagged With: Carol A. McIntyre, Color Mixing, Color Theory

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