#explorewithchriscarter

This image existed only in this moment. As the paint continues to move and dry, it changes. One night in 1976, when a student at Massachusetts College of Art, I hid on the top floor of the building where the painting studios were. The building was locked at 10 pm. I wanted to watch how my painting changed as it dried. It was stunningly beautiful in all of its transforming stages ... until it was totally dry at about 3am in the morning. I had mixed oil paint and water in an orb shape near the top of a large canvas. I alone witnessed the images that could only have been captured by photo or film, neither of which I had access to at the time. A great deal of art is temporary, perceived and witnessed only in the moments of creation. #chriscarterart #chriscarterartist #chriscarter #explorewithchriscarter #abstractartwork #transformationjourney #watercolourpainting #abstractwatercolor #abstractwatercolour https://www.instagram.com/p/CD7O6d4nsx5/?igshid=qa835nvp3h16

This week’s perpetual plant sketchbook entry - wax begonia in New Hampshire and anise hyssop in New Jersey #artistsoninstagram #chriscarterart #explorewithchriscarter #begonia #begoniasemperflorens #hyssop #anisehyssop #botanicalillustration #watercolor #watercolour (at New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzErZxkF5Oz/?igshid=wk22wxt296a3

Greyhounds rescued from the racetrack. #chriscarterart #explorewithchriscarter #greyhound #artistsoninstagram #art #watercolour #watercolor #paintings #dogs (at New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzXrKu8lUkB/?igshid=1wymo3ar393g2

Bringing together the diversity of my visual passions and my origin as a sculptress. #chriscarterart #chriscarterartist #explorewithchriscarter #chriscarter #naturaldyersofinstagram #textileartist #fabricart #fabricartist https://www.instagram.com/p/CIN-XenH5l2/?igshid=1lo5ywcl42x71

Getting closer to revealing the mystery painting ! This one is a major clue. The painting was presented to the recipient this morning so I am now free to show more revealing portions of the painting. #chriscarter #chriscarterartist #chriscarterart #explorewithchriscarter #oilpainter https://www.instagram.com/p/CHyL6LAHHxu/?igshid=56ouaprgjt2j

Current dye vat is Lac dye from the resin of insect Kerria lacca. I used a powder extract for this one. I love collecting leaves, blossoms , bark, etc. in spite of my passion for drawing insects, I don’t have any desire to collect bags full of them to grind up. I have several tied napkins sitting in the vat until morning. The dye is a bit fugitive. It’s gorgeous and I think it will remain gorgeous even as it fades. It’s more fuschia than red though it looks fire engine red in the photo. I used an enamel pot rather than a stainless steel pot for this vat. #chriscarter #chriscarterartist #explorewithchriscarter #naturaldye #naturaldyes #creativecolorist #lacdye (at Lebanon Township, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHwEjswneu7/?igshid=axxcj0p6k5bx

All three fabrics are from the same dye bath! Bottom: 24 hours in vat without final dip into iron mordant. Center: 12 hours in due bath followed by one minute dip into iron mordant followed by final rinse and short soak in citric acid solution. Top: 24 hours in dye bath followed by one minute dip in iron mordant. I wanted the top one to remain that gorgeous charcoal gray so I haven’t given it the bath in citric acid. I’m amazed that the citric acid erased the charcoal gray color that the one in the center had before the citric acid wash. I’m fascinated with the fluctuation of color that’s possible in one dye bath. #chriscarter #chriscarterart #explorewithchriscarter #naturaldyersofinstagram #creativecolor https://www.instagram.com/p/CHu1SI6nqQJ/?igshid=n1igfyx0gqod

Serving crab tonight for dinner, stewed in jasmine leaves, jasmine twigs,pomegranates, red cabbage, dandelion leaves, red onion and a touch of calcium carbonate. Should be quite delicious. #chriscarter #chriscarterartist #chriscarterartist #explorewithchriscarter #naturaldyes #naturaldyeing #naturaldyer #napkins #tiedyed https://www.instagram.com/p/CHslzefnpmd/?igshid=1o62thub5bph8