Carolyn Gabbe|Artist

Portraits

My muse, Sophie, early in the morning as a young child. She rose before anyone else in the house. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice me observing her. I wonder what world has dawned for beloved children and their children. Oil on wood, 24"x36", $4,250.

I was really intrigued by the contrast of the model's passivity and the power of the scene behind her. What are we attending to? Are we paying attention to the right things, the right opportunities? Do we know our own power? Oil on canvas, 24"x18". $2,750

To test Sophie's metal as a model, I drapped her head in this infinity scarf and painted her, alla prima. I liked the split of light and shadow, for what else are the teen years? I also noted how ambiguous her ethnicity became. We are all so similar while so unique. She was fantastic. What a brave teen to let someone sit and study so closely. Fierce. Oil on canvas, 12"x10". $1,100.

After a day of plein air painting with fellow artist Kayti Didrickson, we ended up at the home of artist friends on Chewonki Creek. The light on the marshes before the coming deluge was fantastic. I though how vulnerable those marshes are, how fragile and how strong Kayti looked in front of them. It's up to us to save them. Be fierce. Oil linen, 14'x11" SOLD


Oil on linen, 20" x 10" $2,400.

Sophie, the subject of this painting, was staying with us for several of the early weeks of the shutdown. She sat for me in the studio and the pose just happened. Her back turned to the books and lanterns, she was engrossed in her phone finding all sources of illumination there rather than around her. It seemed the perfect image for where young people found themselves during this pandemic.

Joe used to sit on his porch with his dog. Every day. A fellow artist approached him to sit with us instead. He agreed. Fun, fascinating, challenging to paint. God bless you, Joe. And thank you. Oil on canvas, 30"x30", $1,600.

What a thing to realize that all that is needed to end much of our suffering is to make a change within us. To love ourselves, to embrace ourselves and choose joy in spite of everything. This is a psychological portrait of the model, an observation of her journey. 30" x 30" oil on linen $2,000