Thanks for understanding. I hope to be creating and sharing new art with you in the future.
Carolyn
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"Balance"
]]>My husband and I moved into a new house a year and a half ago. I LOVE to decorate and knew exactly what my first project would be.... a gallery wall over the couch in our family room. I knew I wanted to feature some of my photography and knew it had to include my favorite color.....teal!
My first step in creating the wall was to buy a gorgeous art print I had been eyeing on Etsy for YEARS. The painting I'm referring to is in the bottom left...a woman sitting by the sea in her bathing suit. This print, "Dark Seas" is by the amazing artist, Clare Elsaesser. I am sooo in love with her ocean-themed art. If swimming in the ocean is meaningful to you like it is to me, you need to check out her work.
I have a few favorite prints from Clare but this one spoke to me the most. I have rusty-red hair and so does the girl in this print. I also loved the darker blue-teal tones of the sea. Between those two things, I knew it was the perfect piece of art to build the wall around. Every time I admire this art wall in my home, I like to think it's me sitting by the ocean. :)
Once I had Clare's print, my goal was to match the lighter teal tones in the sky of her picture to some of my work. I wanted to include the ocean theme a bit so I figured my seascape print, "I Go to the Sea" would be perfect. (middle of wall) My vision for the wall was a minimal, modern style so I thought this simple ocean photograph was a good fit. To spread the teal color around the wall more, I added my water print, "Wash Over Me" in a smaller frame (bottom) and my nature print, "Ageless Night." (top right)
Once the teal was taken care of, my next goal was to spread some of that gorgeous coppery color in the girl's hair of Claire's print to other areas of the wall. I LOVE a warm, copper color along with teal....that combination is sooo beautiful together and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :) I decided on my nature prints, "Golden Rays," "Copper" and "Warmth" to bring that warm contrast to the wall. The copper colors looked so great against my pretty teal wall, yay!
Before we ever moved into our house I bought the 'happy place' sign from a quaint home decor shop in NJ. As soon as I spotted that, I knew I could include it in a future gallery wall....especially since the words are teal! I found the chevron print online, a quick downloadable purchase.
I hope my wall inspires you! I'm so thrilled with it....it was definitely worth all the effort and planning. When I'm washing the dishes in the kitchen, I often look over to admire it and realize this new house really IS my happy place. :) I plan on showing you more of our home in the future so stay tuned! I have most of the downstairs done....unfortunately the basement and second floor have white walls, no art, very plain....drives my color-craving eyes crazy! lol. Step by step!
Oh and for those of you who want to know more about my decor....
My wall color is Underseas by Sherwin Williams. (LOVE it) The pretty orange pillow is a cover I bought recently from the Etsy shop OliviasSmileDecor. I'm SO happy with that purchase. I snagged the geometric pillows from Kohls. The orange throw blanket on our ottoman is from Amazon here....it's so soft and is the perfect orange accent color I wanted for our family room.
If you're working on your own gallery wall and would like to include some of my art, visit my Fine Art Photography Shop for Prints & Canvases. If you have a question, feel free to contact me.
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]]>Meet my latest three photography sets below. I think the coming summer months is inspiring me.... I love being outside in the warm weather, walking in the grass, on the beach and feeling more connected to nature. I've included some notes below with each set so you can get a feel for my inspiration. Each grouping is available as Fine Art Prints or Canvases, simply click on a set below to view them in my shop.
Blue Beach Photography Art Set
The grass picture above inspired me to create this new coastal art set. I've always loved beach grass...I find it so calming just to sit and watch a warm summer breeze dance through grass on the dunes. Mmm...my version of paradise. I thought the light, almost perperiwinkle-blue color would contrast in such a pretty way with the glowing warmth of the grass.
Despite being known for my colorful beach photography, once in a while it's nice to tone things down a bit. I've been wanting to create a coastal grouping like this in neutral tones for a while now. Something that isn't totally black and white but not too colorful either. I love this new set in greyish tones...just what I was envisioning.
I love the color green and have a few groupings already in vibrant green tones. I've always felt though that my portfolio is missing a nature set with more subtle green hues. I'm so happy to finally offer this one. My favorite print in this set is the leaf image I'm displaying larger above the other two. I shot this picture in the indoor section of Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. I'm not exactly sure what this plant is but I found it in their cactus/succulent room. The curving graceful shapes and lines of the leaves really caught my eye.
Hope you enjoy the new sets! Please help me spread the word about my work by pinning the images here on your Pinterest boards. If you do, please leave the credit back to my blog intact. Thank you! I love what I do and want to share it with a wider audience so thank you!! :)
You can find me on Pinterest here. I started a new board dedicated to my work called, My Photography and Blog Posts. If you're a fan, please follow and repin my work. Thank you!
~ Carolyn
]]>My love of color and the beach continues.... This time around I thought it'd be fun to make a coastal color scheme inspired by my bestselling ocean print, "Summer's Dream." I've always loved the gorgeous turquoise waters of the caribbean. Decorating with this uplifting blue-green color is a great way to bring that salty, sea-air vibe into any space.
Just like most other beach-bums, I have a dream of one day owning my own house by the sea. I think I'd decorate my coastal oasis in these calming yet vibrant hues of blue. I picture white cabinets in the kitchen, light sandy-colored wood floors with that weathered, coastal look. Turquoise accents throughout in rugs, curtains and beachy accessories. It sure is fun for a gal to dream, right!?!
Feel free to share this color palette on Pinterest with your beach-loving friends. Please leave credit in the Pin's description back to my site. Thanks and happy dreaming!
~ Carolyn :)
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My favorite season of the year is definitely summer... I love to swim, relax on the beach and soak up the warm rays. When it comes to my favorite season for taking pics though, Spring can't be beat. I absolutely LOVE flowers and really enjoy capturing their beauty. Spending time in nature on a pretty Spring day surrounded by a rainbow of blossoming color fills me with so much joy. I love the feeling of renewal outside in Spring, especially after 'hibernating' in the house most of the winter.
For the past few years, I've been wanting to visit a well-known garden in Spring with my camera...Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. I finally made the trip last week with my mom who loves flowers as well. All I can say is WOW...what a gorgeous place. I walked around with my jaw hanging open the whole time in awe of the beauty surrounding me. The colors, wide variety of flowers and manicured gardens took my breath away. Here's just a glimpse of our trip to Longwood. I took a ton of pictures so stay tuned for more soon.
If you've never been to Longwood Gardens, I highly recommend it especially in tulip season. Be sure to bring your camera and a comfortable pair of walking shoes! It's a great place to enjoy nature as well as get a little exercise in. :)
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I love 'oohing and aahing' over coordinated decor boards like this on Pinterest. They're so helpful when you need some decorating inspiration. Even if you don't, they're just fun to look at especially when they have a coastal theme. (my fav!) I've included links below to the items here in case you'd like to do some clicking. Feel free to share this on Pinterest with credit & a link back to my site. Hope you enjoy! :)
1. "I Belong to the Sea" Ocean Photograph - Carolyn Cochrane
2. Arbor Mango Lamp - Caron's Beach House
3. Coastal Living Resort Nightstand - by Stanley Furniture, Wayfair
4. Angelico Large Recycled Glass Vase - IMAX Worldwide Home, Houzz
5. Moderna Moroccan Shag Area Rug - nuLOOM, Wayfair
6. Round Floral Clam Shell Mirror - Caron's Beach House
7. Beach Break Wall Decor Sign - Bella Coastal Decor
8. Aquatic Vase - Crate & Barrel
9. Nautica Seaward Ivory Cable Knit Pillow - Overstock
10. Pallet Wood Clock - by TerraFirma79, Etsy
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This past Autumn was gorgeous. I was pretty busy working inside during the season but when I ran out for an occasional errand, my jaw would drop over all the warm, glowing colors. As a nature-loving gal, I wasn't about to let the season pass without getting out there for a few days to capture the beauty.
I still have a ton of Fall pics to edit and show you but here are the first two new prints I've created, "Autumn Reflections" above and "Ever-Changing" below. I'm so happy with both of them, I love the color combinations. I hope you enjoy them as well! Both photographs are now available on my shop as a print or canvas.
I realize this is so late to be showing you Fall pictures but I figure it's better late than never. I was so swamped in the Fall and early December with my web site project I barely had any time for this fun stuff. Now that this new site is up and running, it's back to photo-fun! ~ Carolyn :)
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Time to reflect on 2015. It was a busy year for me, as I spent most of it developing my new web site....so glad that's finally accomplished. I thought it'd be fun to share with you my favorite new prints from this past year. I've included links to each photograph below for your reference.
I hope you enjoy this collage as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I'm really looking forward to creating new art for you in 2016...what the subjects will be remains to be seen. It's really exciting for me to start another year with my camera in hand...so many possibilities...the sky's the limit!
If you haven't already gotten a new calendar for yourself, I still have some 2016 Wall Calendars available in Nature or Beach themes.
Happy New Year friends! ~ Carolyn :)
Top left - "Dreamy"
Top middle - "Poolside"
Top right - "Immeasurable Dreams"
Middle left - "Taken by Teal"
Middle center - "Lifeguard #14"
Middle right - "First Bloom"
Bottom left - "Dance by the Light of the Moon"
Bottom middle - "Pink Zinnia"
Bottom right - "Fleeting Wonder"
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I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday. It means so much to me that you enjoy my work and that we connect through our mutual love of nature and art.
The image above captures the magic and wonder of my Christmas tree this year. My hope is that you will take time during this season to relax and enjoy the peace and beauty around you.
Along with the new look of my web site, I'm also incorporating a new theme for my work called, "The Beauty of Stillness." My purpose in sharing my art with you is to bring you moments of reflection and mindfulness.
Merry Christmas!
Carolyn :)
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Since I'm a lover of color, decorating AND photography, I love creating eye-catching color schemes inspired by my prints...it's so fun. With the holidays in the air, my print above, "The Christmas Spirit," is really speaking to me. I just decorated our house for Christmas in traditional red and green but I've been seeing some really pretty neutral holiday decor in the stores...pretty sparkly silvers, golds and creams. I'd love to decorate our house one year for Christmas in those light, calming colors but I just went on a bit of a shopping spree for my new red & green decor. :) I'll have to wait a few years I guess!
I hope this color scheme inspires your decorating for the holidays. The print above, "The Christmas Spirit," is available on my shop as a print or canvas. Get my FREE download, "Color Palette's to Inspire Your Decor," based on several of my best-selling prints.
Happy decorating!
Carolyn :)
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For the past couple years, I've had a dream...
To totally redo my website and open my own shop online where fans could purchase my prints and canvases. To step out of the "Etsy bubble" I've been in for the past four years and go for it... to reach a wider audience and spread the word about my work. I am beyond THRILLED to tell you my dream has finally come true!! :)
Welcome to the new CarolynCochrane.com! It's been six months in the making, a lot of hard work, fine tuning and late nights but I've finally arrived. Woohooo!! :)
Please have a look around! I have a new tagline to sum up my work, "The Beauty of Stillness." To get a better feel of why I chose this phrase, check out my new About Page. I also have a new logo which you can see at the top of the site. I wanted a very clean, minimal web site so my photography would really pop on the pages, I'm so happy and pleased with the result.
If you're a fan of my work on Etsy, no worries...my Etsy shop will stay open and I'll always be around to help there with any questions you may have. However, please know from now on I'll be adding all of my new work to this site instead of Etsy.
Here are some features of this new site...
I'm really looking forward to taking this next step with you, my wonderful fans! If you have friends that might enjoy my photography, please share my new site with them using the social media icons below this post. I can definitely use your help to spread the word. Thanks!!
I'll see you on my newly designed blog very soon! If you have any questions or comments about the new site, contact me here.
Carolyn :)
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I'm so excited to announce that my popular Wall Calendars are back for 2016! (Yay!) I can't believe it's time for calendar season already, this year has FLOWN by. Since all of you enjoyed my wall calendars from last year so much I decided to offer the same designs for next year. Why not, right?!
The top calendar above is my all-time best-selling calendar, "A Year of Nature", featuring 12 of my popular nature and floral photographs. Florals, leaves, branches and other serene nature subjects fill the pages of this calendar with pretty color that is sure to delight you, your family and friends all throughout the year. For a glance of each month, for more details about the calendar and to order, see the calendar on my shop at this link below:
"A Year of Nature" - 2016 Nature Wall Calendar
For all of my beach-loving fans, I'm offering up a year's worth of easy-breezy coastal calm with my calendar, "A Year by the Sea." Soothing oceanscapes are featured along with an assortment of my most popular beach photographs. You'll be reminiscing about happy, relaxed times spent by the sea, even in the coldest winter months. For a glance of each month, for more info about this calendar and to order, click the link below:
"A Year by the Sea" - 2016 Beach Wall Calendar
Keep yourself organized while enjoying my art and the beauty of nature all year long. I know some of you are loyal calendar fans of mine (thank you!) so be sure to grab one now since I have a limited supply each year. When you pick one up for yourself, don't forget your family and friends as well, my wall calendars make great gifts!
Thanks so much to all of you for your continued support, it means so much to me. The thought of you enjoying my art in your own personal spaces with family & friends brings me a TON of joy that words cannot fully express. :)
Carolyn
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A few days ago I woke up earlier than usual with a big to-do list on my mind for the day, knowing I had a lot of mundane tasks to accomplish. I looked out the window to see what kind of a day it was... the morning sun was hanging low in the sky and I noticed that everything in our yard was covered in a blanket of dew. When I see gorgeous light and dew outside, the photographer in me is ready to drop everything, grab my camera and go have some fun. I decided my to-do list would have to wait and headed down to our local park...
I walked over to some ordinary field grass wondering if there'd be anything pretty to shoot. Low and behold my jaw dropped to the ground... Thousands of little dew drops dangling from the grass were sparkling in the sun in the most magical way. What a spectacular sight! It looked angelic to me, almost as if the grass had been sprinkled with fairy dust. As I stood there shooting hundreds of pictures of this gorgeous scene, one thing kept coming to mind.... "This is one of the prettiest things I have ever taken pictures of, thank you God for this amazing moment."
When I'm outside taking pictures and am excited about what I'm capturing, life doesn't get any better for me. Those special moments where it's just me, my camera and the quiet beauty of nature fill me with so much peace and joy. It's so satisfying to be able to share these wonderful moments with you! :)
Carolyn
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Back in the spring of this year my husband and I took a trip to California. I'm strictly an East Coast gal and had never seen the Pacific Ocean before so this was a HUGE deal for me; especially since I'm such an ocean-lover. I could not wait to get out there and see the Pacific for the first time...and take a ton of pictures of it! :) Well, my mission was accomplished. We had a great time, it was GOR-GEOUS and I took thousands of pictures to capture all the beauty.
When the trip was over and we were back home, I looked through all the pics to reminisce a little and then "real-life" kicked in again. As I'm sure some of you have experienced in this digital age, most of the pics have been sitting on my hard drive untouched for the past several months. All that fun "daily life stuff" got in the way... work, cleaning the house, food shopping, paying bills, taking the dog for a walk, etc, etc...
Yesterday I was in a funk and figured to pull myself out of it I should look at my California trip pictures again. It worked! Don't you just love how you can look at your old vacation pics and feel like you took the entire trip over again? I love how photography can transport us, at least in our minds, right back to a time and place that was really special and beautiful.
My inspiration kicked in yesterday and these new coastal prints above are the result. Beautiful calming blues, the dreamy Pacific Ocean...ahhhh...I can just feel the stress from all those "fun" daily-life TO-DO lists melt away.
Since I was enjoying my new prints above so much yesterday, I also put a mock-up together of how they would look with another pic from my trip, the Lifeguard Stand photograph you see above. I have so many blank walls in our new house...Hmmm....might have to think about doing this somewhere. Then I would always be reminded of my awesome trip to the Pacific instead of the vacation just living unnoticed on my hard drive. :)
Since the pictures here are brand new, I haven't had a chance yet to add them to my shop. If you'd like to enjoy the photographs here in your space as prints or canvases, just let me know. My lifeguard stand photograph is available as a print or canvas on my shop here: Lifeguard #14 Print
Thanks for reading my beach-loving friends, I'll be talking to you soon!
Carolyn :)
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I'm so thrilled.... A customer of mine, Wendy, recently ordered my pavilion beach print shown above. She just sent me this snapshot yesterday of the picture framed in her daughter's bedroom. Besides creating art, this is the BEST part of what I do. I get so much joy and satisfaction seeing my art in people's homes. To hear from customers that they couldn't be happier with their artwork is music to my ears. Thank you so much for sharing this with me Wendy!
This particlular print is very special to me. I shot this beach pavilion in the town of Beach Haven on Long Beach Island, NJ. My grandparents had a house there for many, many years and lived right by this pavilion. My family and I have a ton of wonderful memories on the 5th street pavilion, the beach and in Beach Haven in general. I just recently added this print to my shop and since I'm sentimental over it, seeing Wendy's order come in made me so happy. :)
See this print on my shop here... "5th Street Pavilion"
Until next time,
Carolyn
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Now that I'm in the mood for Fall, I figured it was time to create a pretty Autumn moodboard to help inspire your seasonal decorating. (and mine!) This time my Fall nature print, "Autumn Days" served as my inspiration (seen at top left of board.)
As I mentioned in my last post, I just started decorating for Fall. I'm having a blast cozying up our new house for the season especially since the accent color in my decor scheme is orange. Due to my love of this welcoming hue, I'm like a moth to a flame running around to all my favorite home-decor & craft stores lately. So far I've picked up a new Autumn wreath for our front door, a pre-lit gourd and a sparkly tabletop pumpkin (see the gourd & pumpkin in my post below). Are you having fun decorating for Fall? Have you picked up any Autumn goodies for your home recently that you absolutely love?
Here's a list of links to the pretty Autumn items above in case you want to check them out. Happy decorating!
1. "Autumn Days," Fine Art Photograph by Carolyn Cochrane
2. Spiced Cake Candles, Pier1
3. "Welcome Autumn" Handpainted Wooden Sign by Vinyl Crafts on Etsy
4. Leaf Hurricane Candle Holders, Crate and Barrel
5. Harvest Plaid Table Runner, Pier1
6. Capiz Ombre Pumpkins, Pier1
7. Painted Pumpkin Patch Pillow Cover, Pottery Barn
8. Pumpkin Wreath, Kohls
9. Air Glazed Ceramic Harvest Phrase Pumpkins, Ellen Degeneres
10. Decorative Leaf Bowl, Kohls
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Despite not wanting to let go of the summer this year, I'm finally getting in the mood for Fall. The air is cooling off and I'm just starting to see a hint of leaves changing color on the trees which of course excites me as a photographer. The other thing that definitely helped inspire me for Autumn was a little shopping fun last weekend. Besides any shade of blue, my other favorite color is orange so I knew with all the Fall decor in the stores, I'd have a lot to oooh and aaah over. I hit Home Goods, Kirklands and Michaels...can life get any better for a gal who loves to decorate? :) I can never hit just one store, I have to make my rounds! lol As you can see from my pictures above, I came home with a couple new seasonal accessories that I am SO happy about.
The top picture is my new Pre-Lit Gourd from Michaels. Isn't it cute? I turn on the battery-operated light at night to bring our family room some cozy Fall ambiance. I wanted to link you to this cutie on Michaels web site but unfortunately I don't see it there. I noticed some similar pre-lit pumpkins on Kirlands web site here so I'll link you to those in case you'd like something similar for your home. The gourd from Michaels comes in two sizes...this size that I have and a taller one. They also have pre-lit pumpkins on the shelf next to these. I stood there in the isle for at least 15 minutes going back and forth between the pumpkin and the gourd, such decisions!
The second pic above is my new sparkly pumpkin from Kirklands, I love it! I love the orange color and the way the sequins catch the light in our sun-filled room during the day...so pretty. These were available in a few different colors but of course I had to snag the orange one. Unfortunately I don't see this pumpkin on the Kirklands website either. :( Not sure what the deal is with these sites...I guess sometimes you can find more in the store than online. If you want these cuties, I would just go to the stores to check it out...I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
I also picked up a pretty Autumn wreath from HomeGoods and another cute shiny pumpkin from Kirklands but I'll save those for another Fall post here.
I'm definitely not done making my rounds for Fall decor. We bought a new house last year and moved in in mid November. We were so busy unpacking and getting settled I had zero time to decorate so this Autumn season is very special to me! We're going to have the family over for Thanksgiving too so I've got to get this place looking good!
Posting this today is inspiring me to put together an Autumn moodboard for you which will include one of my Fall nature prints...stay tuned!
Carolyn :)
]]>In addition to my photography I also love decorating. I'm always coming up with ideas and coordinated looks for rooms & spaces in my mind. I think it's about time I share some of this with all of you instead of keeping my ideas to myself...why not spread the decor-love around, right?! I see style boards like this all the time online, I'm always oohing and aahing over them on Pinterest. If other people can do it, then I guess I can too! Of course for my first moodboard, I had to start with a coastal theme since I love shooting the beach and ocean so much. :)
The inspiration for this modern coastal look comes from my ocean print, "What Lies Over the Horizon," (seen above, top left). To kick my creative juices into high-gear, I first created a calming blue color scheme based on the ocean image which you can see directly below the print. I then hopped here and there online finding these stylish decor items that I felt would coordinate well with the color palette. I'm including a list of where you can find these pretty items below. Hope this inspires your beachy decorating projects a bit, let me know what you think in the comments!
1. "What Lies Over the Horizon" Ocean Print - Carolyn Cochrane
2. "No. 10 Sea Coral" - Watercolor print by Kelly Bermudez
3. Resin Seahorse Figurine - Urban Trends on WayFair
4. Shore White Cottage Mirror - Caron's Beach House
5. Sea Glass Bell Lamp in Light Blue - Caron's Beach House
6. Fallon Slate Blue Area Rug - by Jill Rosenwald Rugs
7. Distressed Beach Sign Wall Plaque - by Stupell Industries on Wayfair
8. Personalized Beach House Pillow - by CoverLove on Etsy
9. Coastal Shutter Bed - Pottery Barn
10. Concentric Coffee Table - Z Gallerie
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I have SO many flower pictures from this past spring that I still need to edit. Here's a new floral set that I recently finished in pretty purple and pink tones. If you've been following my work for a while you're probably not surprised to see more dogwoods, I LOVE them...my favorite blooming tree in spring. They're so poetic and romantic-looking to me.
I'm on Instagram now and having a blast there so far...let's connect! Follow me here on Instagram.
Carolyn :)
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Here's a brand new print I took a few days ago while enjoying some summer fun at the pool with my nephews. There is nothing more beautiful and calming to me than clear water sparkling in the sun... I couldn't stop looking at it as we were swimming!
I'm calling this new photograph, "Poolside." Hope this brings a bit of calm to your day! See this print on my shop here: "Poolside - Water Photography"
Carolyn :)
]]>Hey friends! As most of you know, I love creating art and expressing myself with color. I love combining colors, thinking of new color schemes to use in my prints and am fascinated with the way color can affect our mood... I'm a total color-holic! I haven't talked about this much yet on my blog but I also love to decorate and I know a lot of you do too!
To help inspire your decorating projects (and mine!), I'll be posting new coordinated color schemes inspired by my photography here on the blog on a regular basis. I hope you enjoy the palettes as much as I enjoy creating them! Use them as a jumping off point for your own creativity... for your decor projects, diy art projects or whenever else you need a beautiful, color-coordinated look!
This first color scheme above is based on my nature print, "Ivy." I LOVE the muted plum and green tones together...mmm...so modern and moody, isn't it? If I had't chosen blue for our new home, I would SO paint some of my accent walls this muted purple, then accent with green wall art with modern white frames and mats. How does this color scheme inspire you?
Feel free to share this color palette with your friends on Pinterest!
Wanna see more?...
To get my FREE Inspiring Color Schemes PDF, go here.
Until next time!
Carolyn :)
Even though I'm a color-holic when it comes to my art, once in a while I enjoy the challenge of creating a print in more neutral tones. This minimal flower image felt like the perfect canvas to experiment with...I'm definitely happy with the result. It's always fun as an artist to push yourself and not always go to that "comfort zone" place where things feel super-easy. (If you're familiar with my work, that comfort zone place for me would be my favorite color teal!) Looking at this new image makes me feel like I've stretched my creative wings a little bit further. :) Hope you enjoy this photo!
This new print is called, "Seeking Grace" and is available on my shop on the following page...
Beige Flower Photograph - "Seeking Grace"
Have a comment or question for me? I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to email me at carolyn @ carolyncochrane.com.
See you here next week,
Carolyn :)
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I was shopping in Target a couple weeks ago, the kind-of shopping that's pretty mundane and boring to me... shampoo, paper towels, dog bones, nothing fun. To make my trip more bearable I wandered over to the Home Decor section to see if they had anything new.
As I was thumbing through the wall canvases, I thought I saw something familiar... a bird on wire canvas looked eerily similar to one of my own bird-on-wire images. I picked it up and thought, "hey...my canvas has sparkly lights in the sky too." And then... "Wait a minute, I think my image has a few birds at the bottom with a lot of birds at the top. Are you serious?!?... this is MY IMAGE!!!!"
I couldn't believe what I was seeing...my own image, "Music Notes" as a canvas for sale in Target! I couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear! It was at that moment I remembered sending this image to my art publisher about a year and a half ago. My publisher told me back then that Target had some interest in it. It was so long ago though and I never heard anything more that I totally forgot about it.
What a TOTAL shock and absolutely THRILLING surprise!! I'm shopping for toilet paper one minute and spotting my own canvas in my local Target the next!! I immediately called my hubby and made him drive over to Target so he could take my picture with it. Of course irony won that day... when I left the house for my errands I said to him, "Boy, I hope I don't run into anyone I know, my hair looks bad and grey and I'm just throwing it back in an ugly pony tail." Ha! Little did I know I'd be getting my picture taken and would want to post this on the internet for all to see! Oh well. I'm too proud of this cool accomplishment to keep it to myself. :)
You might spot this canvas in your local Target too. If you do, let me know, I'd love to hear where it's spotted around the country!
To see "Music Notes" on my shop, click this link... Bird on Wire Photography - "Music Notes"
See ya here for a new post next week!
Carolyn :)
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Hola Friends! Today I'm sharing this photo from a quick trip my hubby and I took in the spring to sunny San Diego, California for a friend's wedding. The idea of going on this trip was a BIG deal for me... I'm strictly an East Coast gal and had never been to California or any other West Coast state before. I had never put my foot in Pacific ocean... The idea of seeing the coast on the other side of the country was THRILLING to me, especially since I love taking beach pics.
Let me tell ya... the California coast did not disappoint, it was GORGEOUS. What a difference in the landscape with the beautiful cliffs by the ocean, I'm so used to the New Jersey coast being flat. The Pacific ocean was sooo beautiful and a spectacular shade of blue that I couldn't stop staring at. As usual, I felt that wonderful calm and serenity the ocean brings me...aahhh. :) I really had a ball taking pictures of everything, sometimes things were so pretty there I felt like I was looking at a scene in a movie versus real life.
Each day of our trip was around 75 degrees and sunny with absolutely no humidity (definitely different than NJ in the summer!) The air smelled so clean and fresh, I kept taking these big deep breaths to take it all in. I can definitely see why people love the West Coast, every day is another chance to get outside and do something fun. Plus they have pretty palm trees...how cool is that! lol
We're back in NJ now and I'm enjoying our beautiful oceans and beaches this summer but I'm absolutely planning on more California vacations in the future. I seriously feel like I need to go out there for a couple months by myself so I can just drive up the Pacific Highway and shoot everything in sight. (That was awesome by the way, one of the best drives of my life!)
Carolyn :)
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I've had some great beach time already this summer, sitting back in my beach chair and soaking in the calming vibes of the ocean. What better way to spend the summer! The print I'm sharing here today is pretty appropriate, I call it "Time Off." I snapped this pic of these vacationers enjoying a beautiful day on the beach. They had the beach all to themselves on the morning I shot this. Even if you're busy with your work schedules or running around the house after your kids and can't get much of a break this summer for relaxing, I hope this print brings you a moment of peace!
Until next time,
Carolyn :)
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Hi Friends! I've designed two 5x7 photo calendars for 2014, one in a calming beach theme and one in a colorful nature theme. The calendars have 12 separate, unbound pages. Every month features a popular photograph from my shop. Once the month is over, cut the white month area off and frame the 5x5 print! Buy one for yourself or as a Christmas gift!
Each calendar is $28. This is a great buy since my regular price for one 5x5 print is $15!
Where Would I Use a Photo Calendar?
The calendars can be used anywhere...on your fridge, your desk, you can frame them or prop them on a small photo easel. You can also place them in plastic photo stands found in discount stores, craft or drug stores.
Hope you're all doing well and getting in the Christmas spirit!
Carolyn :)
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