Winter Bouquet

 

Winter Bouquet  oil 12x12 inches

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Taupe is an illusive color.  Not quite gray, not tan, not beige.  In this piece, my goal was a dominantly neutral painting.  I experimented with raw umber in my color mixes.  Better in person.  

NEWS FOR SUBSCRIBERS:  These emails with my new posts come to you via Feedburner.  I have just been informed by Feedburner that come July 1 this service will no longer be available.  I hope to copy my subscriber list and find/install a new service.  I hope I don't lose any of you in the process!  There is nothing subscribers need to do, but I wanted you to know what's up.   

Ginger Jar Mums

 

Ginger Jar Mums  oil 8x8  

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These mums came with the house.  All my pots of mums that come from the grocery store end up in a hidden corner of my backyard where they grow and bloom over and over again.  When we bought our house the previous "lady of the house" (boy, that's an old term!), planted her mums there also, so I have a nice variety.  The easiest flower to paint is a daisy type in my opinion.  They typically have a large circular center with one or two rows of petals coming out.  Sunflowers qualify also.  This type of flower can be painted simply which gives it a fresh, not overworked look.  I paint the center first, then the petals in shadow, followed by the petals in the light.  When the stems, leaves and vase are in I "cut in" around the flowers with the background color, This allows for some soft edges and irregularity of petal shape and placement.  Easy peasy!  And fresh.  

I have two spots open in my May 22-23 Workshop.  Email for more info: karenwernerart@gmail.com

Autumn Lillies

 

Autumn Lillies   12x9 oil 

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Of the Fall paintings, this is my favorite.  This photo is a little blurry.  If you buy this painting, I'm pretty sure you'll love how it looks in person. Even so, I always offer a money back guarantee for all my work purchased online.  You can read my Return Policy details by clicking the link above.  

Small Joys

 

Small Joys   oil 8x8 inches

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I very much enjoy painting on a square format.  This design in particular is typical of my work.  The eye moves around the painting. Nothing is smack dab in the center.  The weight of the vase and sunflower is balanced by the tangerine and foliage above.  Objects are unequal distances apart, and there is a variety of sizes and shapes.  I think about these things when I compose a still life.  I hope you like it!

Flowers & Grapes

 

Flowers & Grapes  oil 12x9 inches

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Here's a floral I did in November. I hope you like it. I love painting the colors of Fall,  but weather-wise, give me Spring and Summer!  Finally I have pole beans sprouting, bulbs blooming and California poppies popping with color.  I've been working on a large beach scene from a photo which is not my favorite way to work.  Can't wait to get out to paint!  If you celebrate Easter or Passover, I hope it's a happy and meaningful one with family and friends!  

IN OTHER NEWS: There are two openings in my May 22-23 Workshop.  Email me for more info:karenwernerart@gmail.com

Great news!  Recently Oil Painters of America invited me to write a post for their blog.  It published last Monday, March 29.  The title: STILL LIFE: More Than What You Might Think.  To read it, click here. 

The American Impressionist Society's National Juried Small Works Showcase has opened in Charleston, SC at Reinart Fine Art, and runs through April 30.  I am grateful to be included in the show with the piece below, Toast & Jam  12x12.  I'm not able to be there, so if you visit the show, please take a picture of my painting and email it to me!  Thank you!

Toast & Jam  oil 12x12

Tea By Candlelight

 

Tea By Candlelight  oil 9x12 inches

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One of the great benefits of art posted on social media is the way one artist can inspire other artists.  In November an artist I follow had painted a glowing candle.   Here's mine.  I especially enjoyed capturing the light glowing through the wax at the top of the candle.  That teacup is part of my wedding registry dishes from 47 years ago!  The floribunda roses are wide open, becoming a jumble of petals.   

Tootsies

 

Tootsies   oil 6x6 inches

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Leftover Halloween candy gladly posed for a portrait.  I dropped a big handful onto the table surface and with some minor adjustments, proceeded slowly.  In a complicated scene like this the trick is to slow way down and enjoy yourself.  The only ones I really love to eat are the fruity ones.  But as soon as I pop one in my mouth a little voice in my head says "bettter be careful, you could lose a crown."  Must be my dentist.  I painted more of them than I ate.  

Tea & Hydrangeas

 

Tea & Hydrangeas  oil 8x8 in.  

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This little 8x8 has a springy feel, though it was painted in November.  We have an atrium near our front door where hydrangeas thrive.  They grow as tall as 6 feet and produce pink blossoms.  A few years ago I learned that in the Pacific Northwest, where soil is more acidic, the same hydrangea will produce blue blossoms.  Interesting.  Tbis is my first attempt at painting their delicate blooms.  It turned out to be less difficult than I thought.  I like the the softness and the lost edge in the upper left.  

Eat Your Broccoli

 

Eat Your Broccoli   oil 10x10 inches

Purchase info here. 

The is the last of my Eat Your Veggies series.  I painted these last October, so basically I paint faster than I post on my blog!  If you would like to see what I'm currently painting on a regular basis, please follow me on Instagram.  Last week I spent the week planting a veggie garden.  We had wonderful warm sunshine, so I did some digging and tilling, and sowing of seeds and seedlings: tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, pole beans, zuccini, carrots, and cucumbers.  This week we have cold rain and even a bit of tiny hail yesterday.  Good for the garden!  In a rainstorm I thank God for being able to paint still life in my cozy studio.  What do you enjoy doing during a rainstorm?

IN OTHER NEWS:  I have opened two in person Paint The Lively Still Life workshops.  Dates: April 24-25 and May 22-23.  Beginner/Intermediate  6 MAX.  Location: Upland, CA.  Email me for more info/to register.  

Eat Your Corn

 

Eat Your Corn     oil 10x10 inches

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The second in my Eat Your Veggies series.  This one was so much fun!  My favorite part of this painting is the onion.  I buy the large sweet onions.  They have such pretty color and mild flavor. I enjoy the challenge of painting something intricate such as the kernels of corn in a way that suggests, rather than each kernel tightly perfect. Design-wise, this painting has a variety of sizes and shapes.  Many vegetables and fruits are round, so for good design I always try to include line: the edges of the white cloth, the green onion, and the corn cob.  This painting is ready to hang.  

Eat Your Carrots

Eat Your Carrots   oil 10x10 inches

Purchase info here. 

This painting is part of my short series titled "Eat Your Veggies."  One sold in the exhibit I painted them for.  There are three available for purchase.  The paintings are on cradled wood panel and framed.  I very much enjoyed the smooth surface.  My favorite part of this piece is the purple rubber band.  Does this make you want to eat some veggies, or make some vegetable soup? 

 

Lovely Radishes

 

Lovely Radishes  oil 6x6 

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I've painted radishes a few times, but I think this one is my all time favorite.  The green leaves wilt SO quickly that I painted them first, as fast and simply as I could.  Reflected light from the white cloth up onto the radishes gave them a soft, almost frosty look.  To me, there is a delicacy here that I don't often capture.  I hope someone will love it as much as I do.  

Autumn Pieces

 

Autumn Pieces   oil 9x12 inches

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Of the various pomegranate paintings I did last fall, this is my favorite. I enjoy putting a bit of debris, (like little fallen crumbs) in a botanical like this. Debris gives it a natural, not perfect look.  These are pomegranates from my backyard tree, but an apple from the grocery store.  Here in So Cal last winter was too warm for our apple tree,  It refuses to make apples unless it gets a certain number of cold days and nights.  This painting is so much better in person!   

The Season's First Poms

 

The Season's First Poms    oil 8x16

Vanessa Rothe Fine Art Gallery

About 3 years ago one of our avocado trees blew down in a windstorm.  A blessing in disguise, I now had room to plant a pomegranate tree.  These are the variety from which grenadine is made.  I won't be making any grenadine, but they have the color I want for painting.  I wish you could see this in person, because the deep reds in shadow don't photograph well.  There is no black in this painting!  You can see it in person at Vanessa Rothe Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA.  If you're interested in purchasing this custom framed work, call  949-280-1555.  She does ship.  

"Toast & Jam" Made The Cut!

 

Toast & Jam   oil 12x12 inches

Available through Reinert Fine Art, 

Charleston, SC April 1-30

I'm thrilled to announce that my backyard plein air piece has been juried into the American Impressionist Society's 5th Annual National Small Works Showcase in Charleston, SC April 1-30.  This is my sixth consecutive acceptance into an AIS National Show.  I'm truly grateful to be included again.  There were 1,357 entries, and 154 were chosen.  

Dock O' The Bay

 

Dock O' The Bay    oil 11x14 inches  

Purchase info here. 

While visiting Moro Bay I did a field study of this exact scene.  It was my favorite scene in the whole place.  I loved the glassy water and the vibrant reds of this small fishing boat and dinghy.  A few nice folks came and talked with me as I painted and my husband brought me a cup of clam chowder.  A big fat seal was sleeping next to the dinghy and everyone wanted to know if I'd include it in my painting.  It was a bit hazy, but you can still see Morro Rock in the upper right.  My field study was quite rough and unfinished, so I decided to use as refernce for this studio piece.  

Boats In The Bay -a plein air painting from Morro Bay

 

Boats In The Bay  oil 8x10 inches

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In August we had an RV camping trip planned for Pismo Beach and Hearst/San Simeon. The night before we left I found out that the state campground in San Simeon had closed due to Covid.  We scrambled to find another spot and fortunately booked a space in Morro Bay.  What a blessing in disguise!  We enjoyed biking through town, eating fresh fish, and clam chowder.  I managed to squeeze in a couple of paintings.  For this one I positioned myself on an elevated boardwalk.  Morro Rock and the boats posed nicely for me, my husband helped carry my gear, and read a book patiently nearby.  It seems like so long ago now.  I've been housebound too long and I'm itching to travel and paint again.  I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that feels this way.  In the next post, a studio painting based on a plein air study from Morro Bay.  

No School Today!

 

No School Today!  oil 10x10 inches  

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I still remember the freedom of having a no school day and taking off into the neighborhood on my bicycle.   These Balboa Island kids have a pretty cool neighborhood!  Mom, young friends and even baby in the baby seat were headed out for a little adventure.  This photo is a bit blurry.  On the contrary, the painting is full of crisp brushwork and happy color.  

Capistrano Cottage

 

Capistrano Cottage   oil  10x10 inches

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I used my photo reference from the historic Los Rios District of San Juan Capistrano to paint this one.    It's all about the shadow patterns.

Alley Ride

 

Alley Ride 14x11x1 1/2   oil   

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And now for a change of pace!  Summertime on Balboa Island.  The alleys are one of my favorite spots to paint.  Biking through the alleys is the best way to navigate this often crowded little island.  For a painter, you can't beat the shadows and tunnel view that leads the eye right down the alley.  I painted this from my photo reference on a gallery wrapped canvas.  Ready to hang with just a hanging wire, or frame as you like.  

For another change of pace, here is a portrait of our granddaugher and her cat, a Christmas gift to our daughter.  It's not a great photo, but I've been working on a bit of portraiture lately, and I think this one shows progress.