Bird On Green

 

Bird On Green  oil 6x6 inches

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This is the last in my February series of green dominated paintings.  I have a collection of small decorative birds, of which this is a favorite.  The bits of plant debris gives it a natural look.  I like a bit of debris in a still life to make it look more random, less staged.  This painting is on a cradled wood panel with sides natural wood color, and ready to hang or frame as you like.  

We've done some traveling lately to the High Sierras and Idaho.  I'm anxious to get back into my studio on a regular basis.  I missed my paint!  

Cad In The Wringer

 

Cad In The Wringer  oil 6x6 on cradled panel

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I had a bit of fun with this title.  For those of you who are not familiar with oil paint, one of my favorite pigments, Cadmium Yellow Light, gets a squeeze here from my tube wringer.  I painted this little gem on a cradled wood panel, which means it can be hung without a frame.  The sides are 3/4 inch deep and natural wood.  It comes ready to hang.  I signed "Werner" at the top, which for some reason may not be visible here. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Painting Again

 

Painting Again  oil 8x8 inches

Email for purchase info: karenwernerart@gmail.com

I'm very happy to announce that this little still life has been juried in to The American Impressionist Society's 22nd Annual National Juried Exhibition.  Held at the 1516 Gallery in Omaha, Nebraska, the exhibit runs from September 9 through December 12th.  This is my seventh consecutive acceptance into an AIS juried exhibition.  Even so, when it's time to submit, I enter two pieces and brace myself for the rejection of both.  You just never know.  

In anticipation of the exhibit,  I painted a large still life work (16x20) entitled "When They Were Little" with the hopes that it would be chosen. I thought the size and ambitious subject matter would appeal to the juror.  Two may be submitted, but only one can be selected by the juror. This accepted painting in my opinion is small but mighty.  Sometimes the simpler statement, even though small, results in a stronger painting.  Maybe that's what the juror thought.  Then again, you just never know!   

Hogs

 

Hogs  oil on cradled panel 6x6 inches

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I really had a great time with this one.  On social media recently a post asked us to "describe your job badly."  I wrote, "I take sticks that have hairs on one end and put oily stuff on canvas---just the right colored marks in just the right places."  Here are my hairy sticks.  Well, a few of them.  

IN OTHER NEWS:  I'm happy to report that recently I have started teaching a bit in Orange County.  Twice a month I teach a small class inside Mission Fine Art Gallery.  Geared for beginners and intermediate painters, you will learn a lot if you study with me.  Purchase one class at a time, or a series.  Email me for more information.  karenwernerart@gmail.com

I'm sad to report that Vanessa Rothe Gallery will no longer carry my work.  We are on good terms, but nothing is forever.  So if you're in Orange County, CA and would like to see a few of my pieces framed and in person, head on down to Laguna Beach soon.  They will only be there for another two weeks.  I do thank Vanessa for the nine sales she made for me.  

Scattered Tubes

 

Scattered Tubes   oil 6x6 inches

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I painted this small piece on a wood cradled panel.  The sides are clean natural wood and unfinished.  It's a great contemporary look and ready to hang without a frame. It may also stand on its own on a shelf. 

 I always strive for looseness.  This painting has it; not labored over to make everything perfect.  In fact, "charmingly incorrect rather than irritatingly perfect." That's my goal.  Who needs a painting that looks like a photo?  We have photos for that.  

Wine For One

 

Wine For One  oil 12x12

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You would think I'm a big wine drinker, but no.  I love painting wine bottles.  Here's a hunk of fisherman's bread from Crab Cooker.  It's about 7 or 8 years old.  Age doesn't matter when you're posing for a painting.  I do enjoy a good dense piece of bread with a nice glass of Cabernet.  

Camelia Stages

 

Camelia Stages  oil 12x9  

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Right outside my studio window lives a full grown camelia that blooms her heart out in January.  I clipped this small branch and noticed every stage of blooming.  I thought that was pretty cool.  The fully opened bloom being only partially visible helps the viewer roam around to see the other stages.  

Flowers & Poms

 

Flowers & Poms  oil 8x16 inches

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Similar to my last painting posted, it's fun to take the same subject matter and create a different design.  I'm a big fan of red and green.  In person, the flowers are lighter.  Flowers are most often in vases or jars, but once in a while their shapes and shadows are pleasing when resting on a table.  

Bouquet With Apple

 

Bouquet With Apple oil 9x12 inches

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Here I used a green toned canvas and let bits of it peek through in the background to create unity with the rest.  The minty green with the reds is uncommon and interesting to me.  I hope you like it.  

IN OTHER NEWS:  I have 3 spaces open in my workshop coming up in just a couple of days.  The date is changed to this coming Friday and Saturday.  Email me quick if you'd like to jump in!

Again With The Apples

 

Again With The Apples  oil 6x6

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Apples are my default subject when I haven't painted in a while.  I painted this in January, and experimented with laying in transparent darks with a hog bristle.  The effect really doesn't read right in a photo, but when you see the painting in person the dark passages are luminous rather than like a dark hole.  You can see the texture of the canvas and the brush through the dark transparent paint.  In contrast, light areas of the subject are painted opaquely which makes them look even more lit.  

Autumn Patterns

 

Autumn Patterns    oil 18x18 inches  

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Sometime in October I had this idea of a still life from bird's eye view.  With a tablecloth on the floor, I arranged objects to create a kind of rhythm.  It's all about pattern.  This painting is beautifully custom framed in a modern white wood frame about 1 1/2 inches wide with a smooth white finish.  Currently, it is on display in the front window of Mission Fine Art Gallery, San Juan Capistrano, CA.  

Mission Spring Fountain

 

Mission Spring Fountain  oil 11x14

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Flowers abound in the Spring at Mission San Juan Capistrano!  A couple of years ago I planted myself in a shady spot and enjoyed painting this view, which is a favorite of other plein air painters as well.  This painting is beautifully custom framed and is currently available in person at Mission Fine Art Gallery, directly across the street from the Mission.  

Sunflower Song

 

Sunflower Song  oil 20x16 inches

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A simple color scheme in yellow, green and blue.  I painted this from life in my studio featuring  a pitcher that belonged to my grandmother.  This piece is in a handsome custom wood frame, dark, distressed with gold lip.  Pictured below.    

Apples Again

 

Apples Again  oil 6x6

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In January I had a lull in the action.  Like everyone, I have my ups and downs, and sometimes take a break from painting for maybe a week or two.  When I come back to the easel I expect to feel rusty, so I paint what's familiar: apples.  This is a pretty little painting in person.  It really did not cooperate for the camera.  All my work is sold satisfaction guaranteed.  If you don't think it's better than the picture here, return it for a full refund!

IN OTHER NEWS:  Today I recieved the good news that my painting Camelias & Bordeaux has been jurited into Oil Painters Of America's Salon Show in Georgia.  This was my first time entering an OPA National Show, so I'm very grateful to be included.  

OTHER OTHER NEWS:  I have a few openings in my May 22-23 Workshop.  If you're interested in more info, email me!  karenwernerart@gmail.com    

Afternoon Angel

 

Afternoon Angel  oil 12x9

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For a few days in January I repeatedly walked past this scene just off my kitchen slider; my mother's patio set from the sixties, an angel statue I had given her, and the last few roses left after winter pruning.  The light shining through the little white pitcher and rose petals caught my eye day after day until I set up to paint it.  See the tiny skull shape on the far right?  It's a little pot with succulent, a little thank you gift from a kind person who took a workshop from me.  

Jacaranda Too

 

Jacaranda Too  acrylic 9x12 inches

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In January I purchased a set of acrylic paints.  I wondered what it would be like to work with a medium so fluid, vibrant in color, and fast drying.  Turns out it's a lot of fun!  This is my first painting in acrylic. For a bit of familiarity I used one of my own oil paintings for reference.  For exploring any new medium, a good starting point is a subject you have already done in your familiar medium.  

You can see this tree in San Juan Capistrano right across the street from the new Mission Basillica.  This was a little Mexican Restaurant, but I think it has changed hands having not survived the pandemic shut down.  The tree continues on.  

Afternoon Tea With Lewis & Rossetti

 

Afternoon Tea With Lewis & Rossetti  12x12 oil

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I painted this in my backyard on a warm January day.  Tea and gingersnaps with two good reads: CS Lewis and poetry by Christina Rossetti.  This painting in on a homemade panel with rough tooth, so the painting is full of texture. 

 

I have a few spots open in my May 22-23 Workshop.  Open to beginners and intermediate painters in oil.  Email for more info: karenwernerart@gmail.com

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.