Christmas Cactus - a still life of pomegrates, persimmons and succulent!

 

Christmas Cactus  10x10 oil

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It has been a while since my last post.  I've been way too busy (many of you can relate), and have had some minor health issues. I'm really looking forward to summer when things will wind down a bit.  This painting is from December when my Christmas Cactus and pomegranate tree were doing their thing.  I love the colors of Fall!  Hopefully this painting will find a good home.  It's one of my favorites.

Autumn Beauties

 

Autumn Beauties  oil on cradled panel, framed

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This is the fourth in the series of Fall botanicals. The mums are from our garden and the grapes...are from the grocery store!  Why grapes with flowers, you say?  The grapes provide variety of shape. 

IN OTHER NEWS: I'm happy to report that the following works have been juried into upcoming National Shows.  Perhaps you can visit one of the shows.  

Veggies  oil 10x10

available through Steamboat Art Museum

Oil Painters Of America National Juried Exhibition, 

Steamboat Springs, CO 

June 3- August 27, 2022

Pear & Pom oil 10x10 inches

available through Wilder Nightingale Fine Art

American Impressionist Society's 6th Annual Impressions:

Small Works Exhibition

Taos, NM

May 12-June 19, 2022

Summer's Last Pickings

 

Summer's Last Pickings  oil 10X10 inches 

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At the end of fall I still had some string bean vines barely hanging on, and a few cherry tomotes too.  I like the scattered look of this painting.  Isn't it interesting that the human eye finds randomness more interesting than order?  We like variety and surprise more than what is predictable.  The background color is a cool gray even though it may appear blue or violet here in the image.  This piece is custom framed in a narrow mahogany floater frame, ready to hang.  If you'd like to see it in the frame, just email me. 

Juicy Gems

 

Juicy Gems  oil 10x10 inches

custom framed and ready to hang

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This is the second of four botanicals I painted last fall.  Pictured are clippings from our lemon and lime tree, plus some grocery store grapes for dark pops of color.  

Autumn Clippings

 

Autumn Clippings oil 10x10

custom framed and ready to hang

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This painting has returned from a local gallery show and is now available for purchase here directly.  This is the first in a series of four 10x10's which would hang nicely together.  Inspired from my own backyard; clippings from our pomegranate tree and heirloom apple tree. 

Fall Gems

 

Fall Gems  oil 6x8 inches

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I remember the day in November when I painted this little painting.  I had wiped off the first attempt which was quite a bit larger.  It came togther nicely in this size. The pom, apple and crooked little carrot were from our backyard.  This time of year, our pomegranate is just beginning to leaf out, it's almost time to plant carrot seeds, and the apple tree still has a ways to go before it is leafy.  Spring is coming!

Late Night Fruit

 

Late Night Fruit  oil 6x6 inches

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Here's a little quick study I did for a class.  This painting illustrates the fact that you can render form in a very simple way amd at the same time make a bold statement about light and shadow.  

Autumn On Stage

 

Autumn On Stage  oil 6x6 inches

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Practically every time I have been away from my easel for several days, I paint more tightly when I return.  I don't see it as a bad thing, but I know I have to paint through the rusty stage to loosen up again.  This was one of those from November.  I rather like it.  Below are a couple of commissions I completed about the same time.  

IN OTHER NEWS:  I have a few spaces in my March 5&6 workshop.  Learn good oil painting skills while painting still life from life.  Email for more info.  karenwernerart@gmail.com

Spanish Olives 8x6 - a copy of one of my own paintings.

Luca  20x16 -the client's beloved yellow lab as a pup

Autumn Vibes

 

Autumn Vibes   oil 6x6 inches

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Covid finally found me.  I'm on the mend, but there has been no painting happening here.  Finally I feel well enough to at least post.  This one was a very fast demo for a small class back in October.  The photo is not flattering.  I promise it's much better in person.  If you have thought about purchasing one of my paintings, remember I have a money back guarantee.  You'll find the details when you follow the link above. I hope you are well and have high hopes for 2022.  

Red Ribbon No.2

 

Red Ribbon No.2  oil  8x8 inches

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Look familiar?  The day after painting Red Ribbon, I still felt excited about this set up, (and it was still on my table) so I took a different approach:  a smaller canvas, a scruffy hog bristle that will make imperfect marks, an even cooler palette, undermixed paint, and time contraints.  Only the book is missing, but what a different look.  This was a lot of fun.  

Red Ribbon

 

Red Ribbon  oil 10x10 inches

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Here's a demonstration I did for a workshop I held in September.  Our tree was giving us hundreds of apples, so I continued to paint them while I had them   You may have noticed my love of red and green together.  Speaking of color temperature, these are cool reds, and comparatively cool greens, so I kept the drapery cool as well.  The book, apple russet (the golden brown on top) and the stems are warm browns.  An example of dominantly cool, with a bit of warm.  The composition is cruciform, my favorite.  The objects go off all four sides, dividing the picture plane into interesting negative shapes.  I hope this is interesting to you.  These are the things I think about, and teach in my workshops.  For me, it is very fun stuff!

Three Apples

 

Three Apples  oil 10x10 inches

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Coming up with a title for this one was more difficult than painting it.  I asked my accountant (husband), and went with what he said.  Why didn't he inventory the cherries too?  This was a demonstration I did on Zoom for the Anaheim Art Association in September.  

Plated Pickings -SOLD

 

Plated Pickings  oil 11x14

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A painting from September when our tree was loaded with apples and cherries were in the stores.  Happy New Year!  Wishing you health and peace for 2022.  Thank you for your interest in my work.  

Apples & Friends III -SOLD

 

Apples & Friends III  oil 6x6 inches

Purchase info here. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Here's a little demonstration I did for a painting class in a gallery.  Lighting is so important no matter where you paint.  Too much direct light on your canvas and palette, and you'll unknowingly paint too dark.  Conversely, if you paint in deep shade or dim light, you'll paint too light.  In this circumstance I had a skylight above me giving me too much light, causing me to paint darker than I normally would.  Nevertheless, I like the result!