Beth Ann -a plein air painting from Morro Bay

 

Beth Ann   oil 11x14

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In August of 2021 my husband and I camped in Morro Bay.  The RV Campground graciously gave us a spot at the last minute when all of the state campgrounds closed abruptly and we lost our reservation.  What a blessing this turned out to be!  We were within walking distance of Morro Rock and the boats docked in the bay.  A tiny hunk of Moro Rock is visible in the upper right corner.  This is one of three plein air pieces still available from that trip.  

Below is another plein air piece I did on a trip to Idaho in March.  I love painting old structures, and the  junk on the outside was especially enticing.  I have family that lives in Kuna on this old family farm property.  This is the original homestead house built on 80 acres in 1908.   I surprised the current owner with the painting to thank her for letting me paint on her property, but more than that, I felt that she should have it.  She had grown up there, and has wonderful memories of her parents and grandparents, and how proud they were of their farm purchased in 1965. They grew sweet and feed corn.  Much of the farmland in Idaho is being developed into housing.  I hope this parcel will stay in the family. 

Old Idaho Homestead   oil 9x12

(sorry the photo is a bit blurry)

 

Roses & Irises

 

Roses & Irises  oil 14x11

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A painting from April, when my bulbs were blooming, and my "florabundas" were well...flowering and abundant!  Below is a demonstration for my April workshop, which happily sold to one of the participants.  

Oh Happy Day!  12x12 sold

Tough Tomatoes

 

Tough Tomatoes  oil 6x6 inches

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It has been a long while since my last post!  I've been painting here and there, but also had Shingles for over a month, then asthmatic bronchitis.  I'm feeling much better.  Another development since my last post: Feedburner went dead, then Google stopped filling in, so as as result, if you're subscribed to my blog, you're no longer getting my latest work in your inbox.  I'm slowly transferring over 300 subscriber addresses into a Google Group.  UGH!  So if you are reading this, I thank you for finding me!  

I could take a lesson from these Tough Tomatoes.  One plant, a "Sweet One Hundred" cherry tomato plant held on through winter last year, and I picked and painted these sweet little gems in April!  So if you're going through challenging times, hang on, Little Tomato!

For a better picture of this painting, see me on Instagram: karenwernerart.  Look thru my page to April. 

Nesbitts No. 2

 

Nesbitts No. 2  oil 8x16 inches

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Here's a conglomeration of things in orange and blue.  I always enjoy painting glass.  It has been a very busy summer for me, making it difficult to get around to posting.  But here I am finally!  In the last few months I've had quite a few paintings sell before I could get them online.  I've included some below if you're interested.  

IN OTHER NEWS:  I have a local solo show up for just one more week.  The show is called "Out Of The Ordinary" and includes 17 still life paintings.  Location: Studio C, Claremont CA.  260 W. Bonita.  If you're local I hope you can stop by to see it.  Closes on August 30.

Demo On Cornflower Blue - 8x8 SOLD

Sunflower & Eucalyptus 6x6 SOLD

Beside Quiet Waters 9x12 SOLD

Quilts On A Shelf  9x12 SOLD

Sunflowers & Bird

 

Sunflowers & Bird oil 9x12 inches

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Like many artists, in March I painted several sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine.  I felt really upset by the unjust destruction and suffering taking place there. I imagined that had it been the 1930's or 40's the US and our allies would have acted differently.  Time has passed now, and sadly it's no longer headline news here.  How is it that one country obliterated another while the world watched and did nothing to stop it?  I'm not a politician or military person.  I'm just a painter, but my heart goes out to the Ukrainian people.  

Lemon Joy

 

Lemon Joy  oil 10x10 inches

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I hope you're enjoying your summer.  Here's a summery painting from my work in March.  Our lemon tree is perhaps my favorite tree.  It's a Meyer, so the skin is smooth and a rich deep yellow.  The smell of the juice is heavenly!  

Peach Blossoms

 

Peach Blossoms  oil 12x9 inches

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In February our peach tree was doing this.  This is one of the few times I painted what was really in the backgound behind my still life; my studio sink!  For you painters out there, you might be interested in the fact that I painted this with no solvent.  In an effort to be kind to my airways,  I used only Safflower oil from the grocery store to clean my brushes throughout.  I wondered if it would ever dry!  Eventually it did, and wtih  the most luscious sheen.  Since then I've employed a couple of other methods instead to keep the air cleaner in my studio: my trash bucket is a few steps away from me rather than right under me, and after I'm done for the day, I put my trash outside to oxidize rather than in my studio.  

Apple Calls A Meeting

 

Apple Calls A Meeting   oil 6x6 inches

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Here's a small demo from my workshop in February.  

Study After Renoir

 

Study For Discarded Roses  9x12 oil

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In February I completed a commissioned master copy of Renoir's "Discarded Roses."  The painting pictured here is a small study done in advance of the larger painting, 16x20 (below).  This preliminary study allowed me to work out design and shapes, but most importantly color.  I researched Renoir's palette, which turned out to be quite different from mine.  It included lots of Viridian and Naples Yellow, both of which I generally avoid.  I had to ignore my own color harmony sensibilities.  I took a few subtle liberties with flower shapes. The collector was very happy with the finished painting.  

Discarded Roses After Renoir

oil 16x20

SOLD

A Bird With Notions

 

A Bird With Notions     oil 8x10 inches

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I had a lot of fun painting this.  The torn bits and gold are particularly enjoyable.  The books came from a thrift store or used book store long ago.  Three of these little white ceramic birds hang out in my studio.  Curiously, two have shown up at different times hidden in or behind something on my desk.  I have a feeling that one of my friends who visits my studio has left them as a surprise.  And I think I know who it is.

Lovely Yellows -a still life painting of lemon and rose

 

Lovely Yellows  oil 8x8 inches

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A Meyer lemon and rose from our garden.  

Camomile & Lemon

 

Camomile & Lemon  oil 8x8 inches

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My current favorite mug filled with camomile tea.  The variety of yellows set off by the lilac background is positively yummy to me!  How 'bout the cast shadows on that leaf, and then on the mug?!  I love the way this painting turned out!  If you consider purchasing, it will need a floater frame.  That's a frame that doesn't cover 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the painting all the way around as a standard frame does.  Most small paintings need floaters.  

Demo In Green & Red

 

Demo In Green & Red  oil 6x6 inches

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This little assortment of shapes gave me a good subject for demonstration during my January workshop.  I taught five workshops in five months, and I must say I'm a bit burned out!  Are you looking forward to summertime?  I sure am!  If you purchase this painting, you'll find that it's much prettier in person.  

Grapefruit

 

Grapefruit   oil 6x6 inches

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The pink of this pink grapefruit turned out to be an illusive color.  It was hard to mix.  Why is it called grape fruit? It has no grapeness whatsoever.  

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

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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!