Pastel Dust

 

Pastel Dust  oil 12x9 inches

Purchase info here.

Here's a piece I painted last November.  My aim was to get the feel of the dust.  Back in the 80's I did a few pastel paintings.  My children were small and I didn't want oil paint and solvent around.  Back in those days we used real Turpentine which had a mighty smell to it.  This box is about 40 years old.  

Tube Of Orange

 

Tube of Orange  oil 4x6 inches

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This little gem comes unframed with its own small wood easel.  A perfect little bit of color for a bookshelf or other small shelf space!  It's even better in person!

Color Song

 

Color Song  oil 9x12 inches

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Here's a crazy bit of color to start the new year!  I hope 2023 is off to a good start for you.  I painted this back in June.  In the back of the painting you'll see a small painting in a gold frame that was done by my friend, May.  It had been almost a year since she'd gone on to Heaven.  I loved the color scheme of her little painting, so I looked for objects in my studio that fit the scheme.  I enjoyed painting while thinking of my friend.  

Tubes, Bottles & Brushes

 

Tubes, Bottles & Brushes  oil, 10x10 inches

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This picture is a bit blurry.  The painting is much crisper. Sometimes when I am not sure what to paint, I paint the things I paint with.  It makes for a colorful set up, different shapes, sizes and textures.  Paint tubes are among my favorite subjects.  Artists of all kinds fall in love with their tools, and I'm no different.  Do you have tools that you treasure?  

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 -SOLD

 

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!   

Scattered Tubes -SOLD

 

Scattered Tubes   oil 6x6 inches

Purchase info here. 

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.  

Carnation Blues

 

Carnation Blues  -an original oil painting 10x10

Purchase info here.

There's a complementary color scheme here, and the carnations that seemed to live forever.  The little bottle is pure clove oil which I add to my paints to slow the drying a bit.  A variety of textures are included for interest all within a limited color scheme.  Like a lot of my works, it's better in person. It's framed and ready to hang.  Click on purchase link for more info.  

Oils

oil 6x8 FRAMED See this painting at the Claremont Community Foundation as part of the group show "UnreNOUNed." Available for purchase by email: karenwernerart@gmail.com. WORKSHOPS!!! I have openings in my January 19&20 and also February 9&10 workshops. Location: Upland, CA. NEW OFFERING: For the absolute beginner I offer an Intro to Oils Private to Semi-Private class upon request. Three hours of guided instruction $80. Painting from life, not a photo. Use of my materials are included. This is a great way to see if you like oil painting, or get back into it if you feel intimidated by the workshop setting. Would make a great gift! For more information, please Email me at karenwernerart@gmail.com

Totally Tubular

oil 6x6 inches Purchase info here. Paint tubes are as pretty as wine bottles. That's what I think. I had a great time demonstrating in Yorba Linda last night. Pics from that coming in a later post. My workshop this weekend is full. Soon I'll be setting dates for a workshop in April and another in May. If you'd like to get on my mailing list for announcements of workshops, email me: karenwernerart@gmail.com Don't worry, you won't be bombarded with emails from me, just 3 or 4 per year.

Berry & Brushes -sold

oil 6x6 inches For a closer look and purchase info click here. That was a really big juicy berry.

Cad Orange -a still life painting in oil SOLD

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info On days when I have just a little time to paint, I paint small. This was one of those days. For you fellow painters out there, when you don't know what to paint you can paint what you paint with. I'm always attracted to the grungy patina on my brush washer and never tire of painting it. Orange and green as a color scheme was new for me and with this painting I inadvertently started a mini series of orange and green which you'll see in my next few posts. A painting about cad orange, but ironically I almost never use cad orange. I mix my oranges with cad yellow light and cad red light, both Utrecht. (Brand makes a difference in the yellow.) Number 10 in the Strada Easel 31 Day Challenge. IN OTHER NEWS: I'll soon set dates for March and April 2 Day Workshops in my studio here in Upland, Ca. If you'd like to be on my email list for workshop notifications, send me an email at karenwernerart@gmail.com

Blue Marble

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info I've been painting more 6x6's lately. This one is from September. In the past few months I've had one physical ailment after another. I've tried to keep up my commitments as best I can and paint when I feel up to it. I started doing small daily paintings back in 2009 in order to develop my painting skills. Now I can also say that the little paintings are the ticket when you have time or physical limitations. Just a thought for any of you out there who want to paint, but think you "can't." Your comments are always welcome.

Balancing Act -a still life painting in oil

oil 8x16 inches magnify/purchase info For this one I used a daylight bulb to supplement my smallish north light window. I toned with a loose uneven gray wash and purposed to paint a vignette, letting the subject disappear into the edges of canvas.

Sandy on the lookout. Apparently she thinks my guard is down while photographing my painting, so she's helping by watching the gate for intruders. Always a big help!

Apple Of His Eye -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 8x6 inches magnify/purchase info A short painting session called for a small canvas and simple subject. Looking at the one simple apple in my hand, a Bible verse came to mind: "Keep me as the apple of the eye. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings." It's a prayer, actually. Psalm 17:8 I deliberately formed a cross with my brushes. So here we have what might be considered a "religious" painting without looking "religious." It's more about a relationship, really.

Studio Props -a still life painting in oil

oil 11x14 magnify/purchase info All my painting panels seem to have shrunk. In my bigger studio a 9x12 appears very small, and a 6x6 absolutely miniscule! For this 11x14 I experimented with using only natural light. Two hours into the painting dark clouds came over and it started raining. I had to quit. The next day I got back at it while heating and air conditioning was being installed. Here are some progress shots. Notice how small that 11x14 panel looks on my easel! I keep thinking about goldfish and koi. I've heard they grow bigger in a bigger bowl/pond.

Tubes & Brushes -a painting of paint stuff in watercolor

watercolor and gouache 9x12 inches magnify/purchase Okay, here's some watercolor stuff. My camera doesn't know what to do with white paper. It looks better in person. Have I said that before?

Oil Tubes & Brushes -an oil painting of art supplies -SOLD

oil 6x8 inches magnify/purchase Nothing beats a good old cruciform design. My favorite.

Grungy Goodness -an oil painting of artist tools

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase Sometimes figuring out what to paint is more perplexing than the painting the painting. In this case, I just painted what I paint with. What color is grunge? Kind of a yellowy-greenish tan-like pale ochre gray. I like it.

Primary Focus -sold

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase Kinda funny that the image of a painting titled "Primary Focus" would be slightly out of focus. I tightened up a bit on this one, probably because the objects were simple enough I could just l-a-b-o-r over them! Anyway, I'm really happy with the grungy patina on the brushwasher.