Oranges & Cherries

 

Oranges & Cherries  oil 8x8 inches

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In January our Navel Orange tree gave us sweet oranges that found their way into several of my paintings.  Orange, red and pink together make a color combination that I love.  

In The Kitchen

 

In The Kitchen  oil 12x12 inches

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Pear Sings Bass

 

Pear Sings Bass  oil 8x10

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Years ago I had the pleasure of singing for several years in an acapella choir.  That's a choir of voices only-no instuments to accompany the voices.  In order to stay on pitch, the director taught us to listen to the men singing bass. I sang alto but then got switched to soprano.  In other words, I was a peach, then became a cherry.  I wish you could see this painting in person.  

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. 

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.  

Crystal History

 

Crystal History   oil 12x16 inches

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I used one of my photo references for this piece.  A few years ago my husband dropped me off on the side of Pacific Coast Highway to paint this view.  I was just uphill from the Shake Shack safely behind a guard rail.  (If you aren't familiar with the history behind Crystal Cove's cottages, it's worth a Google.)

I painted for about three hours, and in just a few days the painting sold.  This one is for sale unfamed, but I have a beautiful custom white with silver lip frame available for purchase if you like. A very "beachy" look!  

Petals A Plenty

 

Petals A Plenty  oil 12x9 inches

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I painted this piece originally in 2017.  Recently I made some major changes, mostly to the surface and background in the interest of better color harmony.   I also added the fallen debris.  Normally I'd post the "before" photo, but I lost a lot of my files when my computer crashed a couple of years ago.  I hope you've had a nice weekend.  I got my second Covid vaccination on Friday and I'm almost back to normal today.  Stay well, my friends!

War Bird -a plein air painting from Cable Airport

 

War Bird  oil 9x12 inches

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In February my friend Martha invited me to join her for a plein air day at Cable Airport not too far from home.  A real "plane air" day! This war bird is privately owned by a Vietnam War veteran.  He's very proud of her and takes her up every Wednesday.  I had forgotten what type of plane it is, so I asked my good friend, Ken, a USMC Veteran who says it's a Stinsons L5. I regretted not having a very wide panel with me.  The plane is squeezed onto the 9x12 and will need a floater frame for sure.  

Six Hogs -SOLD

 

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.  

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.  

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.  

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!

Tootsies -SOLD

 

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.  

The One Green Shoe

 

The One Green Shoe    oil, 10x10 inches

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Have you heard of the phenomena of "the one shoe?"  You're driving around town, or even on a road trip, and you see one shoe by the side of the road.  What happened to the other one?  This has always amused me, and my painting brings it to mind. 

 I had a lot of fun painting this.  If you follow me on Instagram, you have probably seen the time lapse video.  In the video it's a bit hard to see, but at the end I showed the three tubes of paint I used to paint this: cad red light, cad yellow light and ultramarine blue (plus white of course).  No lime green or violet tubes of paint.  You can mix just about anything with the three primaries.  

Tomato Drama

 

Tomato Drama  oil 6x8 inches

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I'm finally up to my September paintings with my posts!  Here we have home grown tomatos (and one brave lemon).  They posed under backlighting while I slathered on some undermixed paint with a scruffy hog bristle...not my usual modus operandi.  Experimentation is important to me.  Looking at this painting again brings to mind a statement I heard just today on a podcast: "A painting is not a drawing.  It's a mosaic of shapes."  Michael Chamberlain

Patio Roses

 

Patio Roses  oil 12x12 inches

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April floribundas from my yard, painted outside on my kitchen porch.  My mother's old patio set depicted dates back to the sixties.  In high school I took geometry during summer school.  I remember sitting in one of these chairs for many days copying "theorums."  At the time, it was the only math class I got an A in because it was visual, and I got to "draw."  At this point in my life I can't even tell you what a theorum is!