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

 

Christmas Cactus  10x10 oil

Purchase information here.

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.

Bloomin'

oil 8x8 inches For a closer look and purchase info click here. Another botanical painting from UCR's garden. Cactus blooms are always fascinating to me.

Anza Borrego -plein air paintings from the California Desert

Near the end of January we had scheduled camping trip to Anza Borrego State Park. I had painted there before, but this time the challenge would be squeezing in a painting on arrival day after driving and setting up camp, then again on departure day. With some planning it all worked out. Below are my four daily paintings. If you're interested in a purchase just email me: karenwernerart@gmail.com

DESERT DUSK 6x8 inches. Barely time enough to squeeze this one in. Late afternoon. The sun dropped behind that mountain and instantly the light was gone.

CAMPGROUND PALMS 10x8 inches A morning painting followed immediately by a wind storm. When your paper towel roll is rolling away you are done!

DESERT CHOLLA 9x12 For those of you not familiar with cactus, this is a particularly nasty plant full of fine and painful needles. But boy is is beautiful when the sun shines through. Difficult to capture in paint, but I had fun trying.

BOTANICAL BORREGO 9x12 inches Right outside the campground visitor center there's an informative nature walk. I liked the variety in this grouping, and I liked the nearby restroom too. Always a bonus.

My husband accompanied me on this trip. We enjoyed the many sculptures outside the little town of Borrego Springs, great Mexican Food in town, a hike up Palm Canyon and the REALLY dark quiet nights. So peaceful. I hope you've enjoyed this epic post.

Prickly

oil 10x10 inches on gallery wrap canvas ready to hang click here to bid My photo reference for this piece was taken on a Spring trip to Joshua Tree National Park. I've done some watercolors from the same reference, and it was a good challenge to work it in oil. I'm working on a portrait that's taking me a while, then on my way to Idaho for a few days. Don't know when I'll post next, but I'll be back.

Beavertail Blossoms

oil 14x11 inches on gallery wrap canvas ready to hang Click to Purchase I'm really enjoying the gallery wrap canvases, both for their texture and boxy shape. Thanks to Carol Carmichael who graciously shared some ideas on finishing the sides. Last spring at Descanso Gardens with a friend, we found this wonderful array of color. The label nearby was "Fairy Duster." I'm hoping it was indeed for this cactus! Some cactus expert out there correct me if I'm wrong! (Later note: WRONG!) A long time ago I discovered that the standard reds will not make some floral pinks, so here's a little chart I made before painting this piece. I ended up using ThRR- thalo red rose. My little sketchbook is a Moleskine with brown cardboard-like cover, perforated sheets and comes in packs of three. I use them for notes and sketching in the field, and color swatches at home.

Cactus Crown

oil 11x14 on gallery wrap canvas not for sale After not painting for two weeks, I found it difficult to get myself started. Started feeling irritable. (Just ask my dog.) Reminded me of getting off the bike while climbing a steep hill. Trying to get the pedals turning again, it's easy to fall if you don't do it right. So I found a subject that really, really excited me, then I painted bigger than usual, on not the usual support, with not the usual brushes. It felt new and fresh. I had a ball, and this is what came out. I like it so much I'm going to keep it.

Patio Pottery

oil 8x8 inches
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Yesterday I felt like staying home, but thought it'd be a shame to miss out on the sunshine. It was 82 degrees. I wandered around in my backyard looking for a subject and settled on these favorites of mine. I tucked myself next to our fence for shade and put them on the concrete next to the pool. Then shadows came over, shadows moved, I got hot, the seat was hard, you know. I laughed at myself for being such a wimp in my own backyard. :) But as for the painting, I like it.

Bloomin' Babytoes -sold

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
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One of my favorite cactuses surprised me yesterday with blooms! Yes, the common name for this variety is "Babytoes". Looks a lot like those delicious little piggies!
In other news, I recently EBay listed "Untitled Floral" as "Sunflowers With Red" (scroll down to see). Thanks for all your great comments. I took your advice and called it finished. I appreciate your feedback so much!

Cactus Monster

watercolor on Arches paper 10x14 inches
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Every Tuesday night I get to paint with some artist friends. Yay! It's a good opportunity for me to play with watercolor...nothing serious, just mess around. I get a kick out of making cactus needles with masking fluid and have done a few prickley paintings this way. Some pretty pink pricklies are previously posted. (Couldn't resist.) This one appeared as a monster.

Bloomin'

watercolor on paper 14x12 inches
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I had a wonderful time demonstrating for Santa Ana Ebell Society today, a welcoming and interested group, some of whom stayed on way past time to see me finish. Thanks, ladies! The format is a larger version of a previous painting in the hopes that everyone could see, but to finish I had to paint much faster than usual! A cactus in bloom always interests me--tough and prickly yet with such beautiful flowers. Two of my favorite color pairs are here also: pink with orange, and yellow-green with red-violet. Yummy combos!

Patio Cactus II

watercolor on paper 7x10 inches

Here's the same subject matter as the previous post done in watercolor from a photo reference. The vantage point is more from above. The rust and blue are so yummy, and that little bit of Peacock Blue (by Holbein) on the rim really makes me happy.

Patio Cactus

oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches
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Equipped with my trusty viewcatcher, I went into my backyard late yesterday afternoon itching to find a painting there. This favorite little potted cactus garden made the nicest shadow...perfect! I stood in the shade, enjoying the breeze and chirping birds...plein air just a few feet from my back door!

Prickly In Pink

watercolor on paper 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches

Working again from the Joshua Tree NP photo reference, I wanted to try more layers of maskit and paint, and also pure colors as opposed to the muted hues in the previous "prickly". The dimensions make it suitable for a ready made frame.

Pretty Prickly -sold

watercolor on Arches watercolor paper 8 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches

A photo taken at Joshua Tree National Park was my reference for this painting. The needles were painted using alternating layers of mask and washes, a technique I had been wanting to try with cactus for quite some time. Just finally got around to it! It turned out beautiful...and as always, is more vibrant in person. I may do some more of these--just too much fun!

Tough Beauty

watercolor on Arches watercolor paper 8x81/2 inches
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Cactus are fascinating to me: a tough, dangerous plant that grows in a harsh environment, yet produces large striking blossoms. The yellow-orange and violets are great complements.