Twisting Pine -a plein air painting from Cambria, CA

oil 12x9 inches Purchase info here. From our trip to Cambria, I painted this on location within the Hurst/San Simeon State Campground. This is a famous Monterey Pine, but in Cambria the same tree is referred to as a Cambria Pine. I loved the twist of the trunk with the turning staircase. IN OTHER NEWS: The "All You Can Eat" Art Show opens tonight at Studio C Claremont and Bunny Gunner Gallery, both neighboring galleries on Bonita Ave. in Claremont. The opening is from 6-8 pm and the show will continue through the month of July. I have five paintings in each gallery. It's a BIG show of SMALL affordable works from over 70 local artists! I hope you'll plan to visit!

Vintage Camping -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches Purchase info here. This is the second painting I did while camping in Ventura. There's nothing better than finding a vintage vehicle to paint. She was on her maiden voyage so to speak, and the new owners were so proud and happy! When I paint in a campground usually a small crowd gathers, coming and going as they follow my progress. It's a lot of fun talking with them and answering their questions, especially those from children. Kids rode their bikes and scooters around me while adults, beer in hand played cool music and a rousing game of corn hole right behind me. Too much fun! I hope this painting finds it's way to the VW's owners.

Camp Truck, 1948

oil 11x14 Purchase info here. A few weeks ago we camped for the first time at Silver Lake, which is in the Sierras on the June Lake Loop. Wow! What scenery! Couldn't wait to paint, but instead we were waiting out a vicious wind. After about two days, I set up to paint this scene. Even though I anchored my tripod, everything was moving, including my brush. I had a good start (looked like a drunk painted it, but I liked it!). Then a gust of about 75-80 mph. hit and forced me to pack up. I finished in the studio using my photo references. IN OTHER NEWS: Friday I'll go south to San Clemente to participate in Paint San Clemente Quick Draw and Plein Air Competition. It's my first time, and I'm really excited to find inspiring scenes in an unfamiliar locale. Follow my adventures on Facebook: Karen Laster Werner and Instagram: KarenWernerArt.

Seashore & Tulips

oil 12x9 inches For a closer look and purchase info, click here. A pretty warm day even for the beach, I hid under our awning for this one. Mother's Day tulips from my grandkids...is this a still life or a seascape? Hummm.

California Streamin' -painting of an Airstream Travel Trailer

oil 8x8 inches For a closer look and purchase info click here. I took the photo reference for this painting in May while camping at Crystal Cove State Beach. I hope you're having a great summer!

Airstream Dreams -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info Immediately after tax season I loaded my CPA into our little motorhome and took him far from his office to Zion National Park. In the campground I met Bob who owned this beautiful '77 Airstream. For the last few years I've been on the lookout for one to paint each time we camped. I took tons of pictures with Bob's permission. When the guy in the next campsite took out his banjo, well how could I not paint it right then? So there I was, painting, surrounded by Utah mountains, the rushing Virgin River behind me, and the banjo guy playing old hymns. Almost Heaven. I'm sorry I didn't get a pic of the banjo guy! That would make a nice painting too.

Campfire -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info And now for something really different! While camping in Ventura this past weekend I had a perfect opportunity to paint my first nocturne. Steve and his family, sitting in front of a classic trailer were very kind and interested in what I was doing. I painted from sundown to 10:30 pm. I didn't have my headlamp with me so I used the camping lantern. I learned SO much! Not being able to see very well meant I had to take my best shot at values, and remember where on the palette I mixed certain colors. The dark piles of paint were harder to see, and that's mostly what I needed! I usually paint on cotton canvas, but this one was linen, so the paint gloriously mooshed around. So much fun! I went to bed a happy camper.

My start, about 20 minutes in.

Camping Among Giants

oil 10x8 inches magnify/purchase Painted on location at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, CA. For more info, see my post on August 28.

On The Road

These shots are from Humboldt Redwoods State Park where we camped several days ago. There's my hubby doing one of his favorite things, and you can see our little RV. This was a quiet and majestic setting where you carefully drive between these giant trees to your camp spot. I had a bit of painting time the morning we had to leave and I painted right in our site. The tent belonged to a motorcyclist who packed it up while I was painting. Luckily I had gotten the tent in first. I might make a few changes and will repost it later. We're having a great time, and I've had the chance to paint in several places. Tonight we're in Grant's Pass, Oregon along the Rogue River. More on our trip later, Wifi permitting.

Desert Romance -sold

watercolor and gouache approx. 8x8 inches magnify/purchase The wind howled and rocked the RV one afternoon. I stayed inside and used a photo reference I had taken earlier in the day. I loved how the awning pattern reflected into the shadow it cast. The two chairs and two fan palms made it romance in the desert. This is the same little trailer I painted the day before.

The Camp Store

oil 9x12 inches click for purchase information and zoom Every evening while camping in Big Sur the sun seemed to go down so quickly behind the big redwoods. The little camp store would glow in the shadows, inviting campers inside. They had a little bit of anything you might need. Today I painted in Old Town Tustin. I hope to get a good painting by Friday for the Plein Air Competition on Saturday. If you're local, I hope you'll come out and enjoy the day. The weather will be cooperating this year. Come enjoy the art and live music. For more info, click here.