Clipped Lemons -SOLD

oil 8x8 Purchase info here. Lemons from our yard.

Citrus Basket

oil 6x12 inches To get a closer look or purchase info click here. Oranges and lemons from our backyard trees. Our ten year old granddaughter, Emily, was painting nearby as I worked on this painting. About an hour in we exchanged reports on how our paintings were going. I told her I wasn't sure and might have to wipe it off, but that I was trying to do what I have told my watercolor students, "just keep going." "Yeah," Emily said, "just keep swimming." (Disney) Good advice. Sometimes we can throw in the towel too soon. I'm happy with the result.

(That stuff beyond the still life was temporarily stored for my son and his family.)

Valencias -a plein air painting of oranges

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info This is the first painting for the Strada Easel Challenge: 31 paintings in the 31 days of January. Probably hundreds of artists have signed up for this. Each day we post on Facebook #stradaeasel. There's a chance to win a Strada Easel at the end of the month. In addition to the goal of painting every day, I have set some personal goals: paint 50% of them outdoors (didn't know we'd have this much rain!), paint what is around me, paint things I've wanted to paint for a long time but never have gotten around to it. So far I have 17 paintings. Eventually they'll all be posted here on my blog for sale. Please note, if you purchase, shipping will be after February 1. About this painting: I set up in our backyard and painted one of our orange trees-something I've wanted to do for a long time. The next day I added a few more oranges in shadow on the left for balance. It's still heavy on the right, but hey! our juicy oranges are heavy! Long post! If you have read this entire post, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Lovely Lemons -a still life painting in oil

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sunny Disposition -a still life in oil

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Another from June, I hung out painting with my friend Elizabeth Carr one day in her studio and this is the result. If you're in So Cal, it's a great time to visit her place: Studio C in Claremont. The studio is full of handmade gifts for the holidays like small paintings, handbags, jewelry and other artsy things made my local artists. 260 West Bonita Ave, Claremont. 909-289-9401

Limber Lemons -a still life painting in oil

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Second demo for Associated Artists. My time for this piece was very limited, so I painted quickly. Sometimes that's a good thing. No time to fuss over things. WORKSHOP NEWS: I have one open space in next weekend's workshop at my studio in Upland. Saturday and Sunday, October 8 & 9, 9am to 4pm. If you'd like more information email me quick! karenwernerart@gmail.com

Citrus Clippings -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 11x14 inches magnify/purchase info While arranging this still life I set the clippers down momentarily right where you see them. I liked the way they looked in the painting, so I included them. Turns out the analogous color scheme needed a few reddish tones. Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel: yellow, green and blue. The rusty metal adds a lot, I think. IN OTHER NEWS: Below is the postcard for Evening With The Artists on April 22nd in Redlands. For more information click here.

Citrus & Grapes -a still life in oil -SOLD

oil 6x12 inches magnify/purchase info I'm back from running Camp Gramma. The kids shared their cold with me...blahhhh. I hope I feel better soon so I can get back to my easel. Meanwhile, here's a piece I did a few weeks ago. I got a good start on it when Edison Company arrived to work on a problem and had to turn off our electricity. About 4 hours later I was back in business. Below are some progress shots taken every 15 minutes till the power went out.

Fruit, Jar & Geraniums -a still life painting in oil

oil 11x14 inches not for sale magnify I painted this as a gift to the permanent collection of Redlands Community Hospital. I've included a studio shot below. Coming up on April 22, The Redlands Hospital Foundation will host the 8th Annual "Evening With The Artists". I and four fellow artists have been invited to show and sell our work. If you're in So Cal, consider attending this well-planned and lovely evening. Friday, April 22, 5:30-7:30 pm. For more information call (909)335-5540 or click here: Redlands Hospital Foundation.

Demo For Redlands Art Association -a still life in oil

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Last night's demo in Redlands was a lot of fun. We had a packed house, and a very enthusiastic audience. Most of them stayed till the painting was finished, after 9pm! Thank you all for your patience and serious interest! Next, I'll teach a small one day workshop this coming Saturday in the same place. There are a couple of openings left, so call Redlands Art Association if you're interested. 909-792-8435 Also coming up quickly, my two day workshop at my home studio in Upland, March 3&4. I still have some openings. You'll get a ton of instruction, coaching (limited to 6 participants), coffee, tea, water and snacks. If you're interested in this or future workshops in Upland, email me: karenwernerart@gmail.com

Thank you, Redlands Art Association!

Lemon With Geraniums -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Painting a still life seemed extra refreshing after so many paintings from photos. The lemon and geraniums are from our backyard. On Saturday the Redlands newspaper had a nice write up about me. My demonstration and one day workshop for the Redlands Art Association are coming up next week.

Thanks to Cathy Guzik for the photo.

As I start washing my brushes, my little studio compainion, Sandy, jumps up from her nap and waits to go in the house.

Citrus -a still life painting in oil

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Tomorrow I'll be painting still life at Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga for Associated Artists of the Inland Empire's Fall Show. It's open from 10-10 in Celebration Hall. Show closes on Sunday at 4pm.

Cara Cara -SOLD

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase What a surprise I had when I cut into this orange! I didn't know I'd picked up a Cara Cara. Beautiful color and so extremely juicy. And our local berries really are that red.

Cut Lemon & Grapes -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 6x8 inches magnify/purchase Another painting on that brushed oil ground surface. I love the rich warm yellow color of these home grown lemons. They're not at all like what you find in grocery stores. I'll be out of town for a few days with no internet service, so I'll post again in about a week. Have a great week, everyone!

Assortment -a still life painting in oil

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase Today is about as wintery as it gets in Southern California...cold and gray and a "winter storm warning". I don't even know what that means! Anyway, here's a warm and cheerful assortment of stuff. Hope you like it. Special thanks to our friends, Audrey and Ken for sharing their lemons and tangerines.

Lemons -SOLD

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase Something simple on a Monday. Have a great week!

Sunflower In Turquoise -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 10x8 inches magnify/purchase Artwork was coming down from the walls as I furiously tried to finish this piece. I got the objects in and finished the rest at home the next day. Turquoise is such a great color. Might have to paint this little pitcher again sometime.

Sunflowers & Citrus -a still life painting in oil

oil 12x9 inches magnify/purchase Painters need friends who have fruit trees. Thanks, Chris Sayers for bringing fruit with stems and leaves. Makes for much more interesting paintings. You might have noticed the drapery shown in my last post was gray. I've found that by using gray drapery I can lean the color in my painting toward warm or cool, blue or violet, etc. depending on what will complement my subject. So here I leaned toward violet which I like with both the yellows and greens. If you love painting sunflowers, here's a tip I've learned about getting that deep transparent center color. I use transparent red oxide adding ultramarine blue for the really dark parts. Gives you a rich, warm and transparent dark. Then use some of that TRO in the shadow areas of petals, and maybe mixed into the greens a bit here and there for unity. There's one more sunflower painting coming up. I paint them 'till they hang down their heads and die. Reminds me of Tom Dooley. Anybody else remember that song?

Copper Pot

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase Back to my ledge series. With this piece I did something I rarely do. I painted it twice. The first go-around I didn't listen to that little voice in my head saying, "Might be too squeezed up top." I forged ahead, and right on through till at the end, sure enough, it's too squeezed up top. (It has to be either high or low, not in the center.) I was so happy with how the objects were painted, I couldn't bring myself to wipe it off. So I painted it all again, which to me, is torturous! I still like that first lemon. Need to get a ban saw, cut it out and glue it on the second painting! Ha!

Flower Jar & Fruit

oil 8x8 inches click for purchase info and magnifier I enjoyed painting the muted tones in this piece. Even the oranges in shadow were quite neutral. Thursday morning my mother passed away. It's a very sad time for us and we're busy with preparations. She was an amazing lady who loved life and accomplished a lot in her 93 years. I'll miss her so much.