Sit A Spell

oil 8x8 inches For a closer look and purchase info click here. We visited artsy Cannon Beach, Oregon a few years ago. This great old house was a studio gallery. Once in a while I like to use a completely different type of brush just to keep things fresh. I normally use flats or filberts, but this was done with synthetic brights. I really enjoyed the resulting geometric marks. IN OTHER NEWS: NEWPORT BEACH ART IN THE PARK is this Saturday. Come for the perfect weather and great art! 10-4 On the Civic Center Green, 100 Civic Center Drive. Artists for this event are carefully juried in for the quality of their work. You'll see many different art forms. Definitely worth the visit! I'll have framed and loose paintings, over 100 in total to browse through. Come sit and visit with me a while. I hope to see you there!

New Shoes For Charlie

oil 9x12 inches For a closer look and purchase info click here. In June some of my painting buddies and I painted out at a horse ranch in Rancho Cucamonga called Baker Scudder Farms. Charlie is my friend, Martha's horse and he happened to be getting new shoes that day, so he was reasonably stationary for our painting session. I used shots on my iPhone to paint the human who moved a LOT! Thanks to Martha, Baker Scudder Farms and Charlie too. It was a great morning painting with my buddies. IN OTHER NEWS: I have two spaces available in my September 9&10 Workshop here at my studio in Upland, CA. For more info email me: karenwernerart@gmail.com

Fountain Rest -a plein air painting from the Orange Circle, City of Orange, CA

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info Seldom do I go back into a dried painting, but on this one I did. My aim was to bring more attention to the figure. Below is the painting before reworking it.

Crystal Cove Painter -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info In March I joined the American Impressionist Society's paint out at Crystal Cove. About 50 fellow members had come from all over the country. It was fun to see a favorite painting spot full of artists doing our thing.

Island Kids -a plein air painting from Balboa Island, CA. SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify Sorry my posts are slow in coming. I'm still getting my energy back two weeks after my sinus surgery. No oil painting (breathing solvent fumes) for me for another week. I can't tell you how anxious I am to get back to it. Meanwhile, this painting has a story. I set up to paint in some late afternoon shade. While drawing in, I planned to watch for people on the bench and include them. Along comes two moms with kids in tow. The kids are interested in what I'm up to. They walk right up and start asking questions. I tell them I'm drawing in, then mixing the colors I see while watching that bench for people I could put in my painting. "Can WE be in your painting?", the boy asks bursting with excitement. Well, sure. But I have to take your pictures, so go ask your mom if that's okay. Well the moms were as excited as the kids. I told them I needed one adult on the bench for a size difference. They went back and forth a bit about which of them "looked better" to be in the painting! I settled it by picking the one with the red hat. Turns out this is a Balboa Island family. They were "home." No wonder they were excited. I painted this in two afternoons. During that time another friendly island resident told me all about the little upside down sailboats. Each boat is assigned to a nine year old on the island who is taught to sail by a sixteen year old who learned the same way. The children's names are on the rack. The masts are sticking up in the center of the rack. I've spent a lot of time on Balboa Island over the years, but hadn't ever thought about what childhood would be like growing up there. So different! Back to the painting, I thought the helmet added whimsy, and their little dangling feet and shadows added charm. The grandparents came to the gallery and bought the painting. This will go down as one of my favorite plein air experiences.

Morning Walk -a plein air painting from Balboa Island, CA -sold

oil 12x9 inches magnify I chose a nice cool spot Wednesday morning. The street lamps were still on when I started. The sun eventually broke through. This view is looking toward "the little island" from Balboa. The painting is framed and available at Huse Gallery, 229 Marine Ave., Suite E, Balboa Island, CA. 949-723-6171. This is one of my favorites from the week, having a quiet peaceful feel to it. WORKSHOP NEWS: I have one space in my October 8-9 Workshop, and three spots in my November 5-6 Workshop. We paint still life from life in my large studio building in Upland. Limited to 6 students, you'll get a lot of individual coaching. Suitable for beginners with some experience and intermediate painters. If you're in Southern California, treat yourself to some good instruction. One of my recent attendees told me, "I feel like I got two years of art school in two days!" For more info, email me at karenwernerart@gmail.com I'll email you a description of the content and cost.

Island Posse -a plein air painting from Balboa Island -SOLD

oil 12x9 inches magnify Here's first painting last week at "Just Plein Fun" on Balboa Island. I'm very happy to announce that I was awarded Third Place and a Purchase Award for this piece. Thank you to esteemed judge Jean Stern and Debra Huse Gallery. About my process: While setting up and drawing in the design, I had my phone ready and watched for people, interesting cars and such going through the alley. I chose these little kids from the ten shots I took. I then drew in the figures. I painted the entire scene, then the figures from my phone. I love being able to include simple figures in my work. In four and a half days I managed to finish 7 paintings. Someone asked me recently if the pressure of competition gets to me. No. I love the process of painting SO much, I just do my best like I usually do, enjoy myself, then put it out there for people to see. It is what it is. Some will love it, some will like it and some will not. That's art. I'll post all the paintings in upcoming posts. Here's a better photo of the painting.

Winning any award is the icing on the cake. Do I look happy? You betcha!

Bronze Ballerina -an oil painting of Degas' sculpture -SOLD

oil 14x11 inches magnify/purchase info Musee D'Orsay in Paris houses this famous Degas bronze. She's in a plexiglass case that transformed fellow viewers into abstract shapes. I really enjoyed painting this one, and I'm quite happy with how it turned out. IN OTHER NEWS: I have just scheduled a couple of two day workshops in my new studio, one in March and one in April. "Painting the Lively Still Life" is open to beginning and intermediate oil painters. Location: Upland, California. If you would like more information, email me at karenwernerart@gmail.com

Bumper Cars

oil 9x12 magnify not for sale This is my granddaughter, Grace driving a bumper car for the first time at the LA County Fair. I had so much fun with color and highlights in this one! UPCOMING EVENTS: Next month I'll demonstrate for the Redlands Art Association on the 23rd at 7pm. Then on the 27th I'll teach a Saturday one day workshop for RAA titled "Painting the Lively Still Life in Oil." The workshop is limited to 12 students, so sign up early! For more info or to sign up, click here.

War Stories -an oil painting from Planes of Fame Museum, Chino SOLD

oil 11x14 inches magnify/purchase info Here's a painting I did back in March but never posted. I took the photo reference on a visit to the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino. I loved how the light shone on the seated veteran's white hair. Maybe they were telling stories of Vietnam. I have such deep respect for our veterans that for me, it was a poignant scene. For the vets who may be reading this, THANK YOU and God bless you.

Paint The Banana! -SOLD

oil 10x8 inches magnify Here's the last painting for Just Plein Fun, the quick draw. We had from 4-6:15pm to paint a scene from Marine Avenue, frame it and get it into the gallery. What a lot of fun! Throughout the week just about everyone painted one of the frozen banana signs at one time or another. I chose it for my quick draw because it's so iconic for the little island. This piece is available through the Debra Huse Gallery 949-723-6171.

In The Zone -a plein air painting from the Balboa Fun Zone, CA -SOLD

oil 14x11 magnify This painting is available at the Debra Huse Gallery 949-723-6171. This is a back of my car shot before I took it into the gallery, and below an easel shot. Fortunately I got set up early enough to start this piece before the ferris wheel started up. I got the drawing in without any figures, then painted the ferris wheel first, then the rest of the scene. I added the figures last from shots I had taken with my iphone while painting, then painted the sidewalk around them. Lastly, I did some edge work for a feeling of movement. Several of the competing artists painted this scene. Nice to see the different interpretations. IN OTHER NEWS: I have a demonstration coming up on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Victoria Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga. Associated Artists of the Inland Empire will hold their annual show in Celebration Hall. Demo is from 10am till 9pm with breaks for lunch and dinner. Over 300 pieces of artwork will be on display Sept 11-13. Come on out to Victoria Gardens for a meal at one of the restaurants and enjoy the art!

Got Candy? -a plein air painting from Balboa Island, CA -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches This painting is available at the Debra Huse Gallery. Last chance to purchase one of the many great paintings for Just Plein Fun Invitational! Just visit the website to see them all. 949-723-6171 While I was MIA, my husband and I enjoyed a two week once-in-a-lifetime trip to Paris. I hope you enjoy the pictures below. Now we are packing up the house. In the next few weeks we'll move about 10 miles north to Upland. I'm very excited because I'll have a much larger studio for painting and teaching. Don't know if I can keep painting while preparing to move, but I'm going to try.

Montmarte was my favorite place in Paris. It was thrilling to walk the cobblestones the impressionists walked and eat lunch while surrounded by artists selling their work. Sacre Couer, at the top of the hill was my favorite cathedral of the many we visited.

Balboa Bronco -a plein air painting from Balboa Island, CA.

oil 12x9 inches magnify First morning's painting for the Just Plein Fun Invitational. I set up to paint this mechanical horsie and the colorful storefront. Children hopped on an off while I painted, but this one little boy in particular became my official model. Once he discovered I was painting him, he kept coming back to model again and again, looking over at me to see if I was looking at him. Adorable! What a great way to start the week! This painting is available for purchase at The Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island. 949-723-6171.

Here are some of the thirteen invited artists. (from top left) Tom Biagini, myself, Michelle Byrne, Sally Jordan, Eileen McCullough, David Solomon, Rita Pacheco, Susie Hyer.

Botanical Stroll -a plein air oil painting from Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens SOLD

oil 9x2 inches magnify/purchase "Life is what happens while you are making other plans." Just got back from a family emergency in Idaho. Thankfully, everybody's doing fine now. Here's a painting I did a few weeks ago at the Botanical Gardens in Claremont. While starting I snapped a few shots of folks walking up the path. I added this couple last using my phone shot as reference. Most of these greens have thalo green in them. I've since removed that pigment from my palette. I decided it's a bit loud for me even when neutralized with some red. I prefer to mix my own greens from the primaries or pre-mix a green from Payne's Gray and Cad Lemon before I go out. Greens can be tricky. I like them natural, not loud. That being said, I am still pleased with the color harmony in this painting.

Spring Farm Work -a plein air oil painting at Amy's Farm

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info I took advantage of a cloudy day and headed over to Amy's Farm. It was a nice cool day to paint. The volunteers working in the field kept moving of course, but I managed to paint them very quickly and then paint the scene around them after they moved on.

Fountain Rest -a plein air oil painting of the Orange Circle

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase Our weather has been beautiful and I've gotten out to paint the last two days. Friday I painted this at the Orange Circle. It sprinkled a bit, but I just kept painting. My little dog Sandy went along and attracted lots of nice folks, especially children who wanted to pet her. I enjoyed painting and chatting with them as the cars swirled around the circle. They're swirling much faster than they did when I was a kid, and honking now too. We have become so impatient, especially in our cars. All those honkers need to sit by this fountain a while! I think this man discovered that I was painting him. He soon got up and left before I could get the dog in. I added the dog last by looking at my iphone shot.

Ice Cream For Breakfast -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase Dad's on Balboa Island is home to the original frozen banana. I couldn't resist painting this young man having a morning cone.

Pasta Prep

oil 12x12 This is a commissioned piece I finished about two weeks ago. I snapped the photo reference for this at Il Fornaio Italian Restaurant in Pasadena. This is the first of three cafe scenes for my client. We had ten days of non-stop family fun, and now our Idaho son and family are on their way to Mammoth Lakes. With being sick the week before, then all the activities, I've been away from my easel for two weeks. I'm hoping to pick up a paintbrush today while working through 43 loads of laundry. It's all good. 102 degrees outside...a great day for laundry and still life inside. UPCOMING EVENTS: BALBOA ISLAND ART WALK, Sunday May 19th. 100 artists and live music along the sea wall, 9-5pm. I'll be near Pearl Drive. SO looking forward to this!!! Come see me!

Figure Study

oil 12x9 inches not for sale With this study from my Tuesday night class, I concentrated on natural skin tones. I used the Zorn palette with two reds: cad red light in the lights and cad red medium in the shadows. This helped me mix the temperatures I wanted. I'm really happy with this study in that I was able to get a reasonable likeness and also an emotional quality. FYI, she is blonde and wearing a large black scarf. I was so far away from the model, I couldn't see much detail in her facial features. I was forced to simplify. A good thing.