Reflecitons In Blue

 

Reflections In Blue  oil 6x6 inches

Purchase info here. 

A simple still life with one of our smaller meyer lemons.

Lemon Juice

 

Lemon Juice  6x8 oil 

Purchase info here.

This is my next attempt at undermixing paint and imperfect brushwork using a scruffy hog bristle.  In the upper right background shape you can easily see the striations of color within a brush stroke.  This is what I'm after with this approach.  I see some energy and movement back there rather than just a monotonous plane of color.

Look At Me Lemon

 

Look At Me Lemon   -an original oil painting 8x8 inches

Purchase info here.  

I painted this from life in my studio back in March.  Back then it was just the beginning of what has turned out to be a long, long attempt at staying hidden from a virus.  The carnations held out for several paintings, which will follow here on my blog.  I am grateful every day that I'm a painter.  It's a somewhat solitary endeavor anyway.  I hope you are well and keeping busy.  Thank you for following my work here.  

Clippings, Coffee & Cream

oil 12x12 inches I'm delighted to announce the acceptance of this piece into The American Impressionist Society's 21st Annual National Juried Exhibition. Illume Gallery, St. George, Utah October 22-November 21, 2020. I'm especially excited to be included for two reasons: St. George is a drivable distance, so I'll be able to attend the AIS festivities and paint-outs for the first time. Here's hoping COVID has died down by then! Secondly, this is the 5th consecutive AIS show I have been included in, so in the fall I can apply for AIS Signature Status. I'm very grateful and humbled to be included with so many master impressionist painters. Follow me on Instagram: karenwernerart Website: www.karenwernerart.com

Demo For Rancho

oil 12x12 inches This was a demonstration I painted from life for Associated Artists of the Inland Empire in Rancho Cucamonga. I was able to complete it mostly within the 1 1/2 hours allotted to me. It's a fresh-looking painting because I had to paint quickly and leave my strokes alone. This is a great exercise for any painter who wants their work to be loose and fresh, not overworked. Give yourself a time limit. Use big brushes and paint faster than you normally would. Keep going forward. Don't go back into an area and mess with it. This brings a memory to mind: I had lunch with a couple of accomplished watercolorists more than a decade ago, and one of them shared a quote I've always remembered: "I want my work to be like fresh sushi, not well-done beef."

Red Reflecting

oil 6x6 inches Purchase info here. A simple demonstration of reflection in silver done for one of my workshops.

Lemon In The Pot

Purchase info here.    oil 6x8 

 This little piece was a pleasure to paint! I found this extremely reflective brown teapot in a Caldwell, Idaho thrift shop. IN OTHER NEWS! I've scheduled a Paint The Lively Still Life workshop for June 8-9 here at my studio in Upland, CA. For more information email me at karenwernerart@gmail.com MORE NEWS!I'm SO excited for the Balboa Art Walk this coming Sunday May 19! 9-5 along South Bay Front on the island. 90 artists, live music, sunshine and ocean breezes! Don't miss it! Park in the big Balboa Pier parking lot, take the ferry across on foot, and turn left when you step off the ferry to find me. I'll have newly framed work, and lots and lots of loose paintings. Come find that special gift or treat yourself to a piece of original art!

Fruit On Silver

oil 8x8 inches Purchase info here. A quick and loose painting from November. My, where does the time fly? This weekend I taught a successful workshop to a small but hard-working group. Even experienced painters said they learned new things! I still have a few openings in my February workshop if you'd like to join us. Just email me at karenwernerart@gmail.com The first day of my workshop I teach design principles, lighting considerations, tips for accurate drawing and value. The value of values cannot be overstated! Here are my two quick value study demos.

Kettle & Color

oil 9x12 inches Purchase info here. My brand new super shiny tea kettle was perfect for creating reflections in this still life. I have a beautiful antique silver frame that's perfect for this painting if you'd like to purchase it ready to hang. Let me know through email. The PayPal link to purchase is for the painting only. IN OTHER NEWS: I still have three openings in my workshop THIS COMING WEEKEND! If you'd like to jump in, just send me an email.

Still Life On A Party Napkin

oil 8x8 inches Purchase info here. Here's a summery painting I did back in August. Only recently was I able to get a decent photo of it. It's a gloomy drizzly day here in So Cal. Maybe this piece will remind us of warmer days picking flowers and eating peaches.

Garlic & Onion

oil 6x8 inches Purchase info here. This painting will be part of "UnreNOUNed", a group show at Claremont Community Foundation through December and January. Come and see "ordinary persons, places and things" painted by Jackie Knell, Martha Cowan and myself. Reception Dec. 1 6-8pm. Public is invited. The painting is framed and available for purchase online. Just click the link above. IN OTHER NEWS: UPCOMING WORKSHOPS! Painting The Lively Still Life workshops are scheduled for January 19-20 and February 9-10. These are two day intensive workshops for experienced beginner and intermediate oil painters. Two full days of structured teaching and coaching in my Upland, CA Studio. I also offer a private introductory class for absolute beginners who want to register for the workshop. If you would like to know more, email me at karenwernerart@gmail.com

As In A Mirror

oil 6x6 inches Purchase info here. Orange is such a luscious color! I have two openings left in my upcoming workshop, April 21 and 22 at my home studio in Upland, CA. Beginners and intermediate. Still life can be fresh and lively. Still life can teach you how to paint, improve your skills and prepare you to paint any subject. I'll show you how. You'll learn A LOT while having fun, coffee, laughs, and snacks. Find out more by emailing me at karenwernerart@gmail.com

Reflecting Red

oil 8x8 inches For purchase info click here. At my recent Advanced Still Life workshop we worked on reflections in metal. This is my demo painting. Just TWO DAYS LEFT of FREE SHIPPING on any painting in my gallery. Cash refund for shipping paid with an online purchase. See all my work here.

Peach & The Giant Peony

oil 12x9 inches For a closer look and purchase info, click here. Peachy pinks, reds and oranges on a taupe background make for a soothing color palette here. Another painting that's much prettier in person despite my new camera.

Snake River

oil 9x12 inches For a closer look and purchase info, click here. I painted this on location, but reworked it quite a bit in the studio when I got home. Thankfully, TSA left my paints alone in my suitcase, but this painting arrived home with a scrape down the center. Maybe they stuck something down into my panel carrier between the wet paintings or pulled the paintings out. There's no way to know. In any case, fortunately I had planned to finish this one at home anyway. It was a hot day on the river, and hopefully you get that feeling from the painting.

Bowl & Creamer -sold

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info The metal creamer and bowl were accidentally left in my studio after workshops. I'm taking good care of them until their owners return.

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.

The Radiant Tree -a plein air painting from The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info Recently I applied and was accepted into the Huntington Library art guild. This gives me permission to paint on the grounds of the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino. They are very protective of their grounds and museums, and rightfully so. I promised to not block the walkways, not to paint over walkways, not pour my turp out in the bushes (who does that?!!), bring no food, and take my trash home. That's what I do wherever I paint, so I shouldn't be too much of a threat! Yesterday we had 75 degree weather. A perfect day to give it a first go. I headed to the Chinese Garden area and wandered a bit until this tree stopped me in my tracks. The reflections were especially fun. I hope you like it.

Famy's Creamer -SOLD

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info As a rule, I don't give painting lessons. However, there's a really nice story as to how I acquired one oil painting student. But I'm not telling. She asked me to paint her little stainless steel creamer. It was a blast. Shiny stuff is really exciting. If you're interested in learning from me, I teach 2 day oil painting workshops in my large home studio in Upland, CA. They are geared for beginners with some drawing and painting experience and intermediate oil painters. I'll be setting dates for a workshop in January and February shortly. For more info, just get on my mailing list. Send me an email at karenwernerart@gmail.com

Shiny Fruit Fest -a still life painting in oil

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Here's the last demo for my workshop. We painted a few very small studies, then a couple of 6x6's. When I picked up this 8x8 it seemed HUGE! I paint 8x8's all the time, but I just about needed a ruler to convince myself it was really only an 8x8. Funny how your eye or mind gets accustomed to a particular scale so quickly. I've included a studio shot below in which the color is more accurate. Now I'm off to run Camp Gramma for three days. I expect no painting, but a lot of fun and cuddles.