Gallery Still Life from the Randy Higbee Gallery

oil 12x12 inches Purchase info here. In September The California Art Club met at the Randy Higbee Gallery for a Paint Out. This is my painting from that wonderful day. In these days of quarantine that memory is even more precious; making new artist friends, doing what I love with others who love it too, and enjoying a delicious lunch together. There were about 30 of us there that day. Some chose to paint various still lifes that had been skillfully set up for us, and others painted from the live model. It's hard to describe the overwhelming positive energy in the room. It was a great day! I hope there are more days like that ahead, and I hope you are well and finding things to keep you busy. I haven't posted much, but I've been busy painting, sewing masks for nurses, crocheting beanies, even trying my hand at crochet bead necklaces. Staying home this long is mentally challenging! What are you doing to keep busy?

Demo With A Lemon Wedge

oil 8x8 inches For a closer look and purchase info, click here. This is a demonstration painting from June for the Westlake Village Art Guild. The evening demonstration included a delicious dinner and an enthusiastic audience. They have invited me back next January to teach a three day workshop, and filled the workshop that evening! I'm very much looking forward to it! IN OTHER NEWS: If you'd like to learn how to paint in oils or improve your skills, I have openings in my upcoming September 9 and 10 workshop here at my studio in Upland, CA. For out of towners, lodging is only six miles away in the quaint college town of Claremont. To sign up or find out more, email me at karenwernerart@gmail.com

Winesaps -a still life painting in oil

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase information Sometimes the painting I'm working on gives me an idea for the next one. The color shifts in some apples amaze me, so I made that the focus in "Winesaps." On a personal note, life has been spinning at warp speed since the end of August. Paris trip, moving, Idaho trip, Thanksgiving, and currently staying with three of our grandkids for nine days while their parents have an anniversary getaway. Somehow I sneak in a bit of painting here and there. Maybe normal will return in January! IN OTHER NEWS: I'm THRILLED to announce that last night I was awarded First Place at the Debra Huse Gallery for my painting "Lemon & Grape Junction." What a wonderful surprise and honor! Thank you, judge Jeff Horn and Debra Huse Gallery. Be sure to see all the wonderful small works in Holiday Treasures Salon, Debra Huse Gallery on Balboa Island. It runs through Dec. 27th and works are also online for viewing and purchase. Click HERE, go to EVENTS and scroll down.

Photo credit: fellow artist Kim Vanderhoek. Thank you, Kim.

Fruit Trio -a still life painting in oil

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Here's the demonstration I did yesterday afternoon for the Loma Linda Art Association. I was able to finish it during the meeting for the most part, then make some minor adjustments at home this morning. That orange surprised me when I cut into it and saw the beautiful Cara Cara color.

Top Shelf -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 12x9 inches magnify/purchase Here's the top shelf of my still life paraphenalia rack. I didn't move a thing. A large window to the immediate right of the shelf provides some light and sparkle. Those are wide ribbons hanging on the corner in case you wonder. I had fun with this. I do love sparkle.

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 & Eucalyptus

oil 16x12 inches click for purchase information and magnifier Some grocery store sunflowers with eucalyptus clippings. Out on old dairy land I found some huge unattended eucalyptus right by the side of the road. I love the variety of greens with the yellow sunflowers. Tomorrow night the 6 Squared show opens at the Randy Higbee Gallery in Costa Mesa. I'm really looking forward to seeing all the great little works and meeting fellow artists!

Thoughts Of Van Gogh-sold

oil on canvas panel 12x9 inches

SOLD

This painting is from a few months ago, and was the first time I tried using the Zorn palette: yellow ochre, cad red medium, black and white. When I found the Dutch doll and yellow chair in a thrift shop I thought of Van Gogh. The little mini creamer came from Holland when my mother visited decades ago. I added my oldest paintbrushes, and there you have it. If I hadn't mentioned Van Gogh would he have come to mind?

My brother purchased this painting recently. "Thoughts of Van Gogh" is off to Brighton, CO.

Paint Like A Girl

watercolor on Arches 12 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

And now for a bit of whimsy...one of my brush holders poses for her portrait.

Old Pitcher With Fruit-sold

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
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Another difficult subject because of the glass, but I loved the reflections of grapes and lemon on the side of the pitcher. As in another recent painting, the "red" grapes were so many colors...lots of fun to paint.

Green Tea With Lemon-sold

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
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It seems that difficult subjects attract me. I had planned to paint something simple, but I couldn't resist this transparent green glass. It was a tough one, but the soggy teabag is my favorite part.

Red Fruit With Greens-sold

oil on canvas panel 12x16 inches
SOLD
Here's the final painting, finished at 1:00am this morning. I hope you like it. My favorite parts are the cup, apple and olives. My mother gave me the cup and saucer which are decorated with dogwood blossoms. I love painting the decorative elements on ceramic pieces....especially this one. The legend of the dogwood is worth looking up. The blossoms have a crown of thorns in the center, and red stains at the end of each petal. These resulted as part of a curse on the tree after Jesus was crucified for us on a cross made of dogwood...reminders of what He did for you and me.

Reds SOLD

oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches

Maybe it's the sunshine, but I woke up this morning and thought, "great day to paint something RED!"

Chocolate Bunny -sold

oil on linen panel 8x6 inches
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Easter has come and gone, but we have lingering candy. The bunny is so cute, and I thought painting chocolate, cellophane and ribbon for the first time might be a fun challenge. It was lots of fun!

Fruit And Shine-SOLD

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
sold
I didn't post Sat. or Sun. due to some fun times with family. Yesterday I painted outside at Joshua Tree National Park. There are SO many good things to paint there, but I tried to get too much in one painting and ended up with a "wipe out"! Determined to get a painting done, I came home and painted this in the evening. Grapes are so much fun!

Antique Jar And Strawberries

oil on linen panel 8x6 inches
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A friend gave me this beautiful jar which had belonged to her grandmother. I just love the color. In this painting I have a more subtle use of that superpower--thalo blue. (Whew!) The strawberries are from a field just a few blocks from our house. I added the avocado because the stem added an interesting contrast to all the round shapes. I'm very happy with how this jar turned out. I took my time and really enjoyed myself. Thank you, Paula, for this great little jar!

Pepper Jar

oil on canvas panel 8x6 inches
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I took a little break from painting and posting to celebrate Easter. It was great family time, especially this year as we had relatives visiting from out of town. I painted this before my break, and now I see the blue is absolutely obnoxious! Perhaps this painting has finally gotten all the attraction to thalo blue out of my system. Later I may try a similar one with another more civilized background color. It was good practice painting a jar its distortions.

Fruit Tart -sold

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
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The Local Baker in old downtown Upland makes these pretty little tarts. You know you're crazy about painting when you think "great subject to paint" before you think "yummy!" Well, it was both. If I had painted faster, it would have been fresher...but it was still yummy. You sure can't go back and "fiddle" some more on your painting when you've eaten the subject!

Pile Of Peppers

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches

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Peppers again...just can't resist these little beauties!

Hot Lineup -sold

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
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Peppers are a popular subject, as you might imagine, because of their beautiful color. I liked the lines of shadow created by the stems and the little dark shadows near the pepper edges. I chose the blue thinking Munsell color wheel. This gave it Southwest look I think. A fun little painting to do.