Workshop Fruit

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info Eight hard working students joined me in Redlands on Saturday for a one day workshop. We worked on design, value studies and color studies, and they all did a great job. Just a couple of the ladies hard at work are pictured below. I need a photographer. I get so excited about what we're doing that I forget to take pictures! Late in the afternoon I squeezed out this little demo. Today in the studio I fixed the plate that had ended up a bit wonky. What a fun day in Redlands! Thank you, Redlands Art Associaton.

See that wine bottle? We were talking about symmetry...not drinking it. Just making that clear. :-)

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!

Tomates -an oil painting of tomatoes in Paris

oil 14x11 inches magnify/purchase info I just realized I've never posted this painting I did last month. I used a photo I took at fruit stand in Paris. The photo was already a nice abstract arrangement of circles and lines, not to mention the gorgeous color. I don't use thalo blue very often, but that was one aspect I enjoyed the most; a great foil to all the reds. IN OTHER NEWS: This Tuesday night I'll demonstrate for the Redlands Art Association, 215 E. State St., Redlands, CA. 7:00 pm. Open to the public.

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.

Pink

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info This was an experiment painted with no reference. No nearby roses or pictures of roses. It has an experimental price to go with it. WORKSHOP NEWS: I still have room in my March workshop. The April workshop is full. Email me if you're interested in the March or future workshops. karenwernerart@gmail.com

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

In Monet's Kitchen -SOLD

oil 12x9 inches magnify/purchase info I thought I would work a bit from my b-zillion photos I took in France. Yes, Monet's entire kitchen is bright yellow. I enjoyed painting this because of the yellows. I love mixing the various colors of yellow in shadow. That's why lemons are so much fun. For my fellow oil painters out there: I always mix my own yellow ochre rather than using a tube of yellow ochre. I use cad yellow light (Utrect), cad red light and ultramarine blue. I can get a richer yellow ochre than what's in a tube, and I can swing it cool by adding more blue, or warm by adding more red and yellow. You have to play with your ratios in tiny increments, but it's a lot of fun to see the beautiful range of yellow ochres you can get. Try painting a lemon in light and shadow with just these three colors. You might need a little white to mix in, but only for the highlight.

Beater Bikes

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info I took some photos of the old bikes at Treasures & Junk in Ontario. Sometimes called "beater bikes" by serious cyclists, they're all beat up and pretty much theft proof. Great for riding around in the city. Painting from photos lately I'm seeing progress. Finally I can make it a painting rather than just a copy of a photo. Simplifying shapes, loose brushwork and not fussing it to death.

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.

Rocky Range Ranch -an oil painting from Colorado -SOLD

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info I don't really know the name of this ranch. It's a made up title. :-) One of the drawbacks of painting from photos is the danger of just copying the photo. I can end up with a too accurate stiff rendering. I'm particularly happy with this one however, as it has some abstract qualities and expressive boldness.

Boats & Bouys -a plein air oil painting from Balboa Island, CA -sold

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info Happy New Year everyone! This is my last painting of 2015. I took off down to Balboa Island on the last day of the year for some plein air with my feet in the sand. The sun was out and it was about 68 degrees in the shade. I was overdue for this kind of stuff, so it felt like Heaven. I used a very limited palette of color: T white, Cad Yellow light, Cad Red light, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt and Alizarin. I painted pretty fast in an effort to keep it fresh, not overworked. It took me two hours to drive home in the holiday traffic, but I don't mind. It was a great way to end the year.

Hollyhock Window -a Colorado ranch scene in oil -SOLD

oil 14x11 inches magnify/purchase info While painting on an old ranch in Colorado, storm clouds began to blow in fast. We packed up our stuff quickly to avoid getting soaked. It lasted about five minutes. Rather than set up again, I went out with my camera. I found these gems near the back porch of the little old farmhouse. I painted this back in September. Happy New Year, everyone!

Aspens -a Colorado landscape in oil

oil 9x12 inches magnify/purchase info Another piece using my photos from Colorado. The goal here was to convey the light on those glowing aspens. I lightened up and simplified those dark clouds a bit, but still they're pretty powerful in the painting.

Home On The Range -a Colorado landscape in oil -SOLD

oil 11x14 inches magnify/purchase info Finally, one fresh off the easel. I worked this up from my photo reference taken September 2014 in Southern Colorado. We were staying at a lodge on "the front range." Though it looked like a flat prairie, we were actually at 8,000 ft. elevation on the eastern slope of the Rockies. No wonder I was breathless just moving around! We had dramatic skies the whole time. First time I've used cobalt straight out of the tube for sky. It was that brilliant. Gotta love Colorado skies!

Winter Arrangement II -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 10x10 inches magnify/purchase info I love having a contrast of textures in my arrangements: the shiny hammered silver versus the pinecone and dried little pomegranates for example. My sister-in-law gave me this plant at Thanksgiving, and the crisp white flowers were a lot of fun to paint. How do you paint something so complicated? First I block in the dark green foliage amid and around the flowers. Then a few warmer, slightly lighter greens within the darks. Next, I painted the shadow sides of the flowers, indicating the petal shapes with brushwork. Then I painted the light, warm sides of the flowers, using brushwork again to convey shape and form. Last, I added a few bright green and yellow-white accents and the yellow orange centers. I'm not sure I'll be able to post again before Christmas, so MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY belated HANUKKAH to everyone!

Apple Of His Eye -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 8x6 inches magnify/purchase info A short painting session called for a small canvas and simple subject. Looking at the one simple apple in my hand, a Bible verse came to mind: "Keep me as the apple of the eye. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings." It's a prayer, actually. Psalm 17:8 I deliberately formed a cross with my brushes. So here we have what might be considered a "religious" painting without looking "religious." It's more about a relationship, really.

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.

Bossy Blue Crock -a still life painting in oil -SOLD

oil 11x14 inches magnify/purchase information For this painting I used window light again. I'm not happy with this photo, due to the glare on shiny paint strokes in the darks. Lighting and photographing are just two of the things I have to figure out in the new place. On the positive side, I had a great time painting the color shifts in the apples and the shiny ceramic crock.

While I wasn't posting (or painting) the last few days, I took a quick trip to see my Idaho granddaughters. They are more precious than any painting.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE! Thank you for your interest in my work, your comments and your purchases.

Studio Props -a still life painting in oil

oil 11x14 magnify/purchase info All my painting panels seem to have shrunk. In my bigger studio a 9x12 appears very small, and a 6x6 absolutely miniscule! For this 11x14 I experimented with using only natural light. Two hours into the painting dark clouds came over and it started raining. I had to quit. The next day I got back at it while heating and air conditioning was being installed. Here are some progress shots. Notice how small that 11x14 panel looks on my easel! I keep thinking about goldfish and koi. I've heard they grow bigger in a bigger bowl/pond.