Violet Vase Floral -SOLD

oil 12x12 inches magnify/purchase info The final piece in the January Strada Easel Challenge. I finished this piece fairly late in the evening of the 31st, placed it on the floor of my studio and added all the others. I took the picture below and posted both on Facebook by midnight as the challenge required. I had a great sense of accomplishment. Was I glad it was over? Nope! I can honestly say I never got tired of painting.

Patio Daisies

oil 10x10 inches magnify/purchase info Number 30 in my 31 paintings in 31 days. The light daisies against the dark background makes this a bold painting. I enjoyed painting these common objects on my back patio.

Anza Borrego -plein air paintings from the California Desert

Near the end of January we had scheduled camping trip to Anza Borrego State Park. I had painted there before, but this time the challenge would be squeezing in a painting on arrival day after driving and setting up camp, then again on departure day. With some planning it all worked out. Below are my four daily paintings. If you're interested in a purchase just email me: karenwernerart@gmail.com

DESERT DUSK 6x8 inches. Barely time enough to squeeze this one in. Late afternoon. The sun dropped behind that mountain and instantly the light was gone.

CAMPGROUND PALMS 10x8 inches A morning painting followed immediately by a wind storm. When your paper towel roll is rolling away you are done!

DESERT CHOLLA 9x12 For those of you not familiar with cactus, this is a particularly nasty plant full of fine and painful needles. But boy is is beautiful when the sun shines through. Difficult to capture in paint, but I had fun trying.

BOTANICAL BORREGO 9x12 inches Right outside the campground visitor center there's an informative nature walk. I liked the variety in this grouping, and I liked the nearby restroom too. Always a bonus.

My husband accompanied me on this trip. We enjoyed the many sculptures outside the little town of Borrego Springs, great Mexican Food in town, a hike up Palm Canyon and the REALLY dark quiet nights. So peaceful. I hope you've enjoyed this epic post.

Apple, Grapes & Green

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info This one was painted on a black gessoed panel. It results in a bold look if you leave little bits of the black gesso showing though. Believe me, it's always a challenge to NOT slather every speck of the canvas with paint as if I was painting a wall in my house and going for 100% coverage!

Modern Grannies

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info Once in a while I enjoy painting a fabric pattern in contrast with some very simple objects. I love solving the problem of getting values right even though the pattern's colors change within a shadow shape. The fabric texture is a result of light coverage and some scraping back. More fun stuff. Number 24 of my 31 January paintings. I hope you like it. We are nearing the home stretch, folks! Newer paintings are piling up. I paint faster than I post.

Still Life With Wine Bottle

oil 12x12 inches magnify/purchase info Number 23 of my 31 January paintings. I'm especially happy with the color scheme here; deep reds with that clean blue and natural greens. The objects give it an earthy feel. That's a handmade botanical greeting card in the back from my friend Mary Jo. It carries the horizontal plane beyond the subject matter. Thanks again, Mary Jo.

Turquoise Pitcher

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Number 22 of 31 paintings in 31 days, this is one of my favorites. For me, the benefit of painting every day like I did in January, is being able to work with confidence instead of second guessing as I go along. It results in loose looking brushwork; laying down a stroke and leaving it alone, moving on to the next area and not fussing with things as I go. This painting is a good example. It has the freshness I'm looking for in my work. Back when I was painting mostly watercolor I heard this: "Do you want your painting to be like fresh sushi or well-done beef?" I'm going for the sushi. I've got to paint every day.

Fall Cupcake

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info I loved the subtle color of this cupcake I found at a local bakery back in the fall. It sat in my fridge for a couple of months before I painted it. Hard as a rock, but looked just the same as the day I brought it home! Wish you could see this one in person. It's a sweet little painting, no pun intended.

Chocolate Cheesecake -a still life painting in oil

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info I started painting desserts several years ago, and still they are among my favorite still life subjects. In a nice frame they make great little kitchen paintings whether on the wall or counter top in a decorative easel. This painting is a personal favorite of my 31 January paintings. "Did it taste as good as it looks?", I'm often asked. They usually don't, according to my husband.

Pom & Orange

oil 6x8 inches magnify/purchase info Number 18 of January's 31 Paintings in 31 Days.

A Cow Named Mocha -a plein air painting from Amy's Farm

oil 9x12 magnify/purchase info Afternoon at Amy's Farm, Mocha was intent on her lunch and staying there a while it seemed. I set up quickly, snapped a lot of pictures and painted her first. She changed positions several times, so I relied on memory and the photos. Mocha is the new bovine star to groups of children on field trips at Amy's Farm. I painted her predecessor, the late "Grandma Tina", back in 2014. (below, sold.)

Leftovers -a still life painting in oil

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Number 16 of 31 paintings in 31 days. I'm sorry it's so long between posts. Life has been hectic lately! Though I have been painting, I haven't been sitting down at the computer to post. This painting is an assortment of leftovers from my still life workshop. There is something refreshing about orange and green together. Grapes thrown in for a dark value.

Blue Plate Special - sold

oil 6x8 inches magnify/purchase info #15 from the Strada Easel Challenge, 31 paintings in 31 days. This is a demonstration I did for my January two day workshop.

Blue Bowl Bird

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info #13 in the Strada Easel Challenge. This is one of my ceramic birds. Wouldn't it be great if a real bird could pose while I paint?

Patty's Pitcher -a still life in oil

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Number 12 in the Strada Easel 31 Day Challenge. Continuing with the orange and green color scheme, this is a collection of various objects I especially enjoy painting. Variety of texture is something I consider oftentimes. Here we have glass, ceramic, wood (kinda), flower and paper. The greeting card gives more solidity to the horizontal plane the objects share.

Notions -a still life painting in oil

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Here we have things in a jar again, and I continued with the orange and green color scheme. This will look great in my sewing room if someone doesn't snatch it up. # 11 in the Strada Easel 31 Day Challenge, 31 paintings in 31 days.

Cad Orange -a still life painting in oil SOLD

oil 6x6 inches magnify/purchase info On days when I have just a little time to paint, I paint small. This was one of those days. For you fellow painters out there, when you don't know what to paint you can paint what you paint with. I'm always attracted to the grungy patina on my brush washer and never tire of painting it. Orange and green as a color scheme was new for me and with this painting I inadvertently started a mini series of orange and green which you'll see in my next few posts. A painting about cad orange, but ironically I almost never use cad orange. I mix my oranges with cad yellow light and cad red light, both Utrecht. (Brand makes a difference in the yellow.) Number 10 in the Strada Easel 31 Day Challenge. IN OTHER NEWS: I'll soon set dates for March and April 2 Day Workshops in my studio here in Upland, Ca. If you'd like to be on my email list for workshop notifications, send me an email at karenwernerart@gmail.com

Conglomeration

oil 12x12 inches magnify/purchase info I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I had with this. Number 9 in the Strada Easel Challenge, 31 paintings in 31 days.

Afternoon Lemons -a plein air painting of lemons

oil 12x12 inches magnify/purchase info Each sunny day during the January challenge I tried to make it a plein air day. When my painting time was short because of other demands, I looked for subjects in my back yard. A still life outdoors is something I've wanted to do for a long time, so I quickly set thie up. It was late so I had to paint furiously before the shade enveloped the whole yard. I even moved the whole setup about half way through to the last patch of sunshine. Still, the last 30 minutes I painted from memory. I like the looseness of this piece...no time to tighten up or overwork.

Marble & A Meyer

oil 8x6 inches magnify/purchase info #7 in the Strada 31 Day Challenge.