Laguna Beach Shores – Oil Painting Seascape by California Impressionist Karen Winters
Laguna Beach Shores
12 x 16 inches, oil painting on canvas
See all of my Laguna Beach paintings here
This painting is for sale. If you are interested in it please write: karen@karenwinters.com and use Laguna Beach Shores in the subject line. This is also on the seascape page of my website, see the link on the right under “Other Places on this Site”
For the past two summers we’ve enjoyed visiting Laguna not only to see the art festival but the sparkling beauty of the landscape, the golden shores and deep turquoise water. This new painting is a result of that inspiration.
What I especially like about this one: I like the contrast of the warm cliffs and sand against the complimentary cool blues and greens of the sea and landscaping of Heisler Park, which overlooks this serene scene.
South Pasadena Painting – Plein air Paint out – Arroyo Drive Sycamores
The Sycamores of Arroyo Drive, South Pasadena
12 x 16 oil painting
This painting is available.
Write karen@karenwinters.com
This is the second in the series of paintings I’ll be bringing to the California Art Club Rialto Visions show. The Collector’s Preview is Tuesday night at the South Pasadena Library on El Centro Ave. Last week I was on Arroyo Drive, which skirts the Arroyo Seco in South Pasadena. Looking southward in the 400 block, the sycamores are just beginning to color up. In a few weeks they may either be brilliant orange and gold or a dusty brown. The coloration change seems to vary with the weather. In the afternoon the light streams through the trees, casting long shadows across the street. A baseball field in to the right, down the hill behind the trees. Although I paint architecture (and my architectural subjects have found new homes quite well) I still have a special fondness for trees and afternoon light. So how could I resist?
It’s sycamore season – that’s what it is … and I just love to paint their luminous trunks that pick up every color in the environment, at times looking violet, dusky brown or shades of orange and apricot, depending upon what’s close by.
Update on my relative: she is speaking again and seems to have weathered this storm. At 93, anything can happen to cause a cascade of unfortunate results. We are practicing watchful waiting and trusting the excellent skills of her medical team. Our thanks for all the positive thoughts.
Celebrating – Third Prize – Bowers Museum Invitational Art Show 2008
So this was the result of last weekend’s art show at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. This was the first invitational museum show I’ve participated in, and I was thrilled to learn that I received one of the top prizes for “Sunset Magic.” Now, I’m hoping that it will find a good home soon. The next time I’ll be showing it will be at the Pasadena Artwalk on October 11, across from the Pasadena Playhouse on El Molino Avenue between Colorado Blvd. and Green Street. Full details are on my website events page.
Selling one of my Tuscany-inspired paintings to a delightful new bride who is decorating her home (Hi Sandra!) was the frosting on the weekend cake.
Now, I’ve got to catch up on my correspondence and head back to the easel! Look for more work here very soon. Like tomorrow, probably.
nodp
Malibu California Impressionist Seascape oil painting – El Matador Beach
El Matador View
11 x 14
oil
This is a painting that I worked on while gallery sitting, enjoying the company of passers-by. With the heat we experienced this past month, there were many days that I would have preferred to have been on that shoreline. Soon enough, I’ll be there.
Today I’m getting ready for a two day invitational fine art show at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, Saturday and Sunday September 20-21. I’ll be near the entrance to the museum in a grassy area. Today my task is to figure out which paintings I’ll be bringing and making name tags for them, updating my portfolio etc. By Monday I’ll be able to catch my breath and get back to painting for a little while.
Matilija Poppies – California Impressionist Botanical Flower Oil Painting
Matilija Poppies Trio
11 x 14 oil on canvas
These papery white beauties were growing near the Serra Center in Malibu one blustery summer day. The exciting thing about painting white flowers is enjoying all the colors they pick up from their environment.
This painting blurs the line between abstraction and realism and I hope that it is successful in that effort. I was impressed by something I read recently by Marilyn Simandle (watercolorist and oil painter.) In her book “Contagious Enthusiasm” she says ““If a painting has too much detail it is as if someone is dominating a conversation and if a painting is too abstract it is like someone speaking in a foreign language.†I thought that was such an interesting metaphor for finding the “sweet spot” between realism and abstraction. The thought inspired me as I worked on this painting.
Arroyo Seco Colorado Street Bridge – Pasadena – California Impressionist Painting by Karen Winters
11 x 14 oil on canvas
“Arroyo Afternoon”
Colorado Street Bridge, Pasadena, late afternoon in early fall
SOLD
See more Pasadena paintings here
There are few places that I enjoy returning to again and again as much as Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco where the majestic Colorado Street Bridge is framed by oaks, sycamores and those ever present eucalyptuses. In this painting my objective was to capture the warm glow of the earth and grees in contrast to the cool light bouncing off the landmark bridge.
I have a story connected to the bridge, also. Many years ago, we were producing a segment on Nightmares for a national TV newsmagazine show. We wanted to simulate a fear of falling and so lowered a small film camera (film rolling) off the bridge. The special effect truly created a feeling of vertigo. No brick or mortar was harmed in the making of that film
California Sunset Landscape Impressionist Painting – Karen Winters
California Sunset
5 x 7 inch oil on panel
In the wide open heartland of California’s Central Valley, the skies are big and the land is rich and bountiful. This plein aire style impressionistic landscape painting captures the glory of the waning day. I can’t pinpoint the exact location, but the surrounding names are picturesque, Buttonwillow, Lost Hill, Tranquility.
Just for fun, here’s a closeup of one part of the painting, showing the brushstrokes and delicate color:
San Juan Capistrano Fountain – California Impressionist Mission Oil Painting by Karen Winters
Capistrano Fountain
11 x 14 oil
The mission San Juan Capistrano was the cheerful inspiration for this classic California impressionist painting. I have included the sago palms, several fan palms and blooming jacarandas to complete the setting of summery splendor. Water lilies bloom in the landmark fountain, topped with a sculptural urn. Water irises wait their turn to bloom at the foot of the pedestal.
Sea Dreams – California Impressionist Seascape by Karen Winters
Sea Dreams
16 x 20 oil on canvas
I’ve been working on this seascape as a demo piece while I’ve been gallery sitting up at Descanso Gardens during our show, and now it’s finished. A few days of drying and I may take it up to the gallery. Several of my works have sold so far, so this will be a replacement piece to hang for the next one.
Or … I may hold it back for the Glendale Open Studio Tour which is coming up on Sunday September 14. I’ll be displaying a half a dozen paintings to that annual event. Here’s a flyer about it … more details to come. The reception for the show will be held at the Brand Library on September 13 from 3-5 pm. You can see one representative piece from all artists on the tour …
Today, late in the day, I had the pleasure of talking to a great group of kids and young adults. They asked excellent questions – better than a lot of adults ask, and I was happy to share my love of painting and art with them. I told them that I’d post this painting tonight, so here you are, I hope you enjoy seeing the result. And if you check back in a few days you’ll see the finished version of the landscape I was working on today up at the gallery.
San Gabriel Summer – California Impressionist plein air style Oil painting
San Gabriel Summer
5 x 7 oil on panel
SOLD
This quick impression of Hahmongna park captures the feeling of the San Gabriel mountains when summer thunderheads bring rain to the high desert. The weather has been hot and humid, and the thunderheads are the evidence. The heat is keeping people away from Descanso Gardens, much to our disappointment. But the weather is supposed to improve, and the weekend will be in the mid 80s … a big drop from the close to 100 degrees we’ve been experiencing.
