Fall at Convict Lake Eastern Sierra California oil painting by Karen Winters
“Fall at Convict Lake”
12 x 16
oil on canvas
Convict Lake is one of the most accessible High Sierra lakes – and in the fall, when the aspens turn color, it’s especially captivating. Some day I’ll spend the whole day there, just watching the light play across the faces of the granite mountains, as the clouds slowly drift, disappear and reform. I’m not sure what kind of fish were biting that day, but there were a lot of fishermen enjoying the freshness of fall.
Just this side of Paradise – Los Osos Central California plein air oil painting by Karen Winters
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“Just This Side of Paradise”
8 x 10 inch
Plein air oil painting
Exhibited in the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art
during the 2011 Plein Air Festival
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See more of my California Central Coast paintings here
This painting was done along Los Osos Valley road one morning, as rain clouds were gathering (or leaving) and the sun was trying to break through. I saw this scene while driving and hurried to turn around and park and set up my easel before the effect was lost. I liked the hay bales stacked up by the eucalyptus trees, so I put them in also.
The central peak in the background is one of the 9 sisters – the volcanic plugs which include Morro Rock and Bishop Peak. I think that one is Cerro Romualdo. It’s pyramid-shaped top is swathed in clouds.
The title comes from the fact that Paradise Lane is quite close by. I seem to run into a lot of places named Paradise – like Paradise camp in the Sierra, too.
That Sunset Glow – California landscape eucalyptus oil painting – impressionist art by Karen Winters
“That Sunset Glow”
11 x 14 oil painting
Eucalyptus Trees in California Central Coast
See more of my California Central Coast paintings here
Eucalyptuses resting in a golden field in California’s Central Coast. This is one theme that I will never tire of painting – a location that I saw this past October while painting at the San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival.
Twilight on Back Bay- Los Osos Twilight Central Coast oil painting by Karen Winters
Twilight on Back Bay
9 x 12 oil painting on canvas
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Interested in this painting?
Click this link to write me. See more of my paintings on my website
See more of my California Central Coast paintings here
See more of my Morro Bay and Morro Rock paintings here
I’m still catching up posting some of the paintings I did during the San Luis Obispo paint out early in October. This is one of my favorite semi-nocturnes, painted while the sun was in a cloud bank and was in the process of setting. Within a few minutes the sun emerged from the clouds and the whole scene was bathed in warm rosy hues, which I captured very rapidly. Then the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness came quickly.
As you can see in the photo below, I am literally standing in the marshy estuary. The prominent mountain in the distance is Hollister Peak. This work in progress photo was taken while the sun was in the cloud bank.
California Central Coast oil painting “The Kitchen Garden” – Los Osos – by Karen Winters
“The Kitchen Garden”
9 x 12 oil painting
See more of my California Central Coast paintings here
Interested in this painting?
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While I was in San Luis Obispo County for the Plein Air Festival this year, I saw this charming rural scene down a side road in Los Osos. The red barn style house provided a beautiful contrast to the vibrant green eucalyptus trees, and I liked the small vegetable garden growing nearby. It took me back to early California days, a bit of the past still thriving in the present.
Blue Skies Ahead – Paradise Camp/Swall Meadow near Bishop California oil painting by Karen Winters
“Blue Skies Ahead”
16 x 20 oil painting
(near Swall Meadows, historic Paradise Camp, outside of Bishop, California)
This road, I believe, is Lower Rock Creek Road, also known as the old Sherwin Grade Road, which parallels today’s Highway 395. I painted this a few years ago, and revisited it recently, since my work has evolved considerably since then. I find it interesting that sometimes when people ask (and they always do) “how long did that take you to paint?” That sometimes the answer is “years.” It certainly is in this case.
This is not an uncommon practice among serious painters. Sometimes you just need some time and distance on a painting to resolve certain areas, or to see color and value differently. Upon revisiting this painting, the sky is very much the same, but the land areas are completely repainted. Many influences move through our lives – teachers, books we read, shows we go to, artists we admire, experiences we have in working things out ourselves. Every painting is the cumulation of experience to date.
San Gabriel View – California impressionist eucalyptus painting – Oak Grove Park, La Canada
“San Gabriel View”
Original 9 x 12 oil painting of eucalyptus trees in
Oak Grove Park, AKA Hahamongna Park
between Pasadena and La Canada, CA
See more Pasadena and La Canada area paintings here
The San Gabriel mountains provide a backdrop to a riparian environment where eucalyptus, willow and other trees and shrubs grow in the watershed area known as Hahamongna Park. Formerly known as Oak Grove Park, it is a popular recreation area for hikers, frisbee players and mountain lions. (Just kidding, but they have been spotted occasionally in the area.) This view features one of the beautiful eucalyptus trees and the wildflowers and grasses that flourish in the springtime.
Many thanks to my lovely collector who took home “All on a Fine Spring Day” today.
Mojave Desert Sunset Oil Painting – Abode of the Desert Rat by Karen Winters
“Abode of the Desert Rat”
Mojave Desert, somewhere off the beaten path between Tehachapi and Rosamond
9 x 12 oil on linen
See more of my landscapes here
This painting was inspired by a trip back from Kernville a few months ago, coming back from a paint out with the California Art Club. The sun was starting to come out from under a cloud bank, and a storm was threatening. The brilliance of the sun contrasted with the dark shapes of the poplars. I imagined that some recluse was living in the trailer, enjoying the constantly changing weather patterns and quiet solitude. Not long after this the rains started coming. Those heavily rain laden clouds suggested a flash flood and we headed for high ground.
Here’s a closer detail shot:
Golden morning – Heritage Valley California impressionist oil painting
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Golden Morning in Heritage Valley
9 x 12 oil painting on wood panel
(near Santa Paula, highway 126)
Whenever we go up the coast to San Luis Obispo, we inevitably take the scenic drive through Heritage Valley, also known as California highway 126. This highway goes through beautiful peaceful farming land filled with strawberry fields and citrus groves. Eucalyptus trees serve as windbreaks along the way.
California wildflower landscape oil painting – All on a Fine Spring Day – by Karen Winters
“All on a Fine Spring Day”
California impressionist miniature oil painting
5 x 7 inches – oil on panel
SOLD
This study for a larger California spring impressionist painting has several elements that always bring me painting joy: oak trees, wildflowers, (California poppies and lupine), distant hills and clouds. The exact location for this scene is in Central California, in the western foothills of the Sierra.
Below, as it might look in a nice gold frame (which I can provide)
My apologies, I have changed the frame. The previous one only comes in 6 x 8. This one is the correct size, 5 x 7 inches.
