Drifters in the Stream – and still celebrating!
SOLD
“Drifters in the Stream” – 12 x 16 – oil on canvas
Accepted into California Art Club’s biannual show, opens Nov. 3
We were celebrating yesterday because I just found out that my oil painting “Drifters in the stream” was accepted into the California Art Club’s biannual show at the Pasadena Women’s City Club at the Blinn House in Pasadena. The show, themed “Rivers and Harbors: Sources and Confluences” will open Saturday November 3 with the artists reception from 5-7 pm. So if you’re in So. Cal and would like to come see a lot of new art, including my painting and a painting by my friend and co-exhibitor at Descanso Gardens, Laura Wambsgans, please join us.
My painting (above) was inspired by a small koi-filled stream at Descanso Gardens where fall leaves were swirling in an eddy. I was captivated by the abstract patterns that were made by the leaves, the reflections of the oak trees above and the moving water. I did a Moleskine sketch on site and have been intrigued with the image ever since.
So, after I got the notice in the mail, we went out for some antipasti at a local Italian restaurant, and my dear husband snapped this shot of notoriously camera-shy me. There’s a little glass of champagne in my right hand in commemoration of this very happy week.
Also, tomorrow (Saturday) is my artists reception for Brand 36, works on paper, at the Brand Library Gallery in Glendale: 4-7 pm, so if you see me there, stop and say hi! I’ll be the one with the big silly grin on my face!
My Chinatown – in 39th annual Watercolor West
“Chinatown, My Chinatown” – 16″ x 12.5″ (before framing) – watercolor on paper
I came home from Descanso Gardens yesterday to a very special surprise. My painting “Chinatown, my Chinatown,” has been selected for the 39th annual Watercolor West show which will open December 6 at the Riverside Art Museum.
Watercolor West is a national transparent watercolor society, which means that the painting must be done with pure transparent watercolor – no opaque white paint, gouache, acrylic, collage, ink or other materials can be used. In past years there have been about 1000 entries, from which 100 paintings are chosen. I don’t know the facts for this year, yet, but that’s been the trend. With the acceptance of this painting into the show, I will become a Juried member of the society.
I painted this a few months ago using reference photos that I took in LA’s Chinatown. I used exaggerated color for the purpose of increasing the mood of fun and excitement. Complementary colors (red against green, orange next to blue) create energetic contrasts.
The sky was the first thing painted, with the painting upside down so the paint wouldn’t run into the building area. After that, the various elements of the buildings were “carved” out, reserving the whites.
The banner in the upper right hand corner was invented to confine that corner to keep the eye from going off the paper. The hanging streamers direct the eye back into the composition. Strong diagonals, as created by the lanterns and tops of building add to the feeling of energy.
The center of interest, of course, is the two small figures of mother and child walking through the scene. These figures were invented to link the foreground, middleground and background. Notice how the mother’s head intersects the background building and how her cast shadow touches the major shadow cast across the foreground. In fact, just about everything in the picture is linked through the overall value pattern
Rhythmic elements include the repetition of the lanterns from foreground to background, as well as the striping on the underside of the eaves and suggestion of rooftiles. It’s easy to get carried away with decorative elements, which usually come in the final stages of painting. The tassels on the banner in the upper right echo the windows in different parts of the picture.
I think that it’s worth mentioning that even though I rarely do architectural subjects, I intentionally avoided using any straightedges or other aids in painting this so as not to get caught up into a stiff, controlled feeling. In my opinion, the unevenness of the buildings suggests their age and adds to the liveliness of the subject.
I have mentioned frequently on this blog how fond I am of California scene painting of the 1930s through 1950s. This painting is my homage to the great painters of that era, to whom we are most indebted.
High Desert Trails – Karen Winters Daily Painting
SOLD “High Desert Trails” 8 x 10 oil on board (road from Palm Springs to Idyllwild)
This painting was started over the weekend at Descanso Gardens as a demonstration painting for people who took a few moments to visit our gallery. I finished it on Sunday night at home and now it’s ready to post.
As I explained to our guests, this painting started with a photo that I took along the road from Palm Springs to Idyllwild in an area known as Pine Crest which looked as though it was soon to be graded and developed. When I’m painting at the gallery I usually bring a photo reference to work from – often something I’m been thinking about for some time. I don’t think that I’ll have time or space to bring this painting back to the gallery, but it’s available.
Desert Hills – Daily Painting
“Desert Hills” – 5″ x 7″ pastel
The colors of the desert near Palm Springs provided the inspiration for this small pastel painting, which I worked on today. It was quite gray and drizzly today at the show, but it didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of our visitors.
Just to give you an idea of what a difference a frame can make, here’s an example of how this little painting might look with a simple gold frame
Under Autumn Skies – Arroyo Seco – Pasadena
“Under Autumn Skies” – 11 x 14 oil on canvas
SOLD
This was the painting I worked on yesterday at Descanso Gardens’ Carriage House Gallery. I did a good part of it during the day while I gallery-sat, then finished the rest at home in the evening.
The place is the upper Arroyo Seco, north of Devil’s Gate Dam – AKA “Hahamongna Park.” When the weather starts to turn the river-loving willow trees turn yellow and big puffy clouds billow over the San Gabriel Mountains, as they did a few days ago. But the graceful eucalyptuses continue to provide a gray-green accent, year round.
Today I worked on a still life painting, which I will try to finish up this evening or in the next few days.
Although I am used to painting every day, the experience of demonstrating for the public every day has been good for me. The response has been positive and people really seem to enjoy seeing art as it is being made. If you’re in Southern California, I hope you can come up for a visit before the show ends at 4 pm October 11!
Azalea Spring – Daily Painting
“Azalea Spring” 5×7 oil on board
SOLD
Today I enjoyed visits from Ginny L. and Louisa M. of our Wednesday morning paint out group, as well as from Nan and her friend Barbara, two other art buddies. One of our son’s friend’s mother dropped by as well, so I had a wonderful time socializing and painting all day today. Having good friends visit just makes the day fly by!
This small painting represents a shady glen at Descanso when the azaleas are in full bloom.
Although this painting is sold, I’d be happy to paint something similar in the size of your choice, with much more detail, as a commissioned piece.
Winging Home – Karen Winters Daily Painting
“Winging Home” 16 x 20 oil on canvas (Zuma Beach – Malibu)
SOLD
Today was a wonderful day in so many ways. The reception took place as planned and I had the opportunity to visit for awhile with friends old and new. My college roommate, Bobbi, came with her husband and mom and we have vowed to set aside some time to catch up on all our lives. Some of our clients came to join in the fun as did new friends like Holly the creekhiker who I’ve been enjoying through her blog. Our son Michael came up to spend the day with us and that was great, too. Labelle Kel is in Chicago at Northwestern, but she was with us in spirit. We had a very good turnout and I think that everyone had a good time, too. I know I sure did.
I didn’t paint today since we were busy meeting and greeting everyone, so tonight I pulled out a reference photo of Zuma Beach generously offered by my good friend Wendee who is designer and teacher at Art Center. I am indeed blessed to have so many talented and creative friends. My roommate Bobbi, mentioned above, is an outstanding writer and PR consultant; Holly is a marvelously talented glassworker and TV producer, and our friend Jeannie Poole, who also visited today, is a wonderful musician who has composed and conducted symphonies.
And I am eagerly looking forward to Wednesday when a group of my paint out friends will be having their weekly paint out at Descanso and making the trek up the hill to visit our little gallery.
Now, about this painting.
I confess that the last time I painted a seascape in oil I was about 14-15 years old and in high school. I took oil painting lessons for a few summers and occasionally painted on Saturdays until the academic schedule got too tough, and then I gave it up. I have often wondered what would have happened if I had rigorous training back then, rather than casual hobby type lessons. The road not taken, sigh. College came, and marriage and work and a family and so many good things. And there have been many summers between then and now. But I have rediscovered my bliss and intend to follow it all the rest of my days. Who is “winging home?” I am. Back to what did and always will bring me joy – painting.
Are you following your bliss? (as Joseph Campbell would have said.) If not, what are you waiting for?
On Descanso Pond – La Canada
“On Descanso Pond” 5 x 7″ oil on gessoed board
SOLD
There is a large pond (or a small lake) at Descanso Gardens where migrating birds stop to rest. Turtles swim in the water and herons are commonly seen wading in the distance along the far shore. A large white goose seems to be the king of the roost. Today I painted this small landscape while visitors passed by the gallery.
I’m very happy with how it turned out, and at the suggestion of my co-exhibitor Laura, I think I will use it as a basis for a much larger painting. If this dries quickly I might even bring it back to our reception on Sunday – party time – noon to four!
We had many pleasant talks, and I especially enjoyed my time with a very precocious young lady of 3 or 4 who was very interested in mixing colors. We discussed the names of everything on my palette and I mixed a few colors to show her how it all worked. At the end she picked out a sunflower from my cards to put in her room. I like the idea of that sunflower greeting her every morning when she wakes up.
I was delighted also to meet a lovely betrothed couple who are going to have their wedding in Greece. I am quickly discovering that one of the very best things about doing the show is all the interesting new and friendly people I get to meet. Painting and good conversation – could there be any better way to spend a day?
September Clouds
“September Clouds” – 11 x 15 watercolor on paper – plein air
I couldn’t imagine a more picture perfect day than the one I had today. Although there was the suggestion of a weather front on the way, the cumulus clouds merely circled our little valley, putting on one of the grandest display of cloudage that I’d ever seen. So I set up my easel outside of our gallery and devoted the day to cloud studies. The colors and patterns changed literally by the moment and sometimes I’d start painting one cloud and finish with details from another. Overall, it was an excellent opportunity to explore the many shapes and hues that clouds provide in a landscape. Creating soft edges and hard edges, painting wet in wet, charging pigment into semi-wet paint, doing dry brush, utilizing oozles and glazing, lifting pigment and creating texture with sponges, clouds give you the opportunity to try it all. These clouds were painted around noontime.
Also, one of the real joys of being at the Descanso Gallery is meeting all of the nice people who come by to chat about art and the gardens. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do on a crisp pre-fall day.
Golden Days – Karen Winters Daily Painting
Golden Days – a highway near Lompoc – 12 x 16 oil on canvas
SOLD
This painting will be used in the movie “So We Bought a Zoo,” starring Scarlet Johansen and Matt Damon – Christmas 2011
