Rose Arches, Huntington Gardens landscape oil painting

Rose Arches at Huntington Gardens, San Marino
11 x 14 inch oil painting
California impressionist plein air painting

The world renowned Rose Garden at Huntington Gardens and Library has over 3000 rose plants, and more than 1200 cultivars (varieties). That’s a lot of pruning come January! But the results are worth it in springtime, when this was recently painted.


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Huntington Gardens Temple of Love oil painting San Marino

Huntington Gardens Temple of Love
9 x 12 inch oil painting
San Marino, California

This California plein air impressionist landscape painting features the Temple of Love on the grounds of the Huntington Museum Botanical Gardens.
Adjacent to the famous Rose Garden, the temple is framed by a Montezuma Cypress (not a weeping willow). The seeds of the tree came from Argentina – yes, it was grown from seed in the early years of the garden.


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Sierra Madre Sunset – San Gabriel Mountains landscape oil painting

Sierra Madre Sunset
11 x 14 inches
Oil painting

Sierra Madre is a charming little town nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. I love to spend time there, shopping, dining and just hanging out. The community is very supportive of the arts and I like walking in the pretty neighborhood. This painting shows the time of day I like it the best, when the mountains turn from brown to orange to pink with the setting sun.


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Almost Sunset – Eaton Canyon Altadena California landscape oil painting

“Almost Sunset – Eaton Canyon”
16 x 20 inches
Oil painting on canvas

Eaton Canyon has been our local go-to place for walking and hiking ever since our children were little.
We remember the wildflower walkabouts in spring, the crisp air in fall. And oh, the beautiful oaks.
We’re seen some old oaks fall away and be replaced by new saplings, the circle of life.
I think it’s most beautiful at sunset when the warm western glow lights up the San Gabriels.


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Eaton Canyon Hike – California impressionist oil painting by Karen Winters

SOLD
“Eaton Canyon Hike”
Eaton Canyon, Altadena – San Gabriel Mountains
9 x 12 oil painting on linen plein air panel

This painting is now sold, but I have more at Pasadenapaintings.com

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In fall, when the sycamores turn, Eaton Canyon reveals its dusky side. We’ve recently had some beautiful cloud formations – it’s an early harbinger of fall. Soon the chaparral will put on its own fall finery. This trailhead starts near the parking lot, skirts the west side of the canyon and continues northward for several miles.

When Day is Done Pasadena Arroyo Seco oil painting by Karen Winters

“When Day is Done”
8 x 10
California landscape oil painting on plein air panel
SOLD

Pasadena Arroyo Seco – Hahamongna Park – eucalyptus trees grow against a backdrop of the San Gabriel mountains, glowing in sunset light.

San Gabriel Springtime – California landscape impressionist oil painting San Gabriel Mountains

“San Gabriel Springtime”
18 x 24 oil painting on canvas
San Gabriel Mountains – near Claremont Wilderness Park, Padua Hills
SOLD

Although this painting is sold, I have other landscapes.
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Spring arrives with new growth in the chapparal. Clouds race across the sky, allowing shafts of sunlight to illuminate the blooming hills, bright with wildflowers. Trails wind through the landscape, offering new views at every turn.

Arroyo Moonrise – Arroyo Seco California nocturne oil painting by Karen Winters



Arroyo Moonrise
18 x 24 oil on canvas

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The moon serenely rises over a pond in the Arroyo Seco, San Gabriel Valley, CA. I intentionally kept this within a limited color range to capture the twilight mood. I’ve really been enjoying painting a lot of water lately. Look for more of those paintings here soon.

California impressionist oil painting Chapparal Bloom by Karen Winters

“Chapparal Bloom”
San Gabriel Mountains
8 x 10 inches oil on plein air panel

California is colorful all year long, not only in the springtime. Summer and fall wildflowers include buckwheat and other chapparal natives. It’s an earth-tone palette, full of greens, russets, umbers and golds. The buckwheat, when it dries, is a good match for burnt sienna.

I never tire of painting the tapestry of plant life that covers our rolling hills and mountains. The California Native Plant Society is a good resource for learning about our drought tolerant beauties.

Here’s how the painting might look in a dark frame that picks up the colors in the painting, with warm touches of coppery-gold.

I haven’t talked about framing too often here, but it’s true that the frame can have a big impact on how a painting looks. Compare how the same painting, on the same colored background appears in a gold carved frame. The dark frame creates a more rustic look, which might be appropriate for a home with western accents. The gold frame creates a lighter, more elegant appearance. Which do you think works best? Do you like seeing one of my paintings with framing suggestions, as opposed to just seeing the painting by itself?

La Canada La Crescenta View – Cherry Canyon Trail California Landscape painting


“Trail through the Foothills”
9 x 12 oil painting

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The sunlight floods the Crescenta Canada Valley in the early morning. Oak trees and other chapparal scrub frame a view of tranquility. Down below, people are gearing up to get to work. Up here, it is a reminder of how the valley used to look before it was developed, back when the early California impressionists painted. it. Remnants of buckwheat provide a warm contrast to the cool blue shadows.

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