South Pasadena Watercolor Painting – Buster’s Coffeehouse
Buster’s Coffeehouse – South Pasadena Landmark on Mission Street
11 x 15 watercolor on paper
SOLD
See more of my Pasadena area paintings here
This is the third painting that I submitted for the Rialto Visions benefit art show and sale, proceeds of which will help restore the Rialto Theater on Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena.
Buster’s is a favorite hangout of ours when we’re in South Pasadena. Not only do they have great coffee and the small neighborhood atmosphere you can’t find in the ubiquitous ChainBucks stores, but they sell Fosselman’s ice cream, which is truly wonderful. It’s sort of like the Cheers of coffeehouses – you always run into someone you know when you go there.
About 100 paintings were submitted for the show. Tonight at 7 pm, there’s a Collector’s Preview at the South Pasadena Library Community Room on El Centro Street. The $25 admission fee (for non-participating artists) will help support the theater’s restoration. Come meet the artists and see a lot of art, fresh off the easel.
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.
Rialto Theater South Pasadena Plein Air Oil Painting
“The Rialto”
9 x 12
plein air oil painting on panel
SOLD
Last Sunday, a group of 30 or more plein air painters affiliated with the California Art Club gathered together in South Pasadena for a paint-out at the venerable Rialto Theater, which has fallen into disrepair in the past few years. The paintings which we created will be sold in the Rialto Visions show and a portion of the proceeds will go to restoring The Rialto to its former glory. Some of us also painted other scenes of South Pasadena, which I will be posting here and on My Gallery website.
I arrived at the event in the afternoon and caught the building in partial shade from across the street.
Although there were promos on the marquee for movies and theater rentals, I opted to leave it empty so that a potential purchaser could always imagine their favorite flick playing there, and relive some fond memories.
La Canada Flintridge Bridle Trail Landscape Oil Painting
I haven’t posted in a week, but more art will be coming soon. I was painting in South Pasadena last weekend, follwed by an out of town trip followed by a close relative having a serious stroke. I’ve been painting in the midst of it all but there hasn’t been time to get it shot and uploaded. So here is one from the archives that is still available.
Descanso Gardens Path – California Impressionist Landscape
Descanso Gardens Path
9.7 x 7.6 inches
Acrylic on paper
SOLD
People often ask me what the word “Descanso” means. It comes from the Spanish verb, descansar meaning “to repose or rest”. So, Descanso Gardens suggests a place of rest and relaxation.
To counteract today’s politically and economically charged climate, I thought I’d paint something that you would find restful and energizing. A place of repose and calm. A place to recharge and restore your soul. My friend Ruth told me the other day that she likes the ‘paths of light’ that I put into my paintings. It made me happy that she noticed that because they are a prominent feature of many of my landscapes. So today’s painting features all the restful elements I can conjure up … a cared-for well-tended garden, a place of rest and a path of light, beckoning to brighter times ahead.
My Secret – My Confession – Artists Reception Saturday at The Marengo Collection
This Saturday, October 4, please join me at The Marengo Collection on 494 S. Marengo Ave. in Pasadena from 2-6 pm for the opening of the 25th annual Day of the Dead event, jointly presented by The Folk Tree and the Marengo Collection.
This painting “My offering – my confession” will be on display at the Marengo Collection for the month leading up to El Dia de Los Muertos, concluding Nov 2.
Today, our local newspaper, The La Canada Valley Sun, did an Entertainment Section feature on me and the artwork, and I’m absolutely thrilled!
The online article is here: Karen Winters Day of the Dead Watercolor
Arroyo Seco Reflections – California Impressionist Landscape Oil Painting
Arroyo Seco Reflections
8 x 10 inches – oil
SOLD
I’ll be taking this new painting to the Pasadena Art Walk October 11 on El Molino Ave (between Colorado and Green Street) . When I took a walk through the arroyo yesterday, I noticed several aspens by the stream that I hadn’t noticed before. I can hardly wait for them to turn color because I think the show is going to be dazzling.
The sycamores are starting to look dry, there’s no evidence of fall in their foliage. It may be that they will only get dusky looking this year – it seems to depend on the weather.
This Saturday I’m looking forward to the artists reception for the Day of the Dead show at The Marengo Collection. The reception will be from 2-6 pm and will include a painting which was juried into last year’s Brand Works on Paper show. More about that tomorrow.
Now, it’s time for me to get back to the easel!
Sunset Soiree – California Impressionist Plein Air Genre Painting
“Sunset Soiree” SOLD
9 x 12 oil on canvas
Plein air painting
A few nights ago I had the pleasure of doing a plein air sunset painting while listening to the sweet sounds of The Crown City Brass Quintet. Wine, music, art, lovely people, gardens. It just doesn’t get any better than this!
And now, a few words about painting at sunset when much of the color has gone. What do you do? You invent it and you paint the color the way it might have been. Or, in the words of the late artist Milford Zornes “paint it the way you want it to be.” And so I did.
By the time I arrived at the event, around 6:30, the sun had settled behind the majestic pines and oaks. But what remained were hints of warm color that I exaggerated to create a mood. Painting in settings like this is a special treat for me because, unlike in a restaurant, cafe or on the beach, the people remain seated for the duration, so one’s painting isn’t ruined by the sudden rearrangement of of the models! This culture loving group gave me a rare opportunity to paint a genre scene in a leisurely hour and a half.
El Molino Afternoon – First Place – Pasadena Artwalk painting contest 2008
El Molino Afternoon SOLD
11 x 14 oil on board
First Place, 2008 Pasadena Artwalk “Life in the Theater District” competition
Remember a few months back when I said I was in a painting frenzy, getting ready for all sorts of shows and competitions? You might have even seen this painting here on my blog at that time. Well, this is one of the shows that I was painting for, and last night the news was announced that this urban cityscape was given First Place by the judging committee, along with a VERY nice cash prize and certificate. (Thank you, judging committee, and thank you Playhouse District Merchants’ Association for your generosity.)
If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you know that cityscapes aren’t a frequent subject of mine – I lean more toward seascapes and sycamores. But I also enjoy a good challenge and this contest gave me the opportunity to experiment in an architectural vein.
The Pasadena Artwalk is an annual show, now in its third year, which will take place on October 11 in the Pasadena Playhouse Theater District on El Molino Street. This painting presents a point of view looking toward Colorado Blvd (yes, where the floats go by on New Years’ Day).
If you’re in the LA area two weeks from now, please come say hello. I’ll have new paintings and prints on display including this one.
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
