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
Pasadena Federal Court of Appeals Painting – Karen Winters
Pasadena Court of Appeals – former Vista Del Arroyo Hotel
11 x 14 acrylic
SOLD
This stately building has become the federal court of appeals in Pasadena, California, but it was formerly the Vista Del Arroyo Hotel. I’ve painted it once before in my sketchbook, but this was an opportunity to portray it from a different angle and at a different time of day. In the distance the San Gabriel Mountains catch the late afternoon light. The foreground sycamores are starting to turn color, an early sign of fall.
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.
Arroyo Trail – California Impressionist Oil Painting by Karen Winters
Arroyo Trail
11 x 14 oil
See more Pasadena paintings here
The Arroyo Seco continues to be one of my favorite subjects for landscapes. In the distance are the San Rafael Hills, part of the communities of La Canada Flintridge and Pasadena.
California Eucalyptus – Impressionist Oil Painting by Karen Winters – to be shown at Descanso Gardens
Big Eucalyptus
18 x 24 in. oil on canvas
SOLD to a collector in Pasadena
See more eucalyptus paintings here
If you are interested in eucalyptus paintings
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Well, tomorrow is the big day … the hanging and opening of our Descanso Gardens group show … and this is one of the big paintings I’m taking. It’s a portrait of one of my favorite California trees, the eucalyptus. The moment I saw this beauty I was compelled to paint it in all its backlit glory.
The show runs from August 22 to September 18 and the gallery is open from 10 to 3:30 but might close some days at 3. On the days I’m gallery-sitting I will probably bring something with me to paint as I did last year.
Our reception will be August 31, Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, from 1-4.
If you live in Southern California, I hope you’ll have a chance to drop by. I won’t be there every day, so send me a note if you’re planning a visit so I don’t miss you.
Malibu surf – California impressionist seascape oil painting by Karen Winters
Malibu Surf
12 x 16 oil on canvas
SOLD
Although this painting is sold, if you are interested in something similar
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I confess. I love to paint seascapes. No, I won’t forsake the rolling golden hillsides of California’s precious central coast … nor the eucalyptus groves of Southern California, or the many treasures of the sierra nevada range. But there’s just something about the power and beauty of the surf that never ceases to inspire me. I have enjoyed going to Malibu from when I was a child – and at night some of my fondest dreams are still of being at the ocean. My father sunburned so easily that we could rarely go to the beach (this was long before SPF 50 sun block). So waves like these always fill me with nostalgia. Maybe I had a prior life as a beach bum. Or, more likely, a sand crab.
Anyway, I digress. If you’d like to see the result of a year of painting this beautiful state, including a bounty of seascapes and sunsets, I hope you’ll come to our show at Descanso Gardens from this weekend through September 18. We hang the show on Friday morning, so that’s the official first day, but my guess is that things will be a little more relaxed over the weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that this marvelous weather continues.
Desert Dawn – Palm Springs California Impressionist Oil Painting
Desert Dawn – Palm Springs – California Impressionist Oil Painting
11 x 14 oil on canvas
Click image to see larger, better res version
Painting the desert as seen in morning light is definitely a challenge. The air is remarkably crisp and clear, probably clearer and with less particulate material than just about anywhere I’ve seen. So that’s a distinctive look that says “desert.” But this is in contrast to one of the principles of landscape painting that tells us that distant objects should be softer, grayer, bluer and with less distinct detail. I could have painted this painting that way .. “pushing back” the mountains with desaturation and adding more blue. But this time I chose to keep them darker, almost close enough to touch. This alluvial area comes out of the San Jacinto Mountains. I believe it’s an area along the Randall Henderson Trail, but I’m not certain. I really need to take better notes about my locations.
This painting was done using only three colors, black and white: ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow light and alizarin crimson. I feel that the limited palette can help to create greater color harmony. It was an experiment and I like the results. Some very wise teachers advocate using a full palette with perhaps two dozen colors, many premixed, so that you can quickly select the right color when time is short. There is definitely an advantage to working that way, speed being a major concern. But other good painters say that you can get more color harmony if you limit your colors and just mix like crazy. I know one demo painter that only uses about seven colors on his palette on location. Another teacher, John Cosby, challenges his students to paint with just five. So there are a lot of different things to explore and learn from.
I may be taking this painting with me to the show at Descanso. Now I’m down to the wire deciding on the right mix of subject matter, size, color, medium and so forth. Although I’m restricted to bringing 20 paintings, if you’re coming to the show and would like to see something else that I’ve featured here or on my website, drop me a note and make sure I have it available for viewing in person.
Tender Sea – Carpenteria – California Impressionist Seascape Oil Painting – Karen Winters
The Tender Sea – Carpinteria at dusk
6″ x 8″ oil
• SOLD
The subtle colors after sunset were the inspiration for this seascape study of Carpinteria. The delicate hues invoke a quiet contemplative mood. No crashing surf here, just the waves delicately touching the shore. California’s ever-present eucalyptuses frame the shoreline. Even tossed by salty wilds, they prevail.
