Desert Morning – Daily Painting
Desert Morning 5″ x 7″ oil
My thanks to those of you who have sent such thoughtful emails recently – either asking questions about my painting practice or what it’s like to be a full-time painter juggling family responsibilities: your questions have given me the opportunity to reflect on what I’m doing, and your supportive thoughts are appreciated more than you know.
This very small painting was done quite quickly a few days ago as an exercise in establishing a scene economically with the use of color, value and shape.
This weekend (Sat., October 20) I’m going to be doing a plein air paintout at the University of Redlands, as part of their centennial celebration. On Saturday the 27th of October we’ll be showing and selling our work. If you’re in the area, please stop by and say hi (either on the painting day or the showing day.)
Malibu Magic – Daily Painting
Malibu Magic – 16 x 20 oil on canvas – Available
This is another seascape which was painted for the Descanso show.
I’m starting to unwind, now after all the activity and energy of the month. Tomorrow might actually be the first day that I’ll choose to “sleep in” which means a little later than 7 am (unless Foggy the cat wakes me up – which she is accustomed to doing.)
I heard some pretty good quotes about art over the weekend. Frank Webb is quite the storyteller and I’ve observed that people who demonstrate watercolor have a repertoire of good stories and quotes to share while they’re waiting for washes to dry. I haven’t seen that many oil painters demonstrate but so far I haven’t noticed as much raconteurship.
Robert Henri: Every person should be the master of such as he has. (In other words if you’re a carpenter, be the best carpenter you can be. Likewise a clerk, a plumber, or an artist.)
Andrew Loomis: Every piece of the painting should look like it’s been painted.
O’Hara: One should not gossip in paint (meaning, to paint meaningless strokes, or to “chatter.”
Maurice Grosser on “painting in public.”: A painting becomes a work of art when it gets sold and can have a life of its own other than your studio.
Frank Webb: The secret of a happy life is to really ENJOY ‘Plan B.’
White Lilies
“White Lilies” – 5 x 7 oil on canvasboard
These are two of the blossoms in the beautiful bouquet my children sent me in celebration of some of my recent good news. I’m slowly catching up and getting back to ”normal.” This week I hope to get back in the routine of painting every day while getting some things framed for upcoming shows and taking care of other business details. Today I made time for two back-to-back art events. First, i saw watercolorist Frank Webb demonstrate at the National Watercolor Society annual demo series, which was terrific. I’ve long been an admirer of his work and enjoyed seeing him create in person. Then, I raced back to Pasadena to catch the very end of the California Art Club artist’s sale at Casita Del Arroyo. Most of the people were already packing up but I did get to see a little bit of what they were offering – very inspiring.
Sheltering Sycamore
“Sheltering Sycamore” 8 x 10 oil
SOLD
This is the last of my Descanso demonstration paintings, which I finished yesterday afternoon. It is a local painting of a clump of sycamore trees only a mile or so from our house at the edge of the Angeles National Forest. I have painted this cluster before – and they are beautiful in every season. Some autumns, the sycamores turn a range of colors from red orange to green gold to yellow. In other years the leaves simply turn a dusty brown and fade. I suppose that it depends upon what the weather is doing – or perhaps it’s a matter of drought and what kind of summer it was.
I will be at the gallery most of the day today, Thursday, and tomorrow a new group of painters will arrive. Then, it will be time to turn my attention back to some larger paintings and framing some of the juried works for upcoming shows.
Vineyard Oak
Vineyard Oak – 9 x 12 original oil painting
SOLD
We are winding down at the gallery – only three days to go before we pack up and go home on Thursday night. It’s been a good run – an interesting and educational experience in many ways. This painting was started today at the Carriage House and finished at home. As much as I enjoy painting in public I still need some quiet time alone to bring a piece to completion. My guess is that this stately oak will remain growing for some time and will not end up as a barrel. In fact, I believe these evergreen live oaks are protected species.
The inspiration for this painting was a road leading out of Paso Robles, off the 101 freeway. This is central coast wine country where the climate is just right to produce a wide range of varietal wines.
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!
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.
A touch of home – karen winters daily painting
“A Touch of Home” – oil on canvas – 12″ x 16″
First of all, welcome to all the new readers that I’ve told about my blog in the past few days – gentle folk who have passed through our gallery and left me with wonderful memories and stories. I hope that you’ll find the artwork displayed here enjoyable to see – and maybe you’ll even find something you’d like to give a home to. Each of these paintings are very special to me – and most have a story to go along with them.
I worked on this still life for two days in the gallery, and then took it home to have a second look and to put on some finishing touches. Soon it will be signed and framed. In my living room I have a place where I can set up still life setups and they are illuminated by western light. When the afternoon sun comes streaming in, it touches everything with a wonderful golden radiance. Fresh flowers are always a favorite component of these arrangements, but I also include fresh fruit and some of the decorative cobalt blue bottles I’ve collected through the years. I like the cut glass vase not only for its faceted design but also the way it picks up the color of adjacent objects.
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.
