Snowy Sunset, Truckee River – oil painting


Snowy Sunset, Truckee River
12 x 16 inches, oil on linen panel

Well, another year gone by and although I’m still painting as much as ever (perhaps more than ever) I have been too busy to keep up with this blog. So I’ll try to do better in 2023.
I’ve spent a lot more time this year in the general area of Lake Tahoe, enjoying stays with family, so I’ll be showing more Tahoe work – in different seasons – than I have in the past.
The Truckee River is especially inspiring – from the upper Truckee to the part that goes along the River Road and ends up at the dam in Tahoe City.
This painting is of the Upper Truckee, with one of those dazzling Tahoe sunsets.

If you have a particular place you’re fond of in the area, I’d love to hear about it. I’m new to the region and don’t know all the choice viewing spots yet, especially out of the way ones.

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Yosemite Awakening sunrise snowy winter oil painting

“Yosemite Awakening”
18 x 18 inches
Oil on Canvas

A year ago, we had the opportunity to visit Yosemite Valley in the midst of a beautiful snowstorm. We stayed for four days at the Yosemite Lodge and enjoyed seeing the park at its most magical. One morning, as we were hiking around, we came upon this scene where the sunlight had just come over the towering granite peaks to strike the new fallen snow. A soft mist began to arise and drift across the ground, while the bare trees glittered with frost. It was truly unforgettable, and something I’ve been waiting for awhile to paint.

Interested in this painting?
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You can see more of my Yosemite Paintings at this link: Yosemite Paintings

More Sierra Nevada paintings here

December Dawn, Bishop Sierra winter oil painting

“December Dawn, Bishop, Eastern Sierra”
15 x 30 inches, oil painting on canvas
SOLD, now in a private collection.

The inspiration for this new painting came one frosty morning on December 27, 2016, on our way home from a Christmas vacation with our family. My husband and I promised each other that as long as the sky was clear, we’d get up before dawn to see the alpenglow on the Sierra range. We were not disappointed. It was about 19F outside, but we were bundled up, and it was worth the effort. Ducks and coots were skimming over the water where it was not icy. We learned today that some eastern Sierra areas, namely Mammoth Lakes, received 18-19 feet of snow, to the joy of skiers. I’m glad that the mountains were not totally snow-covered when we were there. I like the way the sun turned the granite pink in contrast to the white of the snow.

Interested in this painting?
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More Sierra Nevada paintings here

Truckee snowbank – Lake Tahoe river landscape painting

“Truckee Snowbank”
12 x 16 oil painting on canvas

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For the last several years, we’ve headed up to Lake Tahoe between December and February to take in the beautiful sights. This year we spent Christmas there with our family, and although there was a fair amount of overcast and snowy skies, the blue peeked through now and then. I am always a pushover for strong complements in landscapes and this riverside scene provided some of the colors I love best.

Winter’s Here Owens Valley Sierra California landscape oil painting

“Winter’s Here”
8 x 10 inches
oil painting of Sierra peaks

 

This painting is SOLD, but I have more … see the Sierra Nevada link below.

This small oil painting reminds us that sometimes the Sierra really is packed with snow, bringing water to all of California. I sure hope we get some rain soon – the drought is terrible now.
The location of this part of the range is in the upper Owens River Valley, not far from the Owens Gorge. The dry grasses and the cool snow shadows create a natural complementary color scheme.

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Interested in this painting?
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Snowy sunset landscape oil painting 6 x 6 inches


Snowy Sunset
6 x 6 inches
oil

Warm sunset light drifts over a wintery scene in this miniature oil painting.
The warmth of the sun complements the coolness of the snow. There is no watermark on the original.
Available framed or unframed.

Interested in this painting?
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Sedona oil painting – Trail to Bear Mountain

Trail to Bear Mountain
Sedona Plein Air Oil painting
9 x 12 oil on linen plein air panel
(Along Boynton Road, Sedona Arizona)

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I painted this in February, just a few weeks ago, so the grasses are winter-white. The day I was there the Sedona Marathon was going on, and I believe this was part of the route. I painted late in the day after all the marathoners were finished. There is a trailhead in the meadow in front of me, which goes to Bear Mountain. I’d like to try that hike some time. I’ll bet it’s beautiful.

Below, painting by the roadside, while the sun played peek a boo all afternoon. It looks like I was standing in the middle of the road, but I was actually safely off to one side.

Grand Canyon plein air oil painting El Tovar view

View From El Tovar
Grand Canyon plein air oil painting
9 x 12 oil on plein air panel

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December 2012

Another of my plein air paintings from Grand Canyon, South Rim. This one was painted near the El Tovar Hotel, the majestic old inn on the edge of the canyon. The time of day is near sunset. Below, some photos of the work in progress

Grand Canyon plein air oil painting by Karen Winters

Maricopa Point View
Grand Canyon Maricopa Point south rim plein air oil painting
8 x 10 inches
Oil on linen plein air panel
Available

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http://www.karenwinters.com
http://www.karensblog.com

Just a few days ago we returned from a holiday trip to the Grand Canyon, one of the great natural wonders of the world. I had never seen it covered in winter snow, and I had planned ahead with all my plein air gear. It was near freezing that morning on the South Rim, which kept the snow crisp and fresh. Later in the day a cold wind moved in and I had to layer up even more. It’s surprising how cold you get when you aren’t hiking or moving around.

I set up my easel near Maricopa Point, on the South Rim, along the Rim Trail. In the distance you can see a bit of Wotan’s Throne, an enormous mesa that is adjacent to the north rim at Cape Royal. My husband shot some video of me working on this painting, which I’ll post when we get it edited.

Because I’m almost as passionate about nature and learning as I am about painting, I found it fascinating to know that the top layers of the Grand Canyon (from the Jurassic period) have already been eroded away, so the only fossils embedded in the rocks are from the pre-dinosaur era. One finds trilobites, ferns, dragonflies, etc. but no T-rex bones.

Can Spring Be Far Away? California Landscape Painting Oaks and Chapparal

La Crescenta Park plein air oil painting of oaks, sycamores, buckwheat and the San Gabriel Mountains, by California impressionist Karen Winters

“Can Spring Be Far Away?”
8 x 10 plein air oil painting on linen panel
San Gabriel Mountains, California native plants
Near La Canada Flintridge

These days the sycamores are beginning to show a little color. (Those trees in the background with white trunks.)
The buckwheat is putting on green growth (the shrubby bushes in the foreground) and the live oaks even look a little fresher around the edges, even though they never really lose their leaves like their deciduous friends. (Oaks are on the right side.)
Yup, the signs are all there that spring is on the way – which arrives earlier in California than most of the country, sorry about that. The joggers have abandoned their heavy sweatshirts, and a few souls are running in shorts.