State Street Chicago – Impressionist Urban Oil Painting Cityscape – Karen Winters
“… I think it was the fourth of July”
8 x 10 oil on canvas
Or we could just call it “State Street”. If you are old enough to name that tune, name it and the band that made it famous.
I was trying to get this painting finished for yesterday, the fourth, but just ran out of time. So here it is, a day late. It was inspired by a recent trip to the Windy City, where the flags were already on display – and had probably been up since Memorial Day.
I loved this big clock on Macy’s (formerly Marshall Field’s) department store – there’s one on every corner of the building which covers a large city block.
Wisconsin Sunset – Impressionist American Landscape Oil Painting – Karen Winters
“Wisconsin Sunset”
12 x 16 oil on canvas
This is another in the series of paintings inspired by the beauty of Wisconsin which we saw on a recent trip.
After visiting the Art Institute of Chicago, I was impressed by the works of George Inness, an American “Hudson River School” painter who was greatly influenced by the French Barbizon painters (who were impressionist forerunners.) Although I had not seen an Inness in person, before, I remember seeing a Theodore Rousseau painting (Barbizon school) at the Norton Simon Museum near us in Pasadena – and my response to it was the same: I found it breathtaking and deeply moving. These painters’ choice of dramatic landscape subject matter and the use of powerful darks is something that I’ve included in my paintings from time to time and it may be one area I’ll be exploring in the future. They also were fond of spectacular skies, and I am, too.
This location was near a farm in the southeast part of the state where there were numerous outbuildings. The water feature is probably a seasonal pond, left as a result of the spring floods in that area.
When I look at this painting, it takes me right back to that time and place. I’m satisfied with it. What do you think?
California Impressionist Oil Painting -La Canada Memories – San Gabriel Mountains – Karen Winters
12 x 16 oil on canvas
“La Canada Memories – Oak Grove Park”
This one is not for sale but was a last Christmas gift to my daughter. But it wasn’t really practical for her to schlep it back on the plane to Northwestern U. so we agreed I’d get it framed up for her to take to her new place in the SF Bay area. So, it’s all finished up and here it is.
This is a scene of Hahamongna Park looking northward to the San Gabriel Mountains. (Formerly Oak Grove Park.) It is right across the street from the high school where Kelly and her brother went to school, as well as right next door to their preschool. So this truly is a hometown painting. Hahamongna Park is also known as the northern part of the Arroyo Seco, an area I’ve painted often and will again in the very near future!
Wisconsin Breeze – American Impressionist Farmland Oil Painting – Karen Winters
“Wisconsin Breeze”
5 x 7 oil on canvas on board
On our recent trip to Illinois for our daughter’s graduation, we took some time to cross the border to the north and enjoy some of the farmland of one of my husband’s favorite states.
This small study reflects the serene beauty of the southeast part of the state. The day we were there the sky was filled with cumulus clouds which occasionally sprinkled a little, then drifted on.
The Graduate
Kelly Winters, MBA
If you’ve been wondering where the art was this past week … here’s the reason for the hiatus. We just got back from Chicago for the graduation of our daughter from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Needless to say we couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishments. Not only did she learn lots but she was so active in service to her school that she received the Dean’s Service Award. From managing the school newspaper to being a creative director for the school play to mentoring first year students and leading a trip to Dubai (to name just a few of her activities) – she made a contribution, made lifelong friends and made lots of memories.
Congratulations, Kelly! Your future is as glowing as you were last Saturday!
nodp
Pacific Palisades Hillside – Will Rogers State Park by Karen Winters, California Impressionist
“California Summer Hillside – at Pacific Palisades, Will Rogers State Park”
Plein air painting 11 x 14 oil on stretched canvas.
Yesterday I enjoyed the company of the Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains for a paint out at Will Rogers State Park in Pacific Palisades.
I saw many faces I knew from the California Art Club, Artists of the Canyon, and other paint-out groups, and we all had a wonderful day enjoying the mild good weather and range of painting subjects.
It was a little breezy and I struggled getting my umbrella to shade my work but finally gave up and positioned my medium sized Yarka easel so that the sun wouldn’t strike it directly. Note to self: bring a sandbag next time for the umbrella and stand. It had been left in the other car.
Because I positioned myself at a trailhead I had the pleasure of talking with many hikers on that beautiful Saturday morning, including some who were quite knowledgeable about impressionism and the growing popularity of plein air painting. It really is undergoing a revival!
After the paintout we enjoyed a potluck lunch and shared stories about galleries, shows, teachers, art products and more. I always have a good time getting together with artists – for all our solitary pursuits we can also be gregarious.
California Mountain – Impressionist landscape oil painting by Karen Winters
“California Mountain”
12 x 16 oil on canvas
This is another in my series of spring landscapes, capturing the beauty of California in an impressionist mood. When I’m out painting and taking pictures for reference I don’t always know the name of the landmarks, especially if they are out of my home territory. But this strong summit is around California’s central coast area.
This painting was such a pleasure for me to paint – especially mixing all the different colors of greens that represent grass covered hillsides, trees, meadows and wildflowers. Can’t you just imagine this in a gold plein air frame? Eternal springtime!
Oak in the Meadow – Santa Monica Mountains – Karen Winters Daily Painting
Oak in the Meadow 12 x 16 inch oil on canvas
Late afternoon light streams across a meadow dotted with oak trees. The glow reminded me of a long ago time in a peaceful place.
In real life, the place is the Santa Monica Mountains – a meadow not far from Malibu Creek State Park. The distant mountain range takes on a violet cast as the sun descends. Soon, even the wildflowers will be covered with deep shadows. Don’t you just want to sit under that tree and listen to the calls of the red-winged blackbirds?
Dana Point Headlands – oil painting – Karen Winters
Dana Point Headlands – 18 x 24 oil on canvas
This brand new painting, shown for the first time here, features the headlands of Dana Point near the Ocean Institute. You can see the face looking out to sea on the sharp edge of the cliff. I don’t know if that’s the author Dana after which Dana point was named or some other mythological figure. If someone reading this knows the answer, please post the answer, ok?
My, what a few weeks this has been! It’s been a steady pace of painting, show-prepping, selling, followup and more painting. I’m loving every minute of it, of course.
The Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden show show went very well. Thanks to all those who purchased works from me, and thanks as well as some very special guests who made the trek out to Claremont to say hello. A few nights ago, I attended A Taste of Art at Gale’s Restaurant in Pasadena, where a group of artists (including me) all donated artwork to be sold to support the AIDS Service Center. It was great food, great wine, tons of good art and all for a wonderful cause.
Now I am back to my everyday painting routine, with many new works to come. So, watch this space … new art is on the way.
May at Malibu Creek – Karen Winters Daily Painting – Art
“May at Malibu Creek”
11 x 14 pastel on board
SOLD
This week has been another week of preparation for a show – this Sunday, June 1 at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. So I haven’t had a lot of extra time for painting but I will try to make up for it, soon.
This is another favorite scene of mine from Malibu Creek State Park. The long lazy trail winds back through the spring grasses, which are beginning to turn golden here and there. Wildflowers decorate the hillsides with swaths of color, and the afternoon glow kisses the chapparal-covered mountainsides.
I was reading a website recently that was extolling the beauty of the Santa Monica Mountains. This area is so close to urban Los Angeles, yet it might as well be out in the wilderness. There is so much natural texture and beauty here – a painter’s delight.
The other day I was sitting in the car in the parking lot while my husband ran into OSH for a few hardware bits. Rather than wrap myself up in an art magazine, I just gazed for a long time at the Verdugo Hills and the clouds drifting above it. I challenged myself to see as many colors and values as I could. Art is not only made with brush or pastel in hand. Sometimes it gestates by just our attentive seeing.
