Huntington Gardens Teahouse Plein Air – Karen Winters Daily Painting
Lions at the Gate – 8 x 10 oil on canvas on board
The truth in advertising part of this program compels me to confess that this was all painted from life at a paintout except for the sky – because I inadvertantly left the house without my tubes of paint – and there was insufficient cerulean and cobalt on my palette to do the deed without running out. So I used what skimpy blue I had to fill the area with the right color thinned with mineral spirits, but the thicker paint had to be applied after I got back home. There. I feel so much better.
Frankly, I might repaint that tree that has already shed its leaves, but I sort of liked the fact that it represented fall at the gardens. So I’ll have to think on that for awhile. The story of this painting is mainly about light – how it falls on the facade of the teahouse and the lion(s) that guard its entrance. The other lion is obscured by the front one so I left it out.
OK, and here’s some art news.
On Sunday I took the below painting to the San Gabriel Fine Arts Association meeting – which I’ve missed attending due to being at Descanso and other commitments, and I was thrilled to get first prize among the paintings displayed for competition, and to be chosen as artist of the month. The painting will go into the SGFAA gallery on Wednesday for a month and will compete in December for artist of the year.
And this painting got an award at the Verdugo Hills Art Association fall show. All in all, a good month!
Tami
November 13, 2007
Whoo-Hoo!!!! That is GREAT news!!!! I’m not suprised as I think you paintings are exquisite! Thanks for ‘fessing about the sky, we were all wondering….
Kate (Cathy) Johnson
November 13, 2007
Congratulations! What wonderful news, and WELL deserved!
I love your lions, too…I couldn’t resist painting some similar stone lions in KC years ago, but in watercolor…and winter!
Linda
November 13, 2007
Great paintings — I’m so glad the persimmon painting won an award — it’s one of my favorite still lifes. Lives. Lifes. (seems like there ought to be something about that spelling/grammar rule in Strunk and White’s, but I’ll bet there isn’t…) ;-D
Susan
November 14, 2007
Karen. How wonderful! I couldn’t be happier that your star is shooting with such brilliance. Your artwork is so full of sunlight with that delicious touch of mystery tucked into the shadows. Congratulations!
wendy
November 14, 2007
You are so consistently postiive and sunny in your paintings. And hardworking. I just can’t keep up the pace of some of you guys! I am like an octopus with legs every which way but loose. At the moment it is research at the uni on Fiji church history as I delve into dusty books or books that have never been opened and make discoveries.
w.
Jo Castillo
November 14, 2007
Karen, many congratulations! I love these buildings, great work.
Jo
Sherie
December 10, 2009
I know this is 2 years late, but congratulations! Beautiful paintings and I’m glad you got recognition for them. Love the lion btw.