Sunset Magic – California Impressionist Painting by Karen Winters

Sunset Magic
12 x 16 oil on canvas – California impressionist landscape

My latest larger sized landscape draws inspiration from the works of George Inness – a Hudson Valley painter who gradually evolved into an impressionistic style (even though he always rejected the term “impressionist” when it was applied to him.) I have been studying his work for the past few weeks, having seen some of his paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago, and then seeing Sun Shower, at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Inness had a unique way of combining realism and impressionism that I admire. And no doubt it was because of the era in which he worked – in the transitional period between the two movements.

Here’s how it looks a dark frame. I wouldn’t put a bright gold frame on a painting like this – the brightness would compete with the sunset.

Comments

  1. MaryO
    July 17, 2008

    Another one that takes my breath away. Wouldn’t I love to see your show!

  2. Lindad T
    July 17, 2008

    Wow, Karen!! Your work just keeps getting better and better. This is stunning!!

  3. Karen
    July 17, 2008

    Thank you, Linda and Mary. Yes, I wish you could come see it Mary, I would love to show my work to my friends in person!

  4. Carol Schweigert
    July 17, 2008

    Wonderful dramatic light – very nice piece. Just was reading about morning and evening light – how colors are perceived – will try to locate.

  5. Margaret Hunt
    July 18, 2008

    Very NICE…it really does seem to glow!!! great job!

  6. Susan
    July 18, 2008

    Karen, I don’t know that I’ve eVER been drawn in to a landscape with quite that strong a pull. The backlit bush on the left, the changing greens in the foreground as the light catches them around the big tree, of course your always-wonderful clouds … my eyes travelled front, back, up around. And enjoyed the journey mightily I must add. Thanks!

  7. Tami
    July 18, 2008

    Love your trail of light through this. This style appeals to me, somewhere in between total realisim and complete impressionism, I’ll look for some of his work.

  8. Takeyce
    July 18, 2008

    This is such a wonderful painting, Karen. It caught my eye right away.

  9. Bill
    July 18, 2008

    Yep. You got the magic all right. Such rich and clean color. Like the way you have that sunlight radiating through and on the tree. Texture is tastefully done too, a challenge with such a variety of it.

  10. Lynn
    July 18, 2008

    Wow! This is breathtakingly beautiful, Karen.

  11. Jo Castillo
    July 18, 2008

    Karen, this is so lovely. We have been moving for the summer to NM and I have been out of touch. Your work just gets better and better. Wow.

  12. Marian Fortunati
    July 20, 2008

    Everyone has already said it, but I wholeheartedly agree! Gorgeous.

    Interesting comments from you and the other person about the frames. It would be interesting to see the same painting in several different frames so everyone could “judge”. Since they already love the painting, it would be only a matter of how it looks in the frame.
    Then again…. I wonder if you’d get any consensus…
    Stay well.

  13. Mindy
    July 20, 2008

    I love your work! It inspires me :-)

  14. Donn
    July 20, 2008

    This is lovely. Great colors. You can pass it down this way!!!!!

  15. Robin M. Cohen
    July 22, 2008

    Wow, I was on Belinda Del Pesco’s site and caught your comment to her. Clicked on your name and found a wonderful visual feast! Beautiful work…I want to take a walk into your countrysides!

  16. Terry Banderas
    July 23, 2008

    It remains a pleasure to view your site and your art. This piece is very nice. Great use of light and darks and tremendous execution of sky, clouds and sun reflection. The lighter green of the grasses reflecting sunlight in lower left of painting is so good. I think this is one of your best.

  17. Amanda Camden
    January 8, 2009

    A very buetiful painting

  18. Rich Thatcher
    June 15, 2009

    “Sunset Magic” drew me in right away as it just what I was looking for for an inspirational moment.

  19. doulgas
    October 21, 2011

    looks like you gave that painting a “glow-job”….

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