Breeze from the Lake – California Central Coast impressionist oil painting by Karen Winters
“Breeze from the Lake”
4 x 8″ oil on wooden panel
SOLD
See more of my California Central Coast paintings here
Late afternoon breezes stir the waters of Laguna Lake in San Luis Obispo County
If you live in Southern California, I invite you to visit my solo exhibition at Descanso Gardens in La Canada. Now through January 2, 2012.
Approximately 30 paintings are on display at all times. As one is sold, it is taken by the buyer and I replace it with a new one from my inventory. I will be at the show weekends unless it’s raining, and some weekday afternoons.
California Vineyard Oil Painting – Lucas and Lewellen Los Alamos – by Karen Winters
“Fruit of the Vine – Los Alamos”
(Lucas and Lewellen Vineyard)
This beautiful little vineyard is in the San Antonio Creek Valley, near the charming town of Los Alamos. I was attracted to the scene because it included three of my favorite subjects: vineyards, oak trees, and rolling oak-studded hills. Can anything be more quintessentially Californian?
Last Tuesday we hung my show at Descanso Gardens – there were 24 paintings and two have already sold, to be replaced with new ones from my inventory. Paintings go home with buyers immediately for instant art gratification – or holiday gift giving. No empty nails on the wall! I’m very pleased with how the show looks. Now if we could just chase the raindrops away we’d be all set.
Malibu Canyon ranch commissioned oil painting by California impressionist Karen Winters
Malibu Canyon Ranch
8 x 10 inches
oil on linen panel
SOLD
Interested in commissioning a custom painting as a gift? Click this link to write me.
See more of my Malibu paintings here
This little painting was commissioned as a surprise birthday present by a client of mine for whom I’ve previously done three paintings. She was looking for something western and we agreed upon this subject, which is a location not far from where her son did post-graduate work. It was fun to paint – the Santa Monica Mountains in early spring, just as some of the trees are still getting their leaves.
California impressionist oil painting Chapparal Bloom by Karen Winters
“Chapparal Bloom”
San Gabriel Mountains
8 x 10 inches oil on plein air panel
California is colorful all year long, not only in the springtime. Summer and fall wildflowers include buckwheat and other chapparal natives. It’s an earth-tone palette, full of greens, russets, umbers and golds. The buckwheat, when it dries, is a good match for burnt sienna.
I never tire of painting the tapestry of plant life that covers our rolling hills and mountains. The California Native Plant Society is a good resource for learning about our drought tolerant beauties.
Here’s how the painting might look in a dark frame that picks up the colors in the painting, with warm touches of coppery-gold.
I haven’t talked about framing too often here, but it’s true that the frame can have a big impact on how a painting looks. Compare how the same painting, on the same colored background appears in a gold carved frame. The dark frame creates a more rustic look, which might be appropriate for a home with western accents. The gold frame creates a lighter, more elegant appearance. Which do you think works best? Do you like seeing one of my paintings with framing suggestions, as opposed to just seeing the painting by itself?
Sunset On Descanso Pond – Descanso Gardens California impressionist lake oil painting by Karen Winters
“Sunset On Descanso Pond”
Descanso Gardens Art
16 x 20 oil painting
SOLD
I took this new painting “Sunset on Descanso Pond” to the Colony Theatre in Burbank today for a solo show in conjunction with their presentation of “On Golden Pond,” running from July 27 – August 28, starring Hal Linden. There is a cozy gallery area inside the theater with plenty of room for the seventeen paintings I brought. Not all the paintings are of ponds or lakes, of course. There are eastern Sierra scenes, vineyards, seascapes and more.
Sunset on Descanso Pond features the bird sanctuary area, where waterfowl, turtles and other types of wildlife abound. We used to enjoy visiting that spot often when the children were young and feeding or stale bread to the ducks and geese was permitted.
Below is the Central California landscape that I painted expressly for this show as a theme piece.
The title is “Return to Golden Pond” and it is 14 x 18, oil on canvas.
Return to Golden Pond (On Golden Pond) California Tonalist Landscape Oil painting by Karen Winters
“Return to Golden Pond”
14 x 18 inches
Oil on canvas
SOLD
Central California – Western Sierra Foothills painting
This painting was done for an upcoming exhibition at the Colony Theater Gallery in Burbank, in conjunction with the performance of “On Golden Pond.” In addition to a dozen or more other paintings which will be exhibited, I painted this one to tie in very specifically with the theme of the play. Although the play is set in the eastern United States, I decided to do my own take on it, as a California landscape painter. The location is a pond bordering the western foothills of the Sierras. I don’t usually paint in a tonalist/monochromatic style, but it seemed perfect for this project.
More details on the show will follow as the opening approaches.
California Poppy Plein Air Landscape Oil Painting – Tejon Ranch
Tejon Ranch Poppy Hillside
9 x 12
oil on plein air panel
Interested in this painting?
Click this link to write me. See more of my paintings on my website
See more of my wildflower paintings here:
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of painting at the Tejon Ranch with other artist and signature artist members of the California Art Club. It was a unique opportunity to enjoy the spring beauty of the land, which is not open to the general public. The wind gusts were intense at times, but the color made up for the distraction. This is one of the paintings I worked on over the two day period – this one was on the Antelope Valley side, not too far from the Lancaster Poppy Reserve. I’ll be posting more soon.
Way of the Oak – California Impressionist Landscape Oil Painting of Oak Tree on Trail – by Karen Winters
“The Way of the Oak”
12 x 16 oil on canvas
See more Pasadena area paintings here
This graceful old oak arches over a trail on Eaton Canyon, beckoning the hiker to walk under the arch and continue their journey. Scenes like this are typical of trails all over California, though. From the Arroyo Seco of Pasadena, the Cerro Gordo campgrounds of California’s Central Coast, the equestrian trails of La Canada, where I live, and the trails of Irvine Park, Malibu Creek State Park, Agoura, and more. I’ve seen so many places like this that it is truly iconic of California, especially in the springtime when the grasses are still fresh and only beginning to turn to gold.
Pride Mountain Vineyard – Napa California Vineyard Oil Painting by Karen Winters
“Pride Mountain Vineyard, Autumn 2010”
9 x 12 vineyard oil painting on plein air linen panel
Private Collection (sold)
This painting is sold, but you can see more of my vineyard paintings here
Last autumn, while visiting our children over Thanksgiving, we had the pleasure of visiting this wonderful vineyard on Spring Mountain near St. Helena, above Napa Valley, California. The wines were superb and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour which was given by a very knowledgeable and entertaining man who was also a refugee from the advertising business, like me. The day was magical in every way. We picnicked on a hillside overlooking the vineyard fall color. Bread, wine, cheese, sausages, more wine, fall color, crisp air … ahhhh.
This commissioned painting evolved out of that delicious fall inspiration. I’d love to go back there again to paint in another season – maybe while the grapes are still on the vines.
Show reminder: The California Art Club 100th Annual Gold Medal show continues at the Pasadena Museum of California Art – through April 21. Check the museum website for days and hours. Be sure to see my painting, “Gaviota Springtime.” It’s in the side room where the smaller works are hung.
Oaks of Springtime – Central California Landscape Oil Painting
“Oaks of Springtime”
California Central Coast, near Pozo & Santa Margarita
8″ x 8″ oil
SOLD
Oaks put on new leaves in a wilderness park along Pozo Road, in Central California. Lupine and other wildflowers grow at their feet.
