Homeward Bound – Paso Robles area California impressionist oil painting

Homeward Bound
12 x 16″
California impressionist oil painting
SOLD

See more of my California Central Coast paintings here

Although  this painting is sold, I’m always happy to paint something similar on commission.

Click this link to write me.

 

See more of my paintings on my website

A quiet country road winds through the fields, pastures and vineyards of Paso Robles. What beautiful sights lie just around the bend?

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.

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.

California Landscape Los Olivos Oak Tree Sunset by Karen Winters

SOLD
“Reaching for the Sunset”
Los Olivos Oak Tree
California Central Coast wine country oil painting
8″ x 16″
oil on canvas

See more of my California Central Coast paintings here

When we were recently driving through California’s Central Coast Wine Country (made more popular by the movie “Sideways,”) we happened to be near Los Olivos at sunset. I saw this beautiful oak tree and loved the way it looked surrounded by sunset clouds. But not the westward clouds, but the pink tinged ones in the east.

Windy Vineyard – Temecula Vineyard Landscape Oil Painting

“Windy Vineyard”
12 x 9 oil on canvas laid on panel
Plein air landscape, Temecula,
Falkner Vineyard. November 2010

SOLD

See more of my vineyard paintings here

This was the third painting I worked on last year at the Falkner Vineyard paint out. I can’t say it was the third painting completed, because the light had changed so completely late in the afternoon (and a cloud bank rolled in) so I knew it was time to call it a day.
I finished it up back in the studio where there was considerably less wine, and a lot less wind.

The folks at the vineyard had a nice reception for us after we all finished painting for the day. After a glass of “Luscious Lips” I erroneously declared this one to be titled “Vindy Wineyard.” The alternate name stuck. So you can call it Vindy Wineyard or Windy Vineyard, depending upon how much Luscious Lips you’ve imbibed.

Have I ever mentioned here that I love to paint eucalyptuses? Only about a hundred times, right?

Karen Winters paints at Falkner Vineyard in Temecula, California

Paso Robles Vineyard Oak California Landscape Oil Painting

SOLD
“Paso Robles Vineyard Oak”
8 x 10 oil painting on canvas on hardboard

See more of my vineyard paintings here

See more of my California Central Coast paintings here

See more of my landscapes here

The Paso Robles wine growing area has developed so much over the past few years. Every time we take a trip through there we see new vineyards and new plantings. Oaks seem to be iconic in these vineyards. Although it appears that most of the barrels are actually made in France rather than from domestic oaks, I like that some are preserved to add their beauty to the landscape.

California Plein Air Vineyard Painting – Vineyard Dawn Temecula

Vineyard Dawn, Temecula
Wine Country Oil Painting
8 x 10 inches
oil on linen plein air painting

See more of my vineyard paintings here

This is another in the group of paintings that I did recently at the Falkner Vineyard in Temecula, in San Diego County’s wine country. We arose early so that I could be in the vineyard as the sun came up over the distant hills. The light cloud cover kept the sun from shining quite so sharply in my eyes, which was a real benefit.

This painting was shot under warm incandescent light. Under outdoor light or window light, it will probably look a little bit different. It’s amazing how different things look under different lighting conditions – for example, outdoors while I am painting something, and indoors in a gallery or living room setting, depending upon the color temperature of the lighting instruments.

Some time in the next month, I hope to get up into central and northern California wine country to paint in some of those vineyards. If you know of some particularly beautiful ones, I’d love to hear your recommendations.

California Vineyard Painting – Morning at the Vineyard – Karen Winters


“Morning at the Vineyard
Plein Air Oil Painting
9 x 12 oil on linen panel”

SOLD

See more of my vineyard paintings here

Last Saturday we spent an enjoyable but busy day at the Falkner Vineyard 2010 invitational paint out hosted by Segil Fine Art. The weather was fine, starting with a stunning pink clouded dawn (painting to follow in a few days), a hot air balloon launch, and the glory of vines turning golden.

I will be taking this painting – along with many others – to the Montrose Artwalk this Saturday, November 13 – corner of Ocean View and Honolulu. Look for me by the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.

Harvest Time – California Vineyard Oil Painting – Plein Air Landscape by Karen Winters

Vineyard Eucalyptus
8 x 10
oil on linen panel

SOLD – but I have other vineyard paintings at vineyardpaintings.com

Visit my gallery site for an archive of available and sold paintings

If you have a question or or would like to find out if a painting is still available for sale…..

Write Me

Two of my favorite subjects – vineyards and eucalyptus trees – symbols of California’s rich beauty. This painting was done in November at the Falkner Winery in Temecula, but I am just now getting around to photographing and posting it.

Here’s the work in progress

Take a break from last minute shopping this weekend to stop by Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge where I’ll be showing about 8 of my paintings in the Birch Room, a classroom near the main entrance area

California Impressionist Plein Air Landscape Painting – A Very Good Year – Falkner Winery


“A Very Good Year”
8 x 10 oil on archival canvas panel
Plein air painting – Falkner Winery – Day 2

This is the second of the three plein air paintings I did during the paintout. Because I like to put some sharp detail into my paintings, and because that can be difficult to layer when painting alla prima, sometimes I like to let a painting set up for a few days and then add those finishing touches. For esample, I added some of the eucalyptus leaves overhanging the vineyard back in the studio. I had planned for it on site but knew that it would be easier to control on a surface that wasn’t soaking wet.