Sierra Storm
12 x 16 inches
Oil on linen panel

In the fall, storms begin to gather over the Sierra, offering dramatic lighting effects. This storm was breezing up and brought two days of downpour in its wake. We outran it and came back to paint another day. The sage and rabbit brush looked wonderful rimlit by the sun.

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Sierra Peak Study
6″ x 6″
oil on canvas

This small painting is a study preparatory to a larger commissioned painting I am working on. I thought I would take one of the peaks in the range and explore some possibilities of color and brushwork before diving into the larger wide panorama. This is a mountain outside of Bishop, California, touched by the morning sun in early November. Painting loosely, my objective was to work with the inherent complementary scheme in order to learn how I would need to make adjustments on the larger piece.

“Precious”
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy
6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
ON HOLD pending completion of sale

I saw this little pup last weekend and begged the owner to let me take a picture. I always enjoy doing animal studies and the challenge of fur and dramatic lighting made it a special treat. The long floppy ears look so much like Titian-style hairdos. If a dog can be glamorous, this one is.

This small study is preparatory for a larger work including both the pup and its young master. Wouldn’t this little painting make a wonderful Valentine’s present for a dog lover?

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Pomegranate Study
8 x 10 oil on linen panel (commission)
SOLD

This pomegranate painting, a larger version of an earlier small study, was painted for a client who was looking for something bright and juicy for her dining room. I was happy to paint this larger one. Maybe one day I’ll paint it even larger still.

All of the rain clouds have left, now, revealing greening grasses and wondrous blue skies. The 10 day forecast doesn’t show precipitation, although our Sierra range could certainly use some more to fatten up the snow pack. I don’t mind rain, but I do like a few days of sunshine to break up the gray.

Maybe I’ll fit some plein air days in this weekend.

Bare Naked Sycamores
12 x 9 inches
Oil on linen panel

This is the 2nd of two plein air paintings I did last weekend at Eaton Canyon. The first, posted earlier, featured the mountainside, looking north. This painting, painted from the same spot, looks across the riverbed in a southeasterly direction. After a day standing at the easel I was just too tired to go looking for other angles, and these two statuesque sycamores were close by. Our winter season is so short in Southern California that we don’t see bare naked trees very often. Within six weeks I’m guessing that these two will have leaves starting to burst forth. Some fall leaves are still clinging, even after the torrential rains.

New art daily at Karen’s Blog
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

Under the California Sun
9 x 12
oil on linen panel

This new painting was influenced by some studying of tonalists such as George Inness, and my continued explorations using a more monochromatic color palette in some works. Yes, I still love my saturated colors, but there are different atmospheric effects and moods that can be achieved by changing things up. Eucalyptuses are entertaining to paint under any light or atmospheric conditions.

My husband and I attended the gala of the LA Art Show, presented by the Los Angeles Fine Art Dealers Association at the LA Convention Center. It was a thoroughly satisfying experience, and we enjoyed seeing new work by some of our favorite galleries, including George Stern Fine Art, The Redfern Gallery, William A Karges Fine Art, The Arcadia Gallery, Galerie Michael, Sullivan Goss, and Rehs Gallery

In spite of the pouring rain and my still recovering ankle, it was a night to remember!

Eaton Canyon Waters
9 x 12 in.
oil on archival linen panel

This morning, after days of gray skies and pouring rain, we woke up to bright blue skies and snow in the San Gabriel Mountains above us. I knew the watershed of Eaton Canyon would be filled with flowing streams, and I was determined to go see for myself. My original intention was just to get a few photos (my ankle is still healing and long standing is uncomfortable) but I knew I would kick myself if the scene looked highly paintable and I had left my plein air gear at home. So I packed the car and headed out, and was not disappointed. The mountains were a palette of soft blues, grays and violets and water was coursing among the big boulders. I resisted climbing down the bank - I don’t want to sprain myself again - but set up my easel along one of the trails.

A photographer came by on a hike and kindly took a photo of me with my camera. (Thanks, Miguel!) He shot a batch himself with his Canon - I’m looking forward to seeing them.

Days like this are just made for plein air painting. Although I was plenty weary toward the end of the afternoon painting (#2 painting for the day) I was in my element.

I used a hand-held palette today instead of my usual glass one. I found it easier to match color when I could hold it up parallel to the plane of the canvas.

Garrapata Beach, Big Sur
16 x 20 oil on canvas

The state park on a beautiful clear day with just a little mist hovering over the distant headlands. A look so typical of the area. I’ll bet that this location has been the scene of many marriage proposals, it’s so beautiful.

Last weekend, I attended the artists’ reception for the Pasadena Society of Artists ACE Exhibition, and was delighted to learn that my painting of the LA County Fair, “Fun Zone,” had won an Award of Merit. This has been a really exciting week for me - first learning that I am a new Artist Member of the California Art Club, and now this honor from PSA. I can hardly wait to find out what surprises this new week will bring.

Karen Winters at the Pasadena Society of Artists ACE Awards

Sierra Creek
(Rush Creek, on June Lake Loop), California
Eastern Sierra Nevada

16 x 20
Oil on Canvas

This painting is from my fall Sierra series (ongoing) depicting the color of the Eastern Sierra in late October. The exact location for this one is a small creek that exits Silver Lake, on the June Lake loop, just west of highway 395. Between the willows and the aspens, it was a symphony in gold. I thought that the blue of the sky played a nice complement to all of those warm hues. This location is no doubt loaded with trout as we saw many anglers along its shores. Just gazing upon this scene puts me back in a reverie.

Today I got some wonderful good news - I was accepted as a juried Artist Member of the California Art Club, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. It means a lot to me to be welcomed into the company of artists who I admire and respect so much. I am looking forward to the new exhibitions I’ll be able to participate in, as well as getting to know other peers who have contributed so much to this esteemed organization with its long and illustrious history.

Pansy Study
5 x 7 oil on canvas on panel

In the winter, not a lot of flowers are blooming in Southern California. Cool season bloomers include snapdragons, iceland poppies and pansies, which are predominately purple, violet and shades of yellow, cream and white. I enjoyed painting this loose collection of forms as a study to get familiar with the shapes using palette knife and brush.

I think this little picture would look nice in a small plein air frame, something like this: