Karen's Blog

Welcome to Karen's Blog.  I am presently getting ready for the San Diego County Fair Art Show.  So, I will be writing more as the painting progresses.  I have my subject matter in mind . . . now I have to put it on paper. If I can remember to photograph this painting in stages, I'll post a work in progress.

 

4-26
Oranges
I have my drawing finished, transfered and ready to go. A clean sheet of paper is always so intimidating. I stroked on a few colors and I'm ready to go. This is soft pastel on La Carte paper. I start with my semi-hard pastels to begin to fill in the tooth of the sand paper. I will layer softer pastels over that.

 

Now, I'll stroke in some background so that it will look like I've accomplished a lot....:)

4-30-10

Through much trial and error, I have figured out how to paint the outside of an orange. I'm very familiar with the moist insides, but not the peel. I'm on a roll.... I've used my Rembrandt oranges, plus my orange/red, and orange Terry Ludwig softies for the oranges. My darks are Terry Ludwig's Intense Darks.

5-2-10

I'm probably close to finished with the reflections in the pewter bowl. I'll go back and adjust at the end, if necessary. Now on to the edge of the bowl. I am finding the pinwheels most confusing. I think they are going to drive me insane! Check back later to see if I survive.....

5-3-10

Those little pinwheel swirls have driven me crazy, but I think I've figured them out. The trick is to keep the light on them, but not so much light that it detracts from the oranges. I'm pretty close to finishing this one.

5-5-10
Oranges
I believe that I've finished, but will leave this on the easel for a few days to check for minor alterations. There is a fine line between being finished, and overworking and wishing that you had not made those last few strokes...I think you all know what I'm talking about. I'm calling this "Oranges".

 
 
 
5-10-10

Time is slipping away....the Fair is approaching....I only started the themed painting yesterday. Help! I'm stressing now!

 
 
 
5-17-10

OK, I admit it....I needed my batteries recharged. So I attended a workshop with Mary Aslin this weekend. She has so much to share and she inspired me to paint outside the box. Her website is www.maryaslin.com.  I came across her work at the Festival of the Arts last year in Laguna Beach. There were only 6 of us in the workshop and each one was an accomplished artist, so the work produced was spectacular. The first painting was from her setup, the second was from my own and only took me 3 hours.

5-19-10
Cupcakes and Jelly Beans
Do I like to cut it close? You bet! I don't work any other way... I just finished this last night. I painted this for the SD County Fair Art Show's themed division, which is "Taste the Fun" this year. Hmmm, a little touch of Wayne Thiebaud??? Party Time is ready to  frame, and Terri and I are dropping it off at the Fair grounds at 6pm. tonight.

 
 
 
5-28-10

I was side lined again with a killer virus, the second time since the last week in March. What is going on? I have finally decided on the subject matter for my next painting. It is from photos taken in Fruita, Utah. We stopped in a small historic store on our way to Capitol Reef NP and a few rooms contained old jars and utensils. I will try to get it on paper today.

6-12-10

Good news!!! Thursday night we attended the SD County Art Show Artists' reception. I got to spend some time with my most talented artist friends. My Southwest Still Life received 1st place in colored drawing, the Red, Orange and Yellow Peppers received 3rd place in pastels and the Cupcakes and Jelly Beans received a special award. You just can't ask for more than that!!!

 

7-30-10

Last weekend the ladies met up in San Clemente for our annual weekend with the wonderful Dianna Ponting. This is our 4th year together. Desiree came in from Riverside and Gail came in from Minnesota. This year, Dianna really challenged us with the mirade of textures from the glove to the cut work on the table.

Yesterday, I decided to drive up for day one of Dianna's second workshop. Andi and I could only make the one day and we made the most of it. The exercise was a stunning painting of red textures.

8-21-10

I set up this still life on the beautiful table that my most thoughtful and talented husband made for my birthday. I loved the warmth of the light against the cool colors of the flowers and the metal pitcher,not to mention the blueberries in the glass bowl. The lovely reflection of the lemon on that pitcher is another area that attracted me to this set up. I've struggled with the bottle, but I think that I've captured it.

 

8-28-10
Blueberries and Hydrangeas
After working on the bottle, glass bowl and vase, I decided that the composition was too one sided. What to do....what to do... Ah ha! Spilled milk??? I believe that it adds balance to the left side of the composition, but how do you paint spilled milk? That's the problem of the day.

 


12 comments | Post comment

Karen, Once again, I marvel at your paintings! A new favorite is Blueberries and Hydrangeas. One -Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers and I really like the bowl of blueberries as an accompaniment! Carli
-- Carli Eitnier, 8/30/10

My goodness the "Blueberries and Hydrangeas" still life looks better and better every time I see it! The colors are just wonderful...can't wait to see it in person!
-- Kristine, 8/30/10

Major Congrats on your wins at the fair!! I loved the progression aspect of the oranges, I could smell the oils of those skins through my computer! Are you for REAL......
-- Sabrina, 8/23/10

Congratulations! Sorry to hear you had a killer virus (just read about it) - Hope you're feeling "normal" again :)
-- Jen, 6/13/10

great fun seeing the progression of your work. Love my original, i feel so special to own it!
-- Francie Sorem, 6/12/10

I love that you took us on this journey w/you. I want one of your paintings! On the layaway plan of course. They are fabulous!! j
-- Jerri, 5/24/10

Another wonderful piece. Your paintings get better and better!
-- Shandel, 5/19/10

Karen, Really you painted the vase & oranges in 3 hours? Whoaa, go girl!
-- Carli, 5/18/10

WOW! You get better and better. I am so in awe of your ability to capture your subjects with such great likness and intensity. Great blog too! Impressive from the techno unsavy.
-- Bobbi, 5/18/10

"Hummmm....so that's how you do it, very interesting" Karen, your process is so different, then I would have thought. I really like those circles at the bottom of the pic! Just remember. . . "we knew you when".... Larry & Carli
-- Carli, 5/12/10

very interesting to see your work in progress and to see your thought process and how you figure things out....
-- Diane Speed, 5/4/10

Hey Girlfriend, the blog looks great, I love the color scheme & the font as well.......good luck at the County Fair!
-- Phyllis, 5/3/10