Datura, Angel Trumpets

Colored pencil on Stonehenge paper 6x8"

Not Available

I was inspired to "somewhat" of "an after" of a painting with the same title by an artist named Wilhelmina (Billie) Greene. She did hers in watercolor with a lot more leaves in the lower half and I just loved her use of the coral color in the background. 

I've been doing a bit of studying about negative space and I wanted to try a bit of blending using solvents with colored pencil so it seemed obvious to drop off Billie's lower leaves.

This C9 bulb was my first attempt at blending with solvents and colored pencil. (My husband is going to really miss these C9s when they completely go away.)

On another random note: I read an inspiring article about the illustrator Elaine Duillo who said she used a lot of negative space in her paintings. In case you don't know her name, she was the artist who did all those romance covers featuring Fabio back when and made him famous. Ooooh Fabio. So fabulous! You can see loads of her work on Pinterest. Dang that Pinterest! It's so addicting!

 Cheers all.
Until we meet again.
Karen

He loves me not

Well, as threatened, here is the other half of my post yesterday He loves me. This one was done on Stonehenge paper and I have to say I liked the texture of the Stonehenge a lot more than watercolor paper for colored pencil. I did not use solvents on either one of these, but that's not to say I won't be trying colored pencil with solvent SOON! In fact, I can count on it.

He loves me

He loves me not

Available.
Each 7x13"colored pencil on paper. Portrait.

Cheers all,

Karen

He loves me

I've been having fun (with a bit of liberty) tinkering with my youngest daughter's selfies. You know, those silly smooshy, kissy faces all teenage girls were doing when they have unlimited access to a digital camera. Except now it's all on her phone and I don't have access to it. Dang it! I'll have to coerce.

Colored pencil on hot press watercolor paper 7x13" portrait

Posted the second half: He love me not. I'd like to frame them together as a diptych.
Cheers all,
Karen

Rough and Ready

Over the years, I've found I should put away the oil paints during the holidays and work on things that are easily stowed away. And I do love me some good old graphite!

Graphite pencil on Mi-Teintes Pastel paper, 9x12, Still Life? Figurative? Portrait? You tell me. I'm not sure.

Available

Cheers all, 

Karen

Black Grape

Hi all.
Just a bit of what is left of autumn.
Oil on canvas, still life, 8x10, available

Karen

Camera Truck

Well, I have to say it is quite a pat on the back when someone you love tells you he wants you to do a painting for him. My husband asked me to paint this and wanted it large enough to hang over our mantle. LARGE. Intimidating. I took a deep gulp and said yes and we went out to buy a big (40x30") canvas.

 

Work in progress: under painting with just thin burnt sienna, final layers in only burnt umber, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, the smallest amount of Venetian red and titanium white, all in all about 6 weeks to paint. The burnt umber and ultramarine blue make a nice dark.

We took it to a framer my husband knows well and she did a fab job framing it and touting my work to some of her clients and so who knows, ya know? For now I'm pleased with how it looks on the wall and with a nice confidence booster that I'm growing as an artist.

Happy Thanksgiving to us in the U.S. and happy fall day to those who are not.

I'm grateful for family, friends, home and hearth, and the ability and time to paint.

Cheers all. 

God's peace.

Karen

40x30" landscape, Oil on canvas, NFS

  

Up for luck

Hi and Hello,
Interesting things afoot around here.  I've got my fingers crossed "for luck."
Hope all is well in your world.
Happy Autumn!
Karen

Oil on canvas paint board, 8x10, landscape  I've tinkered with it a bit.

Lamp and Tile

Hi and hello,
I've been working a few large pieces and that's my excuse for not posting for a whole month! (This is not one of those large ones. It is only 11x14.) I finished this at the end of summer and was holding back on it to see if it all "gelled." As I was painting it, I did wish I had made the lamp a tad larger but I'm pleased with the end result. I didn't even have the actual tile I put in here. I printed it off an auction site and cut that out and put it behind the actual lamp in my set up. Sneaky!

On an unhappy note: They decided to close down the CalArtInst in Westlake, CA where I've been taking lessons. I'm really sad to not have a close class to go to now. There are some fine options around to be sure, but none so close and convenient. So many artists have come out of there who do such stunning work. I do so wish I could have attended class taught by Glen Orbik. Grumble....

Ok. Hope autumn is treating you well.
Karen

Oil on canvas. 11x14" Still life. Available

Where have the buffalo gone

Hi all,

Been busy! And hot - whew. I know some of you are already experiencing autumn cool down but we won't here our hot spell until the end of October generally.
This is based on a photo from wetcanvas.com taken by a lady named Ann Garlough who has since passed on. It's kinda nice to know that her lovely photos are still instilling inspiration years later.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=960669

Oil on paint board, 8x10, animal painting, buffalo    Available
Cheers and God's peace all
Karen

If not for you my sky would fall

I really enjoyed painting this, but I was torn between posting it or tweaking it a tad more. There is just something about seeing it in different light, on the computer, etc, etc. I decided it was better to move on.

Hope your world is bright.
Cheers,
Karen

Oil on paint board, 8x10", landscape, nfs