New Tabletop Easels Available

Those 3 new easels have sold out - more coming very soon.

"Chill Wind" & "Abstracted"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Early last week, there came a point where I couldn't paint another thing and just had to take a break - so we took a mini-roadtrip to Aiken, South Carolina and went to the Steeplechase. For a small town, it was quite a big event - #12 was a beautiful horse named Chill Wind. About twenty minutes after the first race the thunderstorms rolled in and we were outtathere - but it was fun. Nice to get away.

Getting back to painting, I had to start with a loose one - thought it would a good opportunity to join forces and donate 50% of the final sale of this painting to the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake & Pacific Tsunami, so I would appreciate your bids.


Worth mentioning, the Daily Paintworks group has organized The Help Japan Challenge, including an on-site auction where artists are donating the final sales to several charities.

I will donate 100% of the final sale of this painting, 'Abstracted'.

8 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

New Tabletop Easel Available

I had just posted 3 brand-new tabletop easels - they have SOLD OUT. More will be available soon.

"On The Road #3"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

There are scenes that I long to paint but I know will take me days. I don't have that kind of patience. Trying them out 'small' is satisfying enough. Take a skyline like this - incredibly daunting to just map it out correctly and paint it on a larger scale. Maybe someday. What I know is what I felt when I was there - the painting in my head. A kaleidoscope of blues, aquas, greys, lavenders making up an almost-abstract composition. So very cool.

This view was taken from across the East River, from Brooklyn Heights Park, looking onto Lower Manhattan right at the start of Fleet Week last May.

"On The Road #2"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Another landscape taken from a beautiful day driving around Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

"On The Road #1"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

I feel this need, almost every day, to put aside these more-realized paintings and loosen up with something small. I'm gonna try that for a while. For one, it keeps me sane - and two, I've got several road trips ahead of me that I'm hoping to save up for.

This scene is from some of the most beautiful farmland in Pennsylvania, around Lancaster County - where a good bit of working Amish farms add to the charm.

"Abraham Lincoln"

5 x 7"
oil on masonite
sold

After a long day of painting, I guess I had a little juice left in me - so I joined in on the current Daily Paintworks challenge to paint Abraham Lincoln, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I know you haven't seen much current work - I'm painting new pieces for an upcoming solo show. And for a little while, it's under wraps. Drives me nuts.

"It's Subjective"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

A new piece - taken from New York's Museum of Modern Art, a couple looking at Mark Rothko's 'No. 2/No. 13'.

Please click here for a larger view.

Tabletop Easel Available

Update - those new easels have sold out, more coming very soon. Thank you.

More Tabletop Easels Available

Those 2 easels sold - more coming very soon. Thank you.

"Big Sister"

12 x 9"
oil on masonite
sold

A new piece....... visitors in the National Gallery of Art, in Washington, DC - viewing Nicholas de Largillierre's portrait of 'Elizabeth Throckmorton, Canoness of the Order of the Dames Augustines Anglaises'. Quite the title. The referenced photograph was taken by Dennis Roth, who has several books for sale on Blurb - thank you Dennis.

Speaking on books, my good friend, Neil Hollingsworth has created a beautiful book of his own work - I can't wait to get a copy for myself. Well done Neil.

Please click here for a larger view.

"What a Saint"

8 x 10"
oil on masonite
sold

Before I present this new painting, I want to thank those who extended their sympathy for our loss of Petey. It feels like a big group hug. It means a lot. Thank you all. In the past, when our dogs passed away, we had another at home very eager to get us back on track. It helped, a lot. They eased the grief with their presence. Petey was our lone dog - I think he preferred it that way, and I say that with a smile. Petey ruled. When we lost Jack, he devoted himself to us, even more so. And we devoted ourselves to him. It's harder this time.

About this new painting.... it includes one of my all-time favorites that hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago - I beeline to it when I'm at the museum. Bernat Martorell's 'Saint George Killing the Dragon' is the ultimate illustration, filled with symbolism and action - a powerful painting. I enjoyed every minute of working on this piece.

Please click here for a larger view.

For now, go hug your dog, take them for a long walk and give them a slice of cheese when you get back home. Do it for me.

Our Petey

nfs

Our sweet Petey passed away today. He was a great companion, so smart, so eager to please and always kept me company while I painted. He had a good life.

Signing off for a while....

Dickens Inspired Mugshots

5 x 5"
oil on masonite
sold

Tabletop Easels Available Now

The newest easels have sold out - more will be available very soon.
Thank you ~ Karin J

Dickens Inspired Mugshots

5 x 5"
oil on masonite
sold

This guy was chosen for a Dickens character who runs a dance studio and thinks he's a prince.

Meanwhile....... I continue on with my painting marathon.

Dickens Inspired Mugshots

5 x 5"
oil on masonite
sold

I thought this guy really looked like he'd be cast for a Charles Dickens story - a young, street-smart, working-class character.

Meanwhile..... I'm painting every day, not even taking time to photograph the finished pieces. Best to stick to the momentum for now. I've got a solo show in late-April, lots of catching up to do with replacing those blank spots on the gallery walls. You'll see more, very soon.

Dickens Inspired Mugshots

5 x 5"
oil on masonite
sold

Dickens Inspired Mugshots

5 x 5"
oil on masonite
sold

Dickens Inspired Mugshots

5 x 5"
oil on masonite
sold

One of my collectors is a brilliant writer - mentioned some of those 100 Faces look like they're out of a Charles Dickens novel. So........ several new ones you'll be seeing are part of a small series I've done for her, based on that inspiring idea.

Getting out of the funk I found myself in took one of those perfect moments when the stars align - a beautiful day, I've started a new piece which happens to include one of my all-time favorite works of art - I turn on Pandora on my freakin' awesome iPad and set it to Van Morrison Radio and Bob Dylan's Most of the Time starts playing. It was then that I realized how r-e-a-l-l-y lucky I am. Simple as that. Cool beans.

"Cellular Phone"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Better progress today.... thought I'd take on a small study - a woman tucked in a phone booth in the National Gallery of Art.


- a very cool thing to mention, my new book of the 100 Faces was placed on Blurb's best seller page. Thanks to all who purchased theirs. I appreciate it.

Moving Ahead....

8 x 10"
oil on masonite
nfs

This painting I did back in December - for a friend. I would show you something brand new but I can't paint anymore. Well..... I'm in a state. I've been here before, and just like the cold, winter days - this too shall pass. Every day I've painted - with short spans of attention - like I'm in grade school on the last day before summer vacation.

This is what's happening - I paint about 5 hours, later in the day, quit halfway thru, go to bed and the next morning.... I hate the painting. I have wiped six or so in the past week. Could be I've gone from 4 inch squares to bigger panels - could be I've been painting the 100 Faces so loose and free and I'm having trouble finding that happy medium between too tight and too loose - could be the moon. Defeated? Nah. It'll come around.

100 Faces Video, Book & Mentionables

I sure have been having fun playing - I published a new book and just uploaded a new movie (don't forget to turn up the volume) of the 100 Faces BUST-ED. I love doing this stuff.

A couple of things worth mentioning.... a big thank you to the blog if it's hip, it's here, for their recent post and to one of my favorite art blogs Making a Mark for their recent post - both about the 100 Faces BUST-ED project. I appreciate it very much.

For those who remember my Different Strokes from Different Folks blog and get back in the game, Carol Marine has put together a similar challenge - get your paints out and go here. Thanks Carol, I know many out there will be thrilled about that.

Now it's time to really get to work on some painting. I'll be back soon.

Paint On ~ Karin J

"100 Faces, No. 100"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

I'm smiling too. This has been a lot of fun. And it always feels good when we meet a goal, doesn't it? The fact that they were pre-sold to one of my favorite collectors certainly motivated me - but more than that, the enthusiasm and interest from all of you out there who cheered me on, from start to finish - well that just propelled me. And I thank you for that.

What I know is this ..... the last three months, for me, was completely distracting. I knew I would have very little time to sit down and paint. I could have stopped altogether, to get the job done - but I feared I would really be rusty, come February. These small, quick, studies kept me sane - and kept me painting. So my shout-out to you is to find a subject, anything you've been interested in but usually don't paint and make it your goal to do 50. Or 100. Paint it all different ways, with all different brushes, with all different ground colors. You'll find yourself exploring, experiencing. If you've got an hour of Zen, paint. Your best teacher is you.

I've got a surprise. I just looked over my brand new book of 100 Faces. It's very cool. And it's now officially available on Blurb. Yay. Here's some info:

- the book is 6-3/4" square
- you have a choice of the soft-cover or hard-cover
- it includes 103 pages with each painting devoted to one page
- the images measure 5-1/8" square
- the quality is fabulous
- Blurb takes care of the shipping world-wide

I'm so excited. I think you'll really love the book. And yes, I'm continuing the series.

~ thanks to all, Karin J

My Self-Published ArtBooks Now Available

It's been a long time coming ...... thank you all for the patience. I now have my Painting-a-Day Volumes One thru Eight available. You can preview each book on this main page or go straight to my eBay store to purchase yours.

A note about the books...... for several years now, I've created and published the books thru Apple. Those currently for sale will be the last in that format - in the future, I'll be designing, publishing and selling my books thru Blurb - including the upcoming 100 Faces series.

Thanks to all ~ Karin J