"100 Faces, No. 82"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Up until this one, I hadn't sketched out the face first - on the previous 81, I just started painting. I started with the bold orange as the ground, used a black Sharpie and quickly drew the shape of the head, hints of the eyes, nose and mouth and used a more oiled-down paint. I immediately loved the severe nature of the portrait - kept the angular lines and edges, kept a lot of the ground showing through and stopped when I was thrilled with it.

"100 Faces, No. 81"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

I hope you don't get tired of me saying it, but this is one of my personal favorites. The hard part is explaining why - and the comments that are left usually say what I couldn't articulate. A lot of those I particularly love have 'sweet spots', a stroke of paint I left visible (like the dark line at the tip of his nose) that maybe should have been smoothed over, but, to me, makes the painting.

I think the more you paint, the more you build confidence with the decisions you make. You learn to stop when you like what you've done - and not overwork the piece. That's why small studies are essential. They're more liberating, experimental, non-binding.

"100 Faces, No. 80"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

I could have gone further with this - but I really loved it as is. I started on a soft-purple, oddly chose to surround the head with much of the same tones in the skin - I usually opt for a contrasting color.

Announcing a Workshop in November

I held a workshop last November at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina - an awesome location and space that I loved so much, I'm doing it again. The dates are October 31st - November 4th.

Please contact Vince Fazio at the Sedona Arts Center if you are interested in signing up. Details can be found on their website or you can call directly - that information is on the right hand column on this blog. Thank you for considering this workshop, I think you'll really enjoy it.

"100 Faces, No. 79"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Before I run off to work I'll post this new guy. We look at some people and think 'they look like a cartoon' - this man was one of them. I painted him three times. It was a struggle. The paintings just looked like an old most-wanted drawing, something out of the wild, wild west.

"100 Faces, No. 78"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Wakey Wakey - Eggs & Bakey. And a Big Happy New Year to you. I stepped on the scale, successfully gained back 7 pounds and loved every bite of it. But I did lose 57 before that - such is life. There's triumphs - there's failures. There's days you spend hours painting then end up wiping it all off. Every day is a chance to recommit. To pick yourself up and dust yourself off and start all over again.

This year, for me, is a life-changer. After nearly 32 years of running a business, I'm closing up for good. Gratefully, I have this new path to proceed with - truly painting for a living. Freedom that I haven't known since I was 18 years old. More time to paint, travel, teach, experiment - I guess I should include exercise. Yikes.

So...... my January will be devoted to wrapping things up, tearing things up and cleaning up. To keep my sanity, I'll make sure I paint a few hours a day - finish up my series of 100 Faces - then start working on a solo show opening April 21st. I may not have much to say as the faces are posted - just know I'm working at it.

As soon as February arrives - I'll have my artbooks available again, with two new volumes of the small, daily paintings and hopefully, a book of my 100 Faces. Promise. Also available will be the desktop easel you may have seen on my workshop photos - my man custom-builds each one - I've used mine for over five years now, every single day. It's a must-have. So stay tuned for that announcement, as well as the artbooks.

I woke up this morning, first email I opened was from Katherine Tyrrell, the host of Making a Mark - an excellent, if not the best, blog all about art. My painting 'Hands of Time' was given the Best Picture of the Year on an Art Blog. Holy cow. I am soooooo thankful to Katherine and all those who took the time to vote for their favorites. You must know how much it means to be to be recognized in the vast ocean of art. You make me very, very proud.

Make it a good year.

~ Fondly, Karin J

"100 Faces, No. 77"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

As the sun sets on this New Year's Eve, I wanted to express my appreciation for all your comments during the year and your interest in what I do. It is what drives me - and I thank you.

A brand new year means, to me, to always be brave - take risks - leaps of faith - just be a better person all around. It's never too late to have the life you want to live. Remember that.

Paint on,
and Happy New Year ~ Karin J

"100 Faces, No. 76"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

This is one of my favorites - this man just made for a very interesting painting. I think it's the minimal strokes I like most - not overworking the eyes, the brighter red areas seem to be in the right places. Honestly, working on this series is like I'm going to class every day. It's a constant learning experience - and that drives me. Can't wait to do the next one.

"100 Faces, No. 75"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

I did this one with speed - like a gesture drawing, but with paint - that way I get those squiggly edges I love so much. And I allow those blips of red beneath to peek through, which I really dig.

"100 Faces, No. 74"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

I'm happy to be back with my paints and brushes again - had a wonderful, cozy Christmas which included snow, a rare occurence here in Atlanta. Just loved it.

As I'm in the home-stretch with this series of 100 Faces, I'm sure my favorite paintings have been the people of color, including this new one. With darker skin, there's more layering of tones, cooler color on top of warm, rich color - the more I paint, the more I see.

I wanted to thank Katherine Tyrrell, the host of one of the best art-related blogs on the web, Making a Mark. I've been nominated for the 2010 Best Artwork - Portrait/Figures, specifically a painting titled 'Hands of Time'. Thank you Katherine, you make me proud. Take a minute and see all the artists who've been nominated for several categories - I promise you'll discover some extremely talented artists - including my good friend Neil Hollingsworth, who's work is nominated for Best Portrayal of a Still Life.

"East Bay Walk"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

A November evening stroll on East Bay Street, in the Holy City, Charleston, South Carolina.

Proceeds from this sale were donated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home, a terminal-cancer hospice in Atlanta. The hospice operates solely on private donations. The Sisters and staff cared for my dad, with amazing compassion, humor and dignity and I will be forever grateful.

and a note......... it's a good time to sign off for a bit - lots to do to get ready for the holiday. I wish you and yours a peaceful, happy time together. Enjoy every minute of it and Merry Christmas.

~ Karin J

"100 Faces, No. 73"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

"100 Faces, No. 72"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Painted on a yellow ground color - and truly with minimum brush strokes. I could have continued, although I loved it as this modern, chiseled portrait - as is.

"100 Faces, No. 71"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

"100 Faces, No. 70"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Busy times..... there are only a few hours a day when I can sit down and paint. Nothing soothes the soul more than an hour of Zen, sipping hot tea and accomplishing something on my easel. As I tell my workshop artists, some days you have the time to make lasagna - some days you only have time to pop open a can of Chef Boyardee. It's just important that you do it.

"100 Faces, No. 69"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

I seem to have a calm-before-the-storm period right now - the busiest days of my year are right around the corner. Big changes. All for the good, I'm sure of it.

So for now, I do what gives me great pleasure - paint more of the 100 Faces. Maybe I'll end the year crossing the goal line.

"100 Faces, No. 68"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Ms Edwards

Several years ago, when I was fairly new at painting, I sold most of my work on eBay auctions. I've been fortunate to have gotten to know some of the folks who have been avid fans and
collectors - and that means a lot to me to connect with those people. Elizabeth Edwards was one of them.

After Elizabeth had received the first painting I sold to her, she wrote the nicest letter to me, thanking me and expressing how much she enjoyed how I saw the world around me. I kept that letter, it made me beam with pride. She came back for more, I think over twenty during the course of three to four years - and every single time, it thrilled me.

Any opportunity I had to write Elizabeth, I did. She made me proud to be a woman. I told her I wished I had her skill of speaking - she told me she wished she had my talent.

Elizabeth Edwards was, as I knew her, a warm, down-to-earth, smart and caring person. I am grateful to have known her, even just a little bit.

.... also wanted to add on that Elizabeth not only supported me as an artist, she had bought paintings from several artists/friends of mine - Chris Stott, Neil & Karen Hollingsworth, Jeff Cohen .... I know there's many others, and we all deeply appreciated her patronage. She was cool.

"100 Faces, No. 67"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

"100 Faces, No. 66"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

"100 Faces, No. 65"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

"100 Faces, No. 64"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

"100 Faces, No. 63"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

"100 Faces, No. 62"

4 x 4"

oil on masonite
sold

Always a challenge - I painted a dark tone on the white gessoed board, then subtracted from that with a brush dipped in paint thinner. Some mid-tones were added in the end.

"100 Faces, No. 61"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold