"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