"On a Lark"

9 x 11"

oil on panel
sold 

I have my personal favorites in the Art Institute of Chicago - 'The Song of the Lark' by Jules Breton is one of them.  A picture says a thousand words...

Back when the movie 'Monuments Men' was premiering, Bill Murray, a part of the cast, opened up during a promotion gig about the painting saving his life.  You can read about it here.

Please click here for a larger view.

"For the Love of Monet"

10 x 10"

oil on panel
sold 

A woman reading the details of Claude Monet's 'Irises', from the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Please click here for a larger view.

"Drive"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

D for Drive - a golfer practicing his chips on a driving range on Hilton Head Island, an addition to my new series A to Z.

"Crossword"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

C for Crossword - a weekly obsession of mine to complete the New York Times Sunday puzzle, at least by the following Sunday.   This new painting is part of my new series A to Z.

~ Happy Spring

"Beach"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

This addition to my new series 'A to Z' could be Boy in a Bathing Suit at the Beach.  I simplified it.

"Coffee Pod"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

A gentleman nestled in a booth with his newspaper and coffee in Chicago.

Museum Hours Show Catalog

I created this catalog for my current show Museum Hours....

This soft-cover book is now available thru Blurb, details can be found here.

"Bench Test"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

In the Art Institute of Chicago, in the New Modern Wing, visitors sit on long benches against a white wall.  I've said this before, it's one of my favorite spots to people watch.  Figures become forms against the stark background - I just love that.

From the Art Institute, a gentleman rests on the bench in the lobby of the New Modern Wing.

"Bored Certified"

8 x 10"

oil on panel
sold

As you may know, I will have a small solo show titled 'Museum Hours', opening February 28th at the Anne Irwin Fine Art Gallery here in Atlanta.  I got the okay to begin revealing the paintings, starting with this new piece, from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City - a mother viewing Pablo Picasso's 'Girl Before a Mirror' while her seemingly bored daughter sits beside her.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Maxy"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

And now for something completely different - my good friends, Karen and Neil Hollingsworth's beloved cat, Maxy.  

And for some GoodTV ...  for those stuck inside with nothing to watch, stream in these two movies this weekend - Chef and Bernie.   I promise, you'll love these movies.

"Back Support"

6 x 8"

oil on panel
sold

I'm on my 10th painting for a grouping in a small solo show opening at the end of February - with the same young woman and the same Flemish painting you see on the post below.  The last piece I finished took d-a-y-s.  It includes one of the most fabulous paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but it was a doozie.  

I took a break today and loosened up with a new study of this young man resting his back next to a Monet in the French Impressionism gallery in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

"White Collar"

6 x 8"

oil on panel
sold

I want to paint a larger, more-realized version of this young woman 1) because the painting behind her is one of my very favorites in the Legion of Honor Museum 2) I love her floppy hat and 3) I love the combination of browns and blacks and creams with that touch of olive.  What I wasn't sure of was how the coffee colored wall would do with the skin tones and I wasn't sure I could pull off that cool shirt and whether or not to make it more solid.  So I did this study today.

From the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, a young woman stands in front of the Flemish painting by Frans Pourbus the Younger 'Portrait of a Lady'.

"200 Faces, No. 146"

4 x 4"

oil on panel
sold

I took a break today from the February show paintings - making great progress.  Largely in part to binge-watching Breaking Bad while painting, which kept me seated all day long.  Great ending by the way.  

This new addition to my ongoing series BUST-ED shows one of my visual obsessions - a face emerging from the dark.

"First Class Male"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

First, I am hard at work with the paints.  Binge-painting while binge-watching Breaking Bad.  I know I'm late to the party but the show finally clicked with me.   It's most excellent.

I'm working on a grouping of 10, for a small solo show opening late February.  You'll see the paintings sometime close to the opening, which drives me nuts, but that's the deal.

Meanwhile, this new piece features one of my personal favorite paintings by Matisse, the 'Male Nude', which hangs in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Happy New Year to You

I like this quote.

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."  ~ Bill Vaughan

If that doesn't inspire, there are the wise words from Bob Marley...

"Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing gonna be all right."


I wish you a very happy, healthy and creative 2015 and thank you for your support and friendship.

Cheers  ~  Karin J

"Summer Camp"

13 x 6"

oil on panel

A nice reminder of those warm, summer days.

Email me if you are interested in a purchase.

"Greener Pastures"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

Back to work.  I had a wonderful Christmas, hope you did too.

Homemade beef stew and biscuits, double-chocolate brownies for dessert.  

From the Art Institute of Chicago, women studying John La Farge's 'Paradise Valley' in the American Art Gallery.

Merry Christmas My Friends

Calendars

Just a reminder - I have a few calendars left...

purchase your Wall Calendar 'Days at the Museum'

by clicking here.

SOLD OUT

"Goodness"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

I needed a sweet, positive image to paint today and this darling woman just embodies goodness.

From Atlanta, Georgia.

"200 Faces, No. 145"

4 x 4"

oil on panel
sold

A new addition to my ongoing series BUST-ED.

"Madonna"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

Inspired by the Christmas reds and from a good friend's photo, taken at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy - a visitor admiring Raphael's 'Madonna del Cardellino' or 'Madonna of the Goldfinch'.

"Humble Abodes"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

Home Sweet Home in Natchez, Mississippi.

"200 Faces, No. 144"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

I've had a frustrating painting week with a couple of wipe-offs.  Rusty I guess.  Too tight.  And the way to climb out of that is to paint a mugshot.  It's been a while, I don't know why, it's one of my favorite subjects and I'm so, so happy with this new addition to my ongoing series BUST-ED.

"Tute Boots"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

I took time out from painting this week to enroll in the Affordable Healthcare Program and I would highly suggest anyone check into the program - the website works, the call center was helpful and starting next year I'll be saving a LOT of money that will buy me more paint among other things.  For many full-time artists and all self-employed people, it's a godsend.

Anyway.... if you've been watching my work for a number of years, I have a preference for cutting off heads.  The reason is I find the figure more interesting - it becomes a form.  Body language takes over, identity is moot.  Composition becomes the fun of it, color takes center stage.  That's why I love it.

From the Art Institute of Chicago, a young woman and her boots takes a rest on a bench.