"That's Amore"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite

Without a day to spare, I'm in 'catch-up' mode, with this new painting going to the Cohen-Rese Gallery, hopefully in time for someone's Valentine's Day. I didn't plan it that way, I had this image on my mind for months. I love to paint marble sculptures - they're often nude figures, with variations of warm and cool greys - standing out next to real humans with movement and color. The tough part is getting an image accurate enough to show those subtle shadings and tones in the white/grey areas, better appreciated in person.

This scene is from the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston - a mother and daughter before the marble sculpture by Horatio Greenough, titled 'Love Prisoner to Wisdom".

For a larger view and purchase information, please click here.

"What Happens Next"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

You may recognize this man reading the paper - I had painted a small, daily piece of this scene. Going larger, I included more of the surroundings, which makes us wonder what happens next? Either it's turning the page or perhaps the two strike up a conversation.

This new painting will be included in the February show at the Howard/Mandville Gallery.

For a larger view, please click here.

"The Sari"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

When I see a woman in a sari, I stare. It's wrong to stare, I know, but I'm in love with the fabrics and the drapery and I immediately see a painting in my head. This particular moment struck me, when this beautiful lady stood next to Mary Cassatt's "The Bath" - it was all about pattern and color, and of course, being a woman.

This new painting will be included in the February show at the Howard/Mandville Gallery. For a larger view, please click here.

"Dead Head"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

This new painting will be included in the February show at the Howard/Mandville Gallery. It's one of my favorites - mostly for the composition and the vivid color of the wall surrounding the painting and the figures. The painting behind the women is Guido Reni's "Salome With the Head of Saint John the Baptist", which hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago.

As with all of the work, it is so much more appreciated in person, so if you're able, please drop by the gallery next month. For a larger view of this piece, click here.

"Karin"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
NFS

Next up on the alphabet is K ...... and a friend of mine suggested a while back that I try a self-portrait. Yikes. There's a first time for everything. I have a larger view on my website if you're interested - not that you wanna see my face as big as your screen - but there's some cool brushwork involved. I tried so hard to stay loose on this.

"June"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Getting back to my alphabet series, I chose to paint this old, shotgun house that I spotted around Atlanta - with the hot, summer sun bathing it with color and light. I love this painting.



If you read the last post, I was struggling with one last piece for the February show. I ended up painting a scene that I honestly thought I'd never be able to pull off - and it turned out to be one of my all-time, personal favorites. I am beaming. I'll be able to show it to you in a couple of weeks, when I reveal all the work.

"Beyond Compare"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite

About mid-afternoon yesterday, I thought I was done with the show pieces. I started working on new paintings for the two other galleries, this being one of them, felt like I had an accomplished day and fell fast asleep only to wake up at 2 a.m. with anxiety over one of the show pieces. Why does our brain work this way? I need a good night's sleep please.

Back at it this morning, bound and determined. I suspect I won't stop until I'm consciously and subconsciously sure.

This painting is a scene from the Art Institute of Chicago - two girlfriends discussing and comparing. The hip action is just too great. Click here for a larger view and purchase information.

"Chocolate Covered Cheesecake"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

The last of the three artfully decorated cheesecake slices that I helped devour on New Year's Eve. The chocolate was that yummy hard-shell kind, like on Dairy Queen cones. The same was on the Chocolate-Cherry Glazed slice. Sooooo good.

My happy news is that I have officially finished all the paintings for my February show at Howard/Mandville Gallery, one month to the date. Seventeen pieces, which you'll be able to view in a couple of weeks. You'll see six of them in the February issue of American Art Collector Magazine - are you ready for this - they wrote a featured article on my work. Yikes.

"Cherry-Topped Cheesecake"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Ode to cheesecake - the second of three paintings resulting from my New Year's Eve splurge. Back on Weight Watchers, I can now count down the weeks until I treat myself again, on my birthday. Until then, I live vicariously through art.

"Chocolate & Cherry Glazed Cheesecake"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

This beautiful, sculptured work of sweetness was one of three slices of cheesecake that I helped devour on New Year's Eve. Before I went back to counting calories.

It gives me great pleasure to paint these ....... somewhat similar to one of my favorite artists, Wayne Thiebaud. Thick, rounded shapes with lots of color - giving honor to a gorgeous dessert.

Workshop with Carol Marine & Me

Carol Marine is one of my favorite painters and when she suggested I join in on one of her workshops, I jumped at the chance. It'll be the first workshop I've ever attended and the first I've taken part in. A trial by fire for me - I'm very excited.

The details that are available now:

March 14th, 15th & 16th
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
At the Art Center of Williamson County in Round Rock, Texas
(north of Austin)

More details and contact information available here.

Carol and I decided on a maximum of 16 participants - if you are interested, please reserve your spot early on - and come paint with us!

The workshop enrollment has sold out, as of Monday, the 7th - but please keep in mind you can put your name on a waiting list, in the event someone cancels. If this goes well, Carol and I teaching together, we will happily consider doing another workshop in the future.

New Year's Cheesecake

9 x 8"
oil on paper
sold

My splurge last night was my inspiration for the warm-up of today.

New Year's Resolutions

12 x 9"

ink & gouache on paper
sold

One of my New Year's resolutions is to add more drawing time to my day. A warm-up to something more involved or sketching something out in the real world, I just want more drawing time. I miss it.

Which brings me to another resolution - to travel more. This year I spent more time painting and less getting out in the world, mostly because of work and my bum knee. I have resolved to dealing with it - maybe a Segway is the answer. I want more exposure to the world out there. I miss it.

One more resolution.... to teach a little. I will do more painting movies and I'm making plans with Carol Marine to hold a 3-day workshop, some time in the spring, which I'm really psyched about. I don't know if I can teach anyone anything ....... I've never tried, but it's something I would like to do more of.

Besides all of that, I'd like to keep on track with what I've been doing - painting small pieces for auctions and larger, more realized work for the three galleries. I really enjoy all of it.

Time to say Happy New Year and wish you all the best. Dream on and Paint on, my friends.

"Hopper House"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite
sold

This painting will be back on a 10-day auction. Thank you for your patience and I appreciate your bidding on the original auction as well. ~ Happy New Year to you and yours.

eBay Policy

The auction for my painting "Hopper House" was abruptly pulled by eBay, because I unintentionally violated a policy by using the word "inspired" in the title for the auction. I did not know ~ as an artist, I never thought of the word 'inspired' as being a bad thing. My fault, I haven't checked on listing policies in a long time. I've sold on eBay for over four years and never had an auction pulled ~ and I apologize to those who placed their bids.

~ I'll keep you all informed. Thank you.

"Irises"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite

sold

This new painting was inspired by reading an article in the NY Times, that Iris Blue is the new, hip color, and........... I got some for Christmas. Surely signs to lead me to paint this timely I is for Irises piece. I had a lot of fun with the Van Gogh-like brush strokes, laying it on thick.

My Painting Palette Movie

I initially had this movie on my website - but, by popular demand, I did some minor editing and posted it on YouTube - hoping the viewing experience is much more pleasant for more people. Please click here to watch "My Painting Palette" movie. Thank you.

"Hopper House"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite

Back to work on my alphabet series - H for a Hopper(esque) House, inspired by a Christmas gift, a book of Edward Hopper's work. I enjoyed painting this piece so much that I'm thinking of doing a series for my upcoming show - which leads me to a request for some feedback, if you feel compelled to do so. I'm thinking of zooming in a little more on the house .... I'm not sure. Give me your thoughts?

Merry Christmas

A photo I took last night, in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Merry Christmas everyone!

-Karin

Good, Good Friends

6 x 6"

NFS

Some of my favorite paintings are a result of not quite being ready to quit for the day. Last night, I was halfway through cleaning my brushes and I started on this small, quick piece - as if it was meant to happen. No sketching, no plan - immediate brush strokes - the way I love to paint with oils.

This is Neil and Karen Hollingsworth, my good friends.

"Left Holding the Bag"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

Oh.... I do apologize for being somewhat absent from my post. Indeed, it is a busy time of the year - between managing my business and working hard at getting all the pieces done for my upcoming show in February - I'm about ready for a do-nothing-day in my pajamas.

This painting is one of the works included in the show - it is one of twelve, which are all finished and I am dying to show you all of them, but, alas, I promised not to. I'm now at the point when I can concentrate on a few sets of smaller pieces, which I love to do.

Please click here for a larger view.

I know you all are busy too - hope your holiday time is pleasant - don't forget to consider a bid on the "Glory Be" painting, currently on auction. It's for a great cause.

"Glory Be"

8 x 10"

oil on masonite

sold

In this new piece, G is for Glory Be - a woman quietly sitting in the company of El Greco's "The Assumption of the Virgin", which hangs high in Art Institute of Chicago.

This painting was done in the memory of my dad, John - 100% of the winning bid will be donated to the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home, who took great care of my father and allowed him to pass with dignity. For that, I am eternally grateful.

"Fish Head"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite

sold

Continuing on with the alphabet, F is for Fish Head - admittedly something I never eat, but find it a beautiful subject to paint because it includes every color in the rainbow.

A Combined Effort in Talent

Tom Brown
Justin Clayton
Belinda del Pesco
Qiang Huang
Aaron Lifferth
Carol Marine
Darren Maurer
J Matt Miller
Michael Naples
Sarah Wimperis
Peter Yesis
and Myself

We are a talented and ambitious group of artists who are now showcased together on a brand-new website, which features constantly-updated galleries of work, bios and contact information, links to our auctions, sales and painting videos as well as future events and workshops. With both strength in talent and determination, we are all proud to be advertisers in the American Art Collectors magazine. Please help us spread the word and share the website with your fellow artists and friends. And thank you for your support.

Visit the new DailyPaintworks website.

"On The Map"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

I did this painting yesterday - a friend saw it on my easel and bought it. Not the most usual occurence in my life, but a welcome offer. Painting for shows means weeks of hard work and little income, hoping it'll all come around in the end.

Please click here for a larger view.

A note to art lovers - if you use Netflix, they have a great collection of artists' biographies. I find them so inspiring.

Happy Sunday and....... if anyone out there wants to send me some photos of the snowstorms, I'd absolutely love it as a subject to paint.