Workshop in Hilton Head

Just a quick shout to announce I'm holding another workshop this fall in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Registration is now available, the details can be found on the right hand column, including the contact info to sign up. You can click here for a summary of the workshop.

Also want to mention there are 3 openings to attend my workshop in San Francisco in April. You can read more here.

Would love to have you join me ~

"Arrivederci"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Whenever I'm approaching New York City and see the skyline, I get butterflies in my stomach - it is so enormous, so fantastic, so dense, so busy. It's kinda scary. I feel like I'm leaving one country and stepping into another. Once I'm there, that all turns into excitement and energy - and I am in awe. We were a part of the heartbeat for eleven days and it was unforgettable. My workshop was, again, a fantastic experience - it is the greatest city to photograph and paint.

Leaving the island, I usually feel a slight relief - back on familiar territory. This was our last glimpse of the skyline, from across the Hudson River - and we were now on our way to reunite with friends in New Jersey, and where we left our car. This isn't the end of my series ATL to NYC & Back - but it's the last glimpse of that amazing part of our trip.

"Driving While Suspended"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Not to whine, but this was downright tough. There was nearly a wipe off three different times, I just vowed to plug on.

This new painting is included in my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back - as we were packed up and ready to leave the island, we wanted to see the Brooklyn Bridge just one more time. It is so iconic, so magnificent.

"Starbuckin'"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

After a couple of days of tightening up - I needed loosening up. I love painting both ways really. Balancing it out is the key to sanity.

As my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back is coming to an end, our final morning in New York City began with a stop at the nearest Starbucks, where I spotted this young woman enjoying the sunny window.

"Tea Time"

12 x 9"

oil on masonite
nfs

A painting I've been working on for several days - a gift for two very nice people I know.

The Hilton Head Gang Mugshots

I'm catching up with the rest of the Hilton Head Gang - warming up with these new additions. We've got a blog where you can see the gang's different versions - they're so cool.

Roxanne "The Streak"

Chris "The Moniker"

Jennifer "JLO"

Kelley "Macgrins"

My New Book 'San Francisco'

For my workshops, I create a book for my students that includes paintings I've done from the location we find ourselves in - hopefully it inspires when they're sent out with their cameras, seeing the surroundings through an artist's eyes.

With my workshop in April fast approaching, I've got a new book 'San Francisco' now available on Blurb - it is 7 x 7" and includes 41 color reproductions of paintings I've done from previous trips to the city. If you'd like a partial preview of this new book, click here.

To explain my pause in working on new pieces, we've decided this is a great opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime road trip to the west coast - so I've been mapping it out, making solid plans and that has taken chunks of time but it should be incredible. Zac & Joey are coming too, they'll be blogging about it along the way and so will I.

For now, I'll get back to painting tomorrow. Thank ya'll.

"Stared Straight"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

After painting the cool, swirly water around "Minnie", it prompted me to add to my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back - a woman enchanted with Monet's brush strokes on his "Water Lilies", which hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"Minnie"

nfs

One of my four-legged friends, Minnie, my good friend's pom - she lived a long, adventurous, loved life and passed away today. I've painted Minnie before, floating on a raft with her mom. RIP Minnie.

"200 Faces, No. 108"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

A great face to paint.

"Mensch"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Mensch is Yiddish for a good guy. I loved this gentleman, I thought he looked like a good guy. Distinguished and wise in his years. I spotted him sitting outside of Central Park, looking onto 5th Avenue. Not far from where I held the workshop.

Normally, I would ignore the detail of the wall behind him - keep it simpler. But in this case, I thought it added something right. This new painting will be added to my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back.

"Comfy"

12 x 9"
oil on masonite
sold

There are times when I can't seem to paint anything right - and I know it's because something is distracting my attention - laundry, errands, puppies and the like usually. So I just gave in for a few days and focused on my upcoming workshop in San Francisco. I made all my arrangements, worked on my hand-outs, did my laundry, ran my errands and played with the pups. Nothing like a clear head to get painting again.

This new painting feels so warm and comfy - a big chair, a hot cup of coffee and a good book. So nice.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Boat People"

5 x 7"
oil on masonite
sold

A new addition to my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back - a group of students riding on a chartered boat down the East River. Of course I just l-u-r-v-e the shadows.

"Bench Warmer"

5 x 7"
oil on masonite
sold

Here's a little guy I spotted on the outskirts of Central Park - an addition to my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back. I hope to do a larger painting of him, wanted to do a small study first.

"200 Faces, No. 107"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

I can't read without glasses and I've always been against wearing them when painting. Aside from squinting the entire time I'm working, the extra blur keeps me loose. But.... recently, there came a point when I caved. Just too much strain I guess. Then, the trick was NOT to get nit-pickyitis and just focus on the strokes. Not the details. I'm getting used to it day by day.

My warm-up this morning, an addition to my ongoing series BUST-ED.

"Catching a Train"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

This new painting includes Rene Magritte's 'Time Transfixed' - which hangs in the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago and is so perfectly placed between two floor-to-ceiling windows where you can look out onto Millennium Park. An evening visit to the museum has such an elegant feel, especially in the Modern Wing. If you haven't been lately, go.

Please click here for a larger view.

"200 Faces, No. 106"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

My warm up today.

"Warm Front"

8 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

For those in need of remembering warmer days.....

Please click here for a larger view.

"Mr. Cool"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

As I walked around the Upper East Side, looking for lunch, I spotted this gentleman outside, waiting for the bustle to begin. This painting will be included in my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back

Workshop in San Francisco

You may know I'm holding a workshop in San Francisco this spring the week of April 9th - 13th, at the San Francisco Friends School. As of today, I've got 4 openings left, if you're interested, please contact Vince Fazio, the arts director at the Sedona Arts Center asap. His phone number is on the right hand column - if you want to read more about the workshop, click here. I'd love to have you join me.

"Higher Up"

5 x 7"
oil on masonite
sold

Never fails, when I start painting a cityscape like this, I question my sanity. The trick is to remember when you're standing there, on a high-floor balcony, looking out at this scene, everything is somewhat of a blur, a series of little blips, daubs of color and light. I look at my photograph and proceed to squint for several hours, hoping it all makes sense in the end. I'm pretty happy and honestly surprised that it turned out as I imagined.

This lofty view was compliments of one of my workshop students who had an evening get-together at her home. Basically you're looking at the East River, Hellgate Park and the Triborough Bridge - just an outstanding spot to see the city in a whole different way.

This painting is included in my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back.

"200 Faces, No. 105"

4 x 4"

oil on masonite
sold

Ya know...... since I'm warming up with mugshots, I'm going to continue my ongoing series BUST-ED and get another 100 done by the end of the year. And I'm going to offer them on auction, twice a week, starting at $49. It's a great way to keep loose and I enjoy painting them in between other work.

"Old Guard"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

When I got back to painting a couple of days ago, I realized I was suffering from nitpickyitis - a result of taking some time off. So I warmed up with several mugshots until I loosened up again.
My goal is to complete my series ATL to NYC & Back, continuing on with my walk up 5th Avenue, on the Upper East Side where I spotted an adorable, old Golden Lab loyally waiting at the front door of a townhouse.

The Paint On Tabletop Easel Got an Award!

I always look forward to Katherine Tyrrell's 'Making a Mark' Awards at the end of the year - art bloggers, world-wide, voted on their favorites for Best Picture of the Year on an Art Blog 2011, including Best Portraits/Figures, Best Landscape/Place, Best Still Life, Best Nature and more. Bravo to all who participated and congratulations to the artists.

This year Katherine's new award, the Art Innovation of the Year, highlights those artist bloggers who experiment and/or create and/or share innovations which help the practice of other artists. This year's award was shared between Ester Roi's Icarus Art Drawing Board and Brett's Paint On Tabletop Easel!! How cool is that? Nice way to end the year - thanks to the voters and Katherine, Brett and I appreciate the recognition.

Speaking of the Tabletop Easel, I currently have 1 that is brand-new and ready to ship in the New Year - please click here to purchase yours.

An added note..... we've really enjoyed our holiday time including a road trip to have Christmas with the family, something we couldn't do for years, being in retail. Zac and Joey had their first long drive, their first hotel stay and new experiences all around. It was great fun - we hope you had a wonderful time as well.

The painting starts again tomorrow, I've got a lot of catching up to do. I want to thank all of you who take the time to visit my blog and website and leave your encouraging comments and emails throughout the year. It really, really does mean a lot to me.

~ Happy New Year
and Paint On!

Have a Happy Holiday

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."

~ Roger Caras

Wishing you and yours a beautiful holiday time.
~Karin, Brett, Zac & Joey