Day 14 of the 30 in 30 painting challenge - "Look Before Crossing"

I believe the weekend should be about slowing down and smiling more often, if possible.  So, in an effort to help this cause, I present today's painting.  Look Before Crossing is the latest in a series of more whimsical paintings I have painted.  This one combines two of my favorite things to paint, birds (cute ones actually) and items of nostalgia.  Have any of you ever owned a pair of Mary Janes or T-bars, as these shoes are apparently called?  I am pretty sure I had several pairs when I was a kid and I know I bought a pair or two for my daughter when she was little. I love the RED color of these too..

After painting her and just looking at her for a bit, I thought she looked like she might be readying to cross the road.  Hope all turns out well... Enjoy your weekend!

Look Before Crossing, oil on panel, 6"x6"
to purchase please click here

The Process of Art

I have the good fortune to be hanging my work in the Double Tree hotel in Reading during July and August. The body of work I created for this show is representative of everything I have been considering in my painting in recent months.  I have found that I am generally what is called a process artist, meaning simply that I appreciate and study the process of making art above all else in my artwork. To further explain, this quote from Helen Van Wyck sums it up for me right now... "It doesn't matter what you paint, it's how you paint it". I love color, the paint itself, elements and principles, brushwork, simply put, the language of art... These 5 paintings represent my latest in my endeavor to convey my own personal language in the art of oil painting.  I chose these subject matter because I am drawn to the lines, colors and form of 'things' from the 1950's and 60's.  If manufacturers started using the aesthetic of this time I would rejoice and probably... buy everything! So, I ask you to enjoy and please look closely at these paintings...  I love the abstract quality my paintings take on when viewing closely.  I revel in texture, edges, brush stroke, color and the juiciness of oil paint!  If you are interested in purchasing these paintings, please contact me at karelyn1772@gmail.com     Thank you!

Blue Chuck Taylors, 24"x36", oil, $1050

Green Metallica, 24:x36",oil, $1050

It's Not a Bug, 24:x36",oil, $1050

Rotary Dial, 24:x36",oil, $1050

Schwinn Phantom, 24:x36",oil, $1050

It's a winner!

Just wanted to share that the final painting of my 30 days of painting challenge, "Big Reds" won third place at the Berks Art Alliance annual membership show!  Very thankful to those people who voted for me!   And I am sorry I couldn't be there to thank you in person... :( Valentine's day was a busy one for me! <3
If you'd like to see this and many other wonderful works of art by other member artists, the show runs through March 12th at the institute of the Arts, 1100 Belmont Ave., Wyomissing, PA, 19610

Big Reds, acrylic and oil on panel,
Contact the Berks Art Alliance for
purchasing information.

Day 30 (The last Day!) - Big Reds

Well, I did it, I finished the 30 in 30!  Now, to be fair, I didn't finish 30 paintings, but I was in my studio everyday painting... (oh, alright, I missed one day... that day that it snowed almost 3 feet of snow and I was helping shovel out... pass...)  But, otherwise, I was there, painting my face off... :)
Thanks so much if you came to my blog to read and follow my progress.  It means a lot that you are interested and I am grateful for everyone's comments and feedback both here and on my facebook page!  According to my flag counter, I had nearly 700 visits over the course of the month... So, thanks!

This last paintings was a 3 day event and I am not sure it is actually finished. But it is mostly done.  Its one of those things... you stare at a painting too long and your eyes start to cross and you cant even see it clearly anymore.  I needed to step away tonight, before I started making bad decisions and ruined the thing.  I will go back tomorrow and see whats what.  This one is a big one, exploring further the red shoes and the striped background.  Again, thanks for following me.  I am going to really try hard to post more regularly than I usually do between challenges!  It is just so easy to slack.  But rest assured, I will be making frames for the next week or so and painting, painting, painting...!

Big Reds, acrylic and oil on panel, 18" x 24"
nfs currently

Day 30 of the 30 in 30 challenge - Blue Suede Shoes

Today is the last day of the 30 in 30 challenge I have been taking part in... I am a little sad because I work really well when I have an 'assignment'... But on the other hand, I do have assignments awaiting.   I have 4 commissions waiting in the wings that I will be getting on (starting tomorrow!) and many, many frames to make for myself and people who have ordered from me.  But, painting everyday in my studio this month has been a lot of fun and I learned so much about so many things!  I love sharing my work regularly like this, and I plan on continuing to post, whether I am painting or framing...  So, anyway, if you have followed me through September, I thank you for your support and interest, as well as your comments!  I hope you continue to tune into my blog to see what I am up to because I have some plans for the paintings I made during the challenge and will post my plans here!

Today's painting is called "Blue Suede Shoes".  Does anyone remember having to draw a shoe in high school art class?  I was reminded of that when I started this painting today.  It is almost a right of passage in H.S. art!  I like the style of these very blue shoes and thought they would make a nice painting...

Blue Suede Shoes, oil on panel, 6"x6"
to purchase, please click here