Karen F Rose My Painting Journey

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Vasari Classic Artist Oil Colors



I had the pleasure of visiting Vasari Classic Oil Colors
on a recent trip to New York City.
On my to do list was visiting their retail store located
in Manhattan on the 6th floor of the
Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts Studio Center.
I arrived around 11:00, Gail greeted me with some
ice cold water (she could tell I hiked over instead
of taking a cab from my hotel).
And there on a table in the center of a
large room were colors, colors, and more colors
-all their handmade artist oil colors with
a glass palette for mixing and experimenting.

Gail couldn't have been nicer. I'd pick a color
and we'd mix it with others.
I chose several colors and she carefully put
them in a beautiful gift box, then printed out a
materials list for me to include with the paints
for their journey on the plane in my checked luggage.

I paint with several brands of professional artist
oil paints -Gamblin, Williamsburg, Rembrandt,
Old Holland, Windsor Newton,
Holbein and Utrecht.
Vasari artist colors are handmade and do not include
fillers. Beautiful paint.
For artists it's fast and easy to order
paints online, but to meet and talk
with the people who make them...
we'll that is the rest and best of the story.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Glimmer

Glimmer, 36x48", oil on canvas
2009 Karen F. Rose
This large oil on canvas, is a memory painting.
I had been reading the well known book,
Guide to Landscape Painting by John F. Carlson.
His chapter on painting from memory is
well... still stuck in my memory.
Important lessons learned-use direct observation, but
then paint from memory creating an impression
and mood.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Michigan Morning


Michigan Morning, 6x8", oil on canvas
2009 Karen F. Rose
A trip to northern Michigan inspired this
6" x 8" painting of a cool misty dawn morning.
As you wend your way "up north", a
road sign tells you are crossing the 45th
parallel - half way between the north pole
and the equator".
Harbor Springs, Charlevoix, and
Beulah. Hope to go back again soon.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Chesapeake Dawn

Chesapeake Dawn, 8x10", oil on canvas
2009 Karen F. Rose
I
n my study and observation of times of day,
taking a second look at a small painting
I painted at a workshop in Maryland
seems like a good idea.
This early morning dawn scene is from
a painting trip to Claiborne, MD.
I stayed at Maple Hall, a wonderful bed
and breakfast near Easton, Maryland.
Brings back lots of memories.
I can hear the seagulls.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Atlantic Nocturne

Atlantic Nocturne, 8x8", oil on canvas
2009 Karen F. Rose
For the past six months I have been studying,
observing and reading about tonalism.
This style of painting is serene, emotional
and even spiritual, capturing the mood of dawn,
twilight and moonlit scenes.
A move in this direction as a painter is going back to a way
that I painted years ago, using glazes to create a luminous
quality to the painting.