Salutations Spring

Salutations
© Karen F. Rose
oil on canvas
6 x 6"
12 x 12" framed 

In spring when all the dogwood, crabapple and cherry trees are admired and receiving praise for their fragrant and delicate blossoms, the oak tree stands tall and proud on the hill.
Perhaps there is a message in this painting for you or someone close to you.
If you would like to gift this painting as a special graduation or Mother's Day present click here to visit my web site where you can purchase the painting using the secure Paypal link.
Happy Spring!

The Mob Art Exhibit, Thornebrook Gallery

Tonight is the opening of The Mob art exhibit at Thornebrook Gallery in Gainesville, FL. David Arrighi, the gallery's owner is having a 30 year anniversary celebration.
I am delighted to have one of my original oil paintings
Twilight Companions featured in this exhibit. Thirty artists will have just one of their artworks on display for just five days.
So hurry in and see this show before it's gone. Closing reception is Wednesday, Sept. 14th from 5 to 8 PM with music by the talented singer Cathy De Witt.

Also just one more day for the Putnam Land Conservancy Art exhibit at Bellamy Art Gallery in Melrose. There is a special reception Sept 9th in the evening from 6 to 9 PM.
A portion of the proceeds for the sale of all works is donated to this worthy cause.
I have four paintings on display there.

As many of you have heard Carol Marine and her family along with hundreds of other families have lost their home to the devastating fires in Bastrup, TX. Our hearts go out to all of these families. If you would like to know how you can help the Marine family family please click here.

Morning Ride, equine pastel painting

Morning Ride
© 2011 Karen F Rose
pastel on board
available

This morning I was reminded of another summer day not too long ago. I arrived at the pasture early to watch a beautiful horse and rider go through their morning exercises.

They were as if they were one, together so graceful and elegant and moving in a cadence that was in their hearts.

A friend recently said to me, "My horse teaches me everything I need to know about myself."

Have you ever thought about what animals teach us about life and about ourselves?

Sundown, oil painting 6x6"

Sundown
© 2011 Karen F. Rose
oil on canvas
6x6"

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out til sundown,

 for going out, I found, was really going in”.  

                                                                     John Muir

Florida Plein Air Painting and Paint Outs

Roses, roses and K F Rose plein air painting with a ShadeBuddy umbrella.

"The best part of the painting journey is the friends you meet along the way".

A big thank you to all who came out to the Melrose Open Air Arts paint out last week and to all who volunteered their time to make this such a successful event.

I so enjoy talking with visitors and collectors and meeting new artists friends.

Also very pleased to have four of my paintings go to new homes! 

Early spring is a wonderful plein air and paint out season in Florida and having some shade is really important when painting outdoors, (as well as sunscreen, cool water and bug spray). 

My old umbrella had seen better times so I was excited to receive my new ShadeBuddy umbrella today! This umbrella has a reflective outer surface to help keep you cool and a dark inner surface to keep your colors true. 

Always great to have painting buddies.  

Be a Butterfly

© 2011  Karen F. Rose      Be A Butterfly

While I was busy painting in the Melrose Open Air Arts event this last weekend, my husband was enjoying going to the plant nursery choosing plants for his garden and spending time with "spring cleanup". Butterfly plants are some of our favorites. This photo is just one of the many "friends" who have come to his garden.

In this last year I have met some of the most amazing new artist friends through workshops, blogging and paint out events.

A dear artist friend of mine from Pennsylvania, I met through blogging, Nanci Hersh has illustrated a children's book Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings  When when someone you love has cancer a hopeful, helpful book for kids. 

Hope you will visit the book web site to read in more detail just how special Nanci and her book are.

Be a butterfly!

Randy Higbee Gallery 6x6" Squared Exhibition

© 2011 Karen F. Rose      Awaken, oil on canvas, 6x6"
sold

Available through the Randy Higbee Gallery, 102 Kalmus, Costa Mesa, CA
So excited to be notified that my painting Awaken has been accepted into The Randy Higbee Gallery Second Annual 6" Squared Exhibition and Sale. This painting will be on exhibit and available through his gallery until May 6th.
Attend the gala reception on April 16th and see his amazing gallery filled with fabulous art. 
1200 entries from across the nation were sent to be juried into this show and 400 paintings were accepted. Jean Stern, director of the Irvine Museum and Jeff Horn, Professor Emeritus of Drawing and Painting from Irvine Valley College and gallery owner Randy Higbee were the judges for the show.

It's an honor to be included with nationally acclaimed traditional representational artists in this spectacular venue in Orange County, California. 

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Salutations 

$100 + $10 S&H

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Taking the Measure of Mood

Salutations
oil on canvas
6x6"
© 2011 Karen F. Rose

The weather outside is frightful and January skies are gray and not so delightful. The forecast is nothing but chilling...cold and rainy which is not very thrilling.
Friends living on the east coast have been plowed under with snow or not plowed for days...this I know.

Spring is at least two months away and some of you have already forgotten your New Year's resolutions!... what'd she say...?
Oh sorry, I just threw that in there.
Whew...had enough?
Well, I've been measuring mood today - time to  lighten up.
Think of the first day of spring, think sun and gentle breezes. Over the hill is a spectacular view. Let's climb that hill and sit in the shade of that ancient oak tree.
We are almost there.
Feel any better?

Appleton Museum of Art Exhibit "On the Balcony"

Cumulus Crescendo

pastel on board

20"x16"

My pastel painting Cumulus Crescendo was accepted into the

juried art exhibit "On the Balcony" at the Appleton Museum of Art

in Ocala, Florida. 

Having my artwork hanging in the same museum that has featured

art by George Inness, Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood, Winslow Homer and

William Bougereau is very special for me. Thank you to Ruth Grim

the Appleton Museum of Art curator of exhibitions for selecting my pastel

and the Ocala Art Group for organizing the show.

Painting a May Memory

Le Rêve

oil on linen

Karen F. Rose

In Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting, the author stresses the importance of painting from memory.  We "relive our experiences and the effect they produced on us. The mind is dealing more with the  expression of thought than with the the clever application of paint".

After hearing of the environmental disaster just unfolding in the Gulf on that day in May, I stood at the water's edge. There was stillness and unbelievable serenity. How beautiful yet how fragile these waters are. 
While other painters around me were creating beautiful scenes of the manicured grounds; banyan trees, palms and flowers. My thoughts were "on the Gulf" hoping what I had heard on the news was just a dream.

Earleton, Florida- Connecting to the Past through Painting

My oil painting Earleton Twilight is included in the 

10th Annual Thomas Center Juried Art Exhibit 

in Gainesville, FL. 

To view the painting and my comments click here March 18th post

Now as Paul Harvey would say, here's the rest of the story -

The painting was created during the Open Air Arts 

event held this March in Melrose, FL. 

After reading this Florida heritage marker,

I was inspired to create the painting.

Do you know where this site is? If so let me know. 

Of course the church is long gone but you might 

find this article about carpenter gothic design of interest. 

When you see the painting hope you feel the spirit of 

this quiet spot.

The Moon and Our Fascination

Moonlit Bay, sketch

oil on  canvas

© Karen F. Rose

Forty one years ago on July 20th, we on the good planet earth looked skyward watching in awe "as man walked on the moon".  I remember that night just like it was yesterday.
My fascination with the moon hasn't changed much over these many years, but my interest now is painting the moon, not walking on it.
Painting moonlit scenes plein air is a challenge because, well...it's dark outside and hard to see your palette. It's best to choose a night when the moon is full and you will be amazed at how much color you actually can see once your eyes adjust to the light.
I was in Sarasota a few months ago at a workshop at the M Gallery of Fine Art with artist Mark R. Hanson. The highlight of the workshop was the night a group of about 10 of us painted in a park that overlooked the Sarasota bay. What a beautiful night! The lights of the city in the distance illuminated the sky and the sound of tree frogs serenaded in the night breeze.
The next full moon is Monday, July 26th, 2010. I'll be packed and ready to go with my booklight to light both my canvas and my paints and of course bug spray. Hey we aren't the only ones who love the moonlight!

OAA Reception March 20, 6 -10 pm

Just Drifting

Karen F. Rose

oil on canvas

10x8"

available

My father was a fisherman all his life. He had a little boat just like this one I saw on Santa Fe Lake this week. 
At 89, when he drifts off to sleep I think he dreams he is on a lake somewhere going out to catch some bass. 
I painted this one for you Dad. 
Wish you could have been out there with me. 
The title of the painting - Just Drifting
The Open Air Arts in Melrose will host the reception this Saturday. Please visit all three galleries Melrose, Bellamy Road Arts and Shake Rag Artists Gallery.

Vam York Theater Solo Exhibit

Prairie Meditation

Karen F. Rose

oil on canvas

30x40"

available

My solo exhibit at the Vam York theater is March 18 - April 11. Several of my oil and  pastel paintings will be on display in the lobby gallery during the musical  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. 

There will be a Special Event Honoring Stephen Sondheim's 80th Birthday and Benefitting The Child Advocacy Center on March 20, starting at 6 p.m. The evening will kick off at 6 p.m. with a buffet dinner. Tickets $50 per person, which includes dinner and tickets to the show. Click Here for more details.

Tickets Available at Book Gallery West in the Millhopper Shopping Center, 4121 NW 16th Blvd., next to Publix and the Vam York Theater.

Spring Promenade, Gainesville Sun Article

My oil painting on canvas, Alachua Blue is shown in an article about the Spring Promenade Tour of Homes that takes place in Gainesville, Florida March 5th and 6th. 
The Spring Pomenade is a tour of seven historic homes in Gainesville's Duckpond Neighborhood. 
The painting is hanging above the fireplace in the great room of the Morrison-Richardson House which is owned by Lauren Groff and Clay Kallman. Their home is one of many featured in the 2010 Spring Promenade in the Duck Pond neighborhood in Gainesville. To find out more information about the event here's a link,  click... here.

Open Air Arts Paintings in Melrose, Florida

Trolling
© Karen F. Rose
oil on canvas
sold

2nd place painting award and

purchase prize award

Thanks to all who gave me such positive comments
about this painting of mine on exhibit at the
Bellamy Road Fine Arts and Melrose Bay Gallery
Third Annual Open Air Arts event.
Open Air Arts is an educational event for
land conservation and a benefit for the
Conservation Trust for Florida.
Many paintings will stay on display throughout
the month of April and can be viewed during
normal gallery hours.

Kickin Back in the Park by the Bay

Kicking Back In the Park
© 2009 Karen F Rose
oil on canvas
sold

The big gala for the Open Air Arts at Bellamy

Road Arts and Melrose Bay Art Gallery, is this
weekend, Sat. April 11 from 6 to 10 PM.

With over 75 artists contributing to the event

it should make for quite a show.

During the week of painting I had some luck.

I was in the park painting a view of the Bay when
this young woman sat down to catch some raysand read her book.

I was in the shadow under a tree so she didn't at first

see me. (Plein air painters avoid setting up in the sun,

unless you have an umbrella to shield your canvas from sun glare.)

Ahh hahh... I couldn't have asked for a better model!

Cumulus Crescendo

I was pleased to receive an honorable

mention award at the Webber Center

Gallery in Ocala in a juried Best of

Season Show of the Visual Artists' Society.

There are 83 works of art accepted into

this show. The gallery space is inviting as
each work of art is so beautifully lit.

Many of the pieces are for sale with a

portion of the sale price going to further

programing for the Society.

May River Boats

Just a quick sketch idea for a larger painting.