Creativity through Painting

The New Studio!!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 06:45:09 PDT

Come on in!! This is the door to the new digs!! I found this frame at an antique store in Birmingham and gave it a facelift. I used Krylon "Catalina Mist" Satin Spray paint and used 3 coats to get the frame ready, Then I went to Home Depot (where I had 4 people helping me at one time!) to get sheet metal. I bought some tin snips and cut the sheet metal to the right size to fit inside the frame. The cute little fabric flowers were the finishing touch. The fabric is "Amy Butler" and I used a technique I found on Pinterest, which is my new favorite obsession, called Yo-Yo's to make the flowers. The centers came from Hobby Lobby and I just hot glued them in the middle!! Fun!!

This is the view inside, it looks kind of bare without my curtains and swag lamp that will go over the chair. But I couldn't wait any longer to post the pics. There is a better view of the piece of furniture I got for my birthday below. The chair was my Goodwill $50 awesome find!!! The swag lamp is covered in Amy Butler fabric and will have more fabric flowers on it. You'll have to come back to see that!

Here is a view of the working corner. My easel, chair and taboret. You can see my great barn door find on the left where I have placed some of my art work. It is gorgeous and has lots of chippy paint.

Another view of the working area with my windows, old wood boxes, etc...

Here is a view of my prep table where I will be priming canvases and varnishing. I have also been able to pull out my sewing machine and work on that table. The top is made from an old barn door that was on my husband's hunting property!

The windows!

Many of you have been subjected to the endless window project, but it turned out so cute it was all worth it!! I found the windows at the Rescue Mission Thrift Store. The hardest part was getting the glass out! But after that it wasn't too bad. I sanded the windows really well then started with a coat of Valspar " Park Place" paint. Then sanded some more. Lastly I used the "Martha Stewart" glazing from Home Depot and mixed in some acrylic paint ( Burnt Umber). I brushed it on and a few minutes later wiped off enough to leave what you see here. Then I bought old coffee bags ( really cheap) and cover some cork board that was cut to fit each pane and stapled it on with a staple gun and Voila!! Now I just need some inspiring things to pin on them!

The wooden apple crates I kept asking about on Facebook are here, holding my supplies!

Here are some other various cute items I found to hold supplies and basically look cute!

Another shot of the barn door

A better shot of the antique piece of furniture from Bud and other sweet friends for my birthday!!! Love this piece!

Close up of the fabric flowers!

Jones Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:36:19 PDT

36 x 62

oil on canvas

Jones Farm II

This is a HUGE landscape I just finished for a commission. This was life changing. First of all, I had never stretched a canvas before. Done! It was a challenge to stretch one so large, but I did it! Then just covering that much space was a challenge but it was so much fun! And I think I took at least 1000 pictures of Jones Valley in the process! So I have lots of painting material. I have actually done 3 paintings of this scene. I have one more shown below and am still tweaking the other one. I hope you all enjoy it.

24 x 36

Jones Farm I

I actually painted this one first in preparation for the HUGE one! I changed some of the composition for the large just because it was so large. But I had fun with this one too. They had actually just baled the hay while I was painting these so I really wanted to include some of the hay bales because they looked so pretty out there.

20 x 16

oil on canvas

Family Tree

This was actually done as a graduation gift but it was so fun to do that I thought I would post it. Hope you enjoy looking!

Blue Bottle Again

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 28 May 2011 11:30:16 PDT

Pink Gerbera Daisies

16 x 20

Oil on Canvas

The Blue bottle made the cut again, with these great Gerbera daisies I got at Fresh Market!! Just throw in a nest and a green apple and voila!! I love painting the blue bottle.

Tulips in a Bottle

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 28 May 2011 11:23:14 PDT

The Blue Bottle

12 x 16

Oil on Canvas

I am obsessed with this blue bottle. Whenever I set up a still life I always try to put the blue bottle in it because I love it so much. This time the tulips actually fit in it and I was so excited!!! Added some great oranges too.

Five Pears

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 28 May 2011 11:15:33 PDT

Squished Pears

16 x 20

Oil on Canvas

I had so much fun with this one! Lots of layers of oil paint mostly using a palette knife. I really liked the colors in this one!

Apple Still Life

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 28 May 2011 11:11:45 PDT

Red Apples

10 x 10

Oil on Canvas

Knocking out all my blog posting in one day. I don't think this is how you are supposed to blog but I like breaking rules so.......

Sunflower still life

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 28 May 2011 11:08:34 PDT

The Sunflower

12 x 12

oil on canvas

Another still life from my still life obsession lately! Loved using lots of juicy oil paint, so much fun!!

Still Life Fever!!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 28 May 2011 11:05:35 PDT

Hydrangeas in Turquoise Vase

18 x 24

oil on canvas

I suppose you can guess what is blooming in my yard!!! Yes it is my Annabelle hydrangeas that I absolutely love, so I have been cutting and painting. I have also gone back to painting in oil for the time being. I like to go back and forth and I am definitely in an oil paint kind of mood and loving it! Hope you enjoy the paintings!!!

Spring Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:20:06 PDT

My Favorite Flowers

24x20

oil on canvas

Cameron's Tulips

16x20

oil on canvas

I know I don't post to my blog often enough but I am on Spring Break now so I finally got a chance to do some of the things that get pushed to the side in everyday life! It is gorgeous here and everything is green and the sun is shining which makes me want to paint flowers!!! I spent the better part of the day yesterday searching for hydrangeas for my still life set up! I have several hydrangea bushes in my yard but they are not blooming yet.

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the lake for a party for my niece who is getting married in May. The tulips were arranged on the table and I was frequently caught repositioning them so I could take photos of them. They were just so beautiful I couldn't help myself. I hope you enjoy my springtime flowers, I certainly enjoyed painting them!

Toomer's Corner

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:05:32 PST

16 x 20

Acrylic on Canvas

$300

After the events of this past week I just knew I had to paint the Toomer's Corner trees. These trees embody something that can never be destroyed by anyone and that is the Auburn Spirit! I sent my son to take photos of the trees for me and he called back a few hours later and said " There is no way anybody is getting near those trees" ! So I had to make do with photos I already had. It was fun to paint, even though I hate painting man made objects, that perspective gets me every time! But I love this place and trees or no trees I will still love it! I hope you enjoy looking!!

My Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 06:33:17 PST

My Boys

16x20

Acrylic on Canvas

So I really dove in this time! I actually painted a picture of my own children, so scary! Since I actually know what they look like you would think this would be easy, but no, I think that made it harder. Capturing that look, the exact way they hold their mouth, the look in their eyes. While I did not get it exactly right I was okay with it for a first shot. At least now I can say I have done it! I usually tend to blur faces out so they are not recognizable but I found it difficult to do when it was my own children. I guess the new dog will be next! Move over boys you are being replaced : )

Commission Piece Complete!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 09:34:28 PST

24 x 30

Acrylic on Canvas

Franklin Family

I just completed a large commission piece for a family here in town. She wanted a painting similar to my "Girls on the Beach" but since they are not beach people we changed the setting. I was happy with the end result and wanted to share with all my friends and family. Hope you are all having a fabulous New Year!! Thanks for looking and hope you enjoy it!

The Latest From My Easel

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 11:01:26 PST

Angel of the Lord
14 x 14
Acrylic on Canvas

The Road Home
16 x 20
Acrylic on Canvas

Barn in Fall
11 x 14
Acrylic on Canvas

These are some of my recent paintings. I have been really busy since The Holiday House working on commissions but I finally got a break and took a chance to paint some things I wanted to do. And now the Christmas season is upon us and I am so excited to get the opportunity to paint while playing my Christmas music!! But I must go now because the SEC Championship game will be beginning soon and I can't miss that!!! Maybe some more Auburn paintings will follow!

As always thank you for looking!

The Lamb

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:27:54 PDT

Behold the Lamb #2

14 x 14

Acrylic on Canvas

This was a favorite at the Southwood Holiday House that i participated in a couple of weeks ago. I realized later I had never posted a photo of this painting. This one is done in acrylic and with alot more texture than my original which was done in oil. I hope you enjoy it!

War Cam Eagle!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 05:37:31 PDT

War Cam Eagle!

24 x 30

Acrylic on Canvas

For the first time since Bo Jackson played at Auburn, we have a player that it seems no one can touch! It is so much fun to watch this guy play football and I am most excited that he is on MY team! WOW! This definitely made him a worthy painting subject and I just hope I did him semi-justice. I starting sketching it out on Friday and painted it Saturday morning before the LSU game in hopes of a win for the Auburn Tigers and he did not disappoint. So War Eagle!!!!

Beach Scene

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 09:24:26 PDT

Tiny Dancer

16 x 20

Acrylic on Canvas
Sold

Boys Will Be Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:55:33 PDT

1, 2, 3.....Jump!

12 x 16

Acrylic on Canvas

They say you should paint what you know.... so... I really had fun with this one!! I know alot about little boys being little boys. I feel a new series coming on! I just love painting children in general because they have such expressions of joy and abandon! Also I have spent a fair amount of time at the pool and the beach and it definitely shows in my painting choices! I hope you enjoy them!!

Girls in White Dresses

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 09:25:33 PDT

Girls in White Dresses No. 2
11 x 14
Actylic on Canvas

Girl in White Dress No.1

11 x 14

Acrylic on Canvas

Sold

Wedding Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 09:26:04 PDT

"Her Wedding Pt. 2"

18 x 18

Acrylic on Canvas

Well I decided to go big! The first painting was very small and I find it easier to paint big so I deemed this one worthy of a big canvas so here it is! Hope you like it, I will be adding some others I have done this week below. Thanks for looking!

5 Sheep Grazing

14 x 18

Acrylic on Canvas
Sold

Church Steeple

12 x 16

Acrylic on Canvas
Sold

Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 09:26:35 PDT

"Her Wedding"

8x8

Acrylic on Board
Sold

Summer is finally here which means I have so much more time for painting! I love having the ability to paint for awhile and walk away and look at things with fresh eyes. We have had the pleasure of attending several weddings this summer which inspired this painting. The brides are all so beautiful, innocent, radiant and in love. Our "pastor-to-be", Rev. Jean Larroux , also preached two incredible sermons last Sunday and the first was entitled " Her wedding, His funeral". This is where the title for the painting came from, and he discussed how the husband is literally called to "give up" his life and devote it to his wife. It was a remarkable sermon and draws the parallel between Christ and his church and the groom and his bride. How blessed are we that Christ chose to give his life for us! I hope to do a larger version of this painting soon!

Another Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:15:36 PDT

" A Mighty Oak"

20x20

Acrylic on Canvas
Sold

I have discovered that I really enjoy painting trees. I find myself studying them when I am outside and looking at the way the light hits them, and all the different shades of green you see in them, and the different colors you see in the bark. I feel a series coming on! While I might still make some changes to this painting I wanted to go ahead and post it. I hope you enjoy looking!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:53:31 PST

My sweet friend Carole Foret gave me the "Sunshine Blog Award". I realize I have been
less than faithful about updating my blog lately, but this has inspired me to continue on! I am
still painting faithfully so I promise to update again soon! Thanks Carole!

High Life Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:16:02 PDT

High Life Tree

16 x 20 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold

The Church

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:16:23 PDT

Church at Palmetto Bluff

16 x 20

Acrylic on Canvas
Sold

This painting began with a photo that my friends brought back from a wedding in South Carolina at the beautiful Palmetto Bluff. I used some artistic license with it, by adding stained glass windows! I love stained glass windows! I hope you enjoy it!

Three New Paintings

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Smith) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:17:16 PDT

14 x 11

Acrylic on Panel

"Right Where We Belong"
NFS

12 x 12

Acrylic on Canvas

Robins' Eggs
Sold

10 x 10

Acrylic on Canvas

Three Grannies
Sold

I haven't posted in a really long time, but I have still been painting, just not lots of time for posting! But I am on Fall Break now and had a chance to photograph some of my latest pieces and wanted to share them with you. I hope you enjoy them!