A Walk by the Pond

6x8 Oil on gessoboard

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Thought I would try something different today...a little abstract painted with a palette knife. I love the palette knife but have a lot to learn! I walk by this pond most days and the colors vary so much, I enjoyed it so I will be trying more of these! I am going on holiday so it will be next year before there will be any painting done. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy your holidays!!

Brush Off

6"x6" oil on gessoboard

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 These old worn paint brushes had been given the 'brush off' a long time ago. They have been well used over the years and sitting around  the studio, but before I get rid of them I thought they deserved to be painted! I used water soluble oils for this and I am gradually getting used to them. They seem to be more transparent then regular oils and very intense colors so it's just a matter of being a bit more focused when I mix my colors. I think I will stay with them!!

Pear

6"x6" oil on gessoboard

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This is a very simple  pear study to try out water soluble oils. I have  been wanting to paint with them for

a long time because there is no need for solvent like traditional oils..clean up is easy with just soap and water.

You can use linseed oil to thin them and other fast drying mediums as well. It will take me a while to get used to them  I still prefer my oils!! I think these could be useful  for travel and plein air painting. 

White Waterlily

6"x6" oil on gessoboard

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Back to flowers again!! We have a waterlily pond in town and  I always take some photos when they are in bloom. To me they are the star of the water garden...so delicate and tranquil floating on the surface of the water among the big bright green leaves. Another of my favorite flowers!! I love the way this is in shadow.

Morning Moments

10x8in Oil on Canvas Panel

$180 + shipping

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I  finally got back to painting again! It's been over a month since I did anything.
This is where I often walk in the mornings... the grasses often have a pink hue in the early morning light and it's very still, I love the feeling of peace here!!

2017 Calendar

My 2017 calendar has arrived! It is available for $20 + $5 shipping. It is all about food and looks good in the kitchen. If you would like to order one you can email me... karenpmj@gmail.com or message me on facebook.

Rose Joy

8"x8"Oil on gessoboard

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I started this painting nearly a month ago and have now finished it after being sick with a virus for nearly three weeks!! I am still finding it hard to get motivated to paint...maybe next week! I haven't painted a lot of roses...  this beautiful pink one was given to me by my very good friend so it had to be painted!!

2017 Calendar

I am happy to have finished the paintings for my 2016 food calendar early this year!!I am usually rushing at the last minute. I will post more about when they will be on sale later.
Even though I enjoy painting food, I am pleased to be able to get on to other subjects!!

Tamarillos

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

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Last food painting for my 2016 Calendar!!These tamarillos had a lovely rich deep red color, they almost looked too good to eat! 

I have been painting new work this last week and it's nice to be painting other subjects again...a rose painting is nearly finished, a few flower paintings blocked in and a small landscape started...not bad for a weeks work!! Hope I can keep the pace going!

Citrus Cousins

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

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These were some of the last lemons and limes off my trees this season. I love the fresh colors of citrus fruit and of course green and violet are favorite colors of mine!! I sat these on my printer in front of the window and really liked the way the strong sunlight fell across them!

Red Onion and Baby Peppers

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard 

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I use these vegetables a lot for salsas and salads! In my last post I said I would be multitasking...well I have been doing that!! Two more fruit paintings nearly finished, application and contract for Art Show done and another painting blocked in!! Next is to package and post artwork. All next week I will be painting...I love that thought!!!!

6"x6" oil on gessoboard

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Love painting bell peppers...yellow is still a tricky color for me. Another food one finished for my 2017 Calendar!  Commission finished...I am on track and can't wait to start flowers as well as a 16x8in landscape. There will be a bit of multitasking going on here!!

Passionfruit

6"x6" oil on gessoboard
$100+$20 s/h
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This is another favorite fruit of mine...these grow in my garden! Not easy to paint, but I had to try!! This is number 10 of my paintings done for my 2017 food calendar, when they are done and because spring is coming up I think I'll be doing flowers!

Persimmons

6x6in Oil on gessoboard

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I managed to paint a couple of Persimmons before the season ended....I love this fruit so usually they

get eaten before I think about  painting them! Orange is another hard color I find difficult to paint, mainly because of the darks! It came down to  mixing  red, yellow and blue with a touch of burnt sienna.

Pineaple Slices

 6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

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Another favorite fruit of mine that I have most days as part of my breakfast! I found the skin a challenge.... I never realised there are so many different bits and pieces that interlock!!

Recap June-July Paintings

June-July
Available

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Sewing and birds...two small series I painted over the last couple of months, both favorite subjects of mine! Thanks for taking the time to look!

Winners and Losers

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

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Still painting buttons! I found this old dice while I was clearing out a drawer and it reminded me of playing board games when I was young, so made use of the buttons before I put them away!

Big Button

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

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The last one in this thread series!  I have had this very big button for a long time and have painted it before...actually I bought it to paint!!  Painting the buttons in this series has been good practice for ellipses, still not sure if I have got it right though!!

Sewing Tools

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

$100 +s/h
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Some necessary sewing tools that have been well used over the years...especially the quick unpick! The scissors are a favorite pair I've had forever.... and still use them!!

Button Up

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard
$100+s/h
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I found this bright lime green cotton and one button so this is painted with the same palette (minus the black) as the previous one.The button is a cloth one and was nowhere as hard to paint as the last ones!!  There will be another couple for this series, I couldn't help myself!  I enjoy finding ways of setting up and it's a way of making use of these sewing tools now that I don't use them like I used to.

Sewing Notions

6x6in Oil on gessoboard

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Time for another thread painting! There is one more coming next post too. I decided to paint using black and grey and add the green button for a 'pop' of color...because I love green and it's a favorite button of mine!!  The buttons were challenging...good discipline  for me....not in a hurry to do more!!

Mr Pelican

6"x6" oil on Gessoboard

$100
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This is the last one of my three birds.. I found only one pelican when I was on holiday in Australia recently. I love their large pink bills.They are real characters so I am hoping to find a few more to paint  next time I go back there.

What's good for the goose...a swim!

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

$100
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It is hard trying to get a photo of geese standing still...not long after I had taken this it jumped in the pond and paddled off! I really liked the back light and often I'm not in the right place so I was pleased I managed it this time!!

Recap of May Paintings

May Paintings

Available here

My small collection  for May...minus 'Yellow Tomatoes' which is already featured in my Food Fare collage in an earlier post! Thanks for taking the time to look!

Spoonbill

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

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The birds have taken over again! This is the first painting of three... the next in line is a goose. I never get tired of painting these spoonbills, they are so elegant the way they wade in the shallow water. This one stood knee deep in the water while I snapped the photo... I love them!

Food Fare

"Food Fare" all 6"x6" oil on gessoboard.

My 6 paintings for  a group exhibition!  X-tra – the Local Art Exhibition & Sale, combines the work of both established and emerging Hawke’s Bay artists June 17th - July 7th at Creative Arts Napier. Opening night on the Saturday18th! Fun night!!

Packham Pears

6"x6" oil on gessoboard

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This is one of six food paintings for a small exhibition I am taking part in this month....I love the crunch and flavor of these pears and of course green is one of my favorite colors!!

Giant Green Olives

6x6in Oil on gessoboard
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Lovely giant green olives...creamy, mild tasting and the lemon adds the finishing touch. Delicious!!!
I am going on holiday tomorrow and will post next week if I am able to.

Yellow Tomatoes

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

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Love these small yellow tomatoes still on the vine! I am still getting around to painting some slightly larger landscapes...I really like to paint what inspires me on the day unless I have a large one started. It will happen eventually!!

Winter Coat

 6"x6" Oil on gessoboard
$100 +s/h

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This girl is going to be warm for winter!! She knows it and she looks pleased with herself...well anyway...those are my thoughts when I look at her!! I will always enjoy painting sheep no matter what they look like. I love painting all that wool!!

These Boots were Made for Painting

8"x6" Oil on gessoboard
$100+s/h

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A bit of of a change! I bought these booties just to paint. They were a  knitted sample for a new cotton yarn in a local craft shop. I loved all the bright colors, so bought them home hung them on the door handle in my studio with the thought of setting them up to paint. This is as far as they got...I loved the shadows!!

Gumnuts

6"x6" oil on gessoboard
$100+s/h
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I found these gumnuts on one of the Eucalyptus trees when I was on my morning walk around the Estuary. My plans of what I was going to paint changed!! It is great finding a subject when you least expect it!

Recap of March-April Paintings

March-April Paintings

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My small collection of daily paintings for the last couple of months! Not many... due to having visitors and  doing other projects around the house. I am looking forward to painting a couple of slightly larger landscapes as well as more small ones this month.... fingers crossed!!

I Love My Dreads

6"x6" oil on gessoboard

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Back to sheep again! Often something special about them stands out...it could be their coat or their eyes...this time it was the dreads I loved and no hairdresser needed either!! I enjoy painting these animals they are so gentle!

This one almost painted itself, I love it when that happens!

Low Tide

6x8in Oil on Canvas Board

$100 +s/h
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Another one in this small Estuary series! I have had a really mucked up week...wiped one off and another went in the bin. I like to challenge myself and keep learning but this time it went to a new level of frustration! I haven't painted many rocks and I tried to create the atmosphere there was on this morning as well...probably too much to try in one painting. I'm not sure I have done too well but here it is!!!

Still Autumn Morning

6"x8" oil on canvasboard
$100+s/h

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This is the second in this Estuary series. Often there is lovely cool  light in the mornings....no wind, everything is still, it's my favorite time of the day!! It is a challenge to capture it on a small canvas, not as loose as I would like...good practice though and a study to use for a larger work later on!

Reed Reflections

6"x8" Oil on canvasboard

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The first of my Estuary paintings! I never get tired of seeing reeds and their reflections in the water, when it is still  it's almost like looking in a mirror... has a nice calming effect!!

Sweet Cherries

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

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These were the last of the sweet cherries this season! They are super sweet and whenever I buy them they  look too good to eat... I love them!! Coming up next are landscapes...could be another series!

Spoonful of Sweetness

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

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Here is something to sweeten your day!!  Love these sweetheart jellybeans, a little bit of sugar never hurt anyone!! Initially I had these in a jar but found this white hors d'oeuvres spoon did a much better job of showing their color off...and is less boring than a jar!! I have as much fun finding props as I do painting!

Fed and Watered

6"x8" Oil on canvas board

$100+s/h

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From birds to cows! I was intending to paint flowers until I saw this white cow when I was out driving...it was the only white one among a paddock full of brown ones! Had to paint it!!

Recap of February Paintings

February Paintings

Available 

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My small collection of sea birds altogether!! First series I have painted for a little while, I think keeping it small helps. I get bored if I do too much of the one subject!!

Swim Team

 6"x8" Oil on gessoboard

$100+s/h
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 This is the last in this series of seagulls!  I find it helpful for my creative process to work in a small series sometimes, it helps keep me focused as one painting leads to another...it helps when I love the subject!!

Sunday Stroll

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

$100+s/h
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This was going to be my last painting in this series, until I went walking along the beach a few days ago.  A whole bunch of seagulls were swimming around in the water....so there will be one more!!  

Man in the Mirror

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

$100+s/h
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I know he was looking for food... but... it looked like he was looking in the mirror!! I have one more gull painting to go to finish off this little series!

No Life Guards

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

 $100 +s/h
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Every time I see one of these seagulls perched on top of this post at the beach...it reminds me of a lifeguard watching out for swimmers! I still have another two gull paintings to do from a morning at the beach taking photos.... this has become  a little mini series!!

The Fast Lane

6"x8" Oil on gessoboard

$100+s/h
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These Oystercatchers can run!!! I have been trying to get photos of them for a long time, I love their bright red beaks and legs.... I don't see them often and they move very fast. It was pure luck I managed to get one decent photo out of about 20... all the rest were blurred!! I loved painting this!
I will be away for a few days holiday...then there will be a few more birds.

Recap of December - January Paintings

December -January paintings
Most are available

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My small lot for the last two months. A bit of a mixture of subjects, but that is how I like to roll...never any boredom!! Thanks for following my work!