Saturday, February 20, 2016

Heart Art

 Though My Heart Is Torn © 2011 Karen Mathison Schmidt

Since I added this heart as part of the design of the February update on my website, I’ve had several requests for prints (thank you all for your lovely emails!) 

So I just wanted to let you all know that this week I added Limited Edition fine art prints of this art to my eBay store in three sizes (starting at $45), and also in Collectible Art Cards ($7.75)

Shifting Shadows

 Shifting Shadows  © 2016 Karen Mathison Schmidt
16 x 12 inches • acrylic on 3/4" cradled GessobordTM
SOLD • private collection, Elk Grove, California


Yesterday afternoon was beautiful and spring-like, perfect for a little plein-air painting. My portable French easel is still in storage, but I didn’t let that stop me! I dragged my big easel and a chair out to a pretty spot out a ways from the house, loaded up my little red wagon with all my supplies, and spent a glorious couple of hours painting away. 

The challenging part was that it was late in the day so the shadows were changing pretty fast. After I had the gist of the painting on the board, I brought it back to the house to finish in my studio.


Tuesday, February 16, 2016

A change in scenery

Yesterday morning was really dark and stormy, with a heavy rain for just a few hours, and by noon the sky was almost completely clear again. I took a little break about five o’clock to go for a short walk. Walking in the woods is one of my great delights. Even in the middle of winter, so many colors, and an almost overwhelming abundance of textures.

As I was walking back toward the house (you can just make out the peak of the roof in the center at the top of the photo), the sun was just dipping below the tree line behind me, so that the last rays were lighting up only the very tops of the trees in the distance ahead, making them look as if they were all aflame, and making me catch my breath and feel really glad I had grabbed the camera on my way out the door.

Throughout the year I’ll be working on a series of large landscapes for a two-artist show in Shreveport in December and January. This view is definitely a top contender for reference material!