Wild about Painting by Karen Knutson
Karen Knutson paints in mixed media, trying to make her paintings fun and easy. A wide range of subjects, including landscapes, figures, collage, abstracts, florals, and birds. Many lessons are included on this blog to encourage her art students. Teaching across the country makes her life a great journey.
Friday, February 10, 2023
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Day 29 of 30 Day Challenge!
"Bike for Mike" $75 11" x 11" image |
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Day 28 of 30 Day Challenge!
"People Watching" $75 7" x 11" image |
Day 28 of 30 Day Challenge:
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Day 27 of 30 Day Challenge!
"Got my Eye on You" NFS 5" x 5" image |
Monday, February 6, 2023
Day 26 of 30 Day Challenge!
"Dismissive Attitude" 6" x 8" image $55 |
Day 26 of 30 Day Challenge! This blind contour wire drawing made me laugh at what ended up on the paper. I called it , “Dismissive Attitude”. Doesn’t she look like she would rather be anywhere but here? She makes me laugh. This drawing is 6“ x 8”, permanent marker on paper. If interested, go to karenknutson.com
Tip #26: Don’t lift your pencil when drawing. Seriously! Linkage is one of the best things you can do for your paintings. Wire drawing means a drawing that resembles a wire sculpture. Think about it. Everything has to link in a wire sculpture. I love wire drawing!
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Day 25 of 30 Day Challenge
"Chicken Little" 9"x 12" image, $125 |
Day 25 of 30 Day Challenge!
I did this one backwards. First I did the wire drawing. Then I coated the whole paper with matte medium, let dry and then painted with acrylics. Usually, I coat the paper with matte medium first, then I paint a colorful underpainting, then I draw my subject. It was fun to mix it up! “Chicken Little” is 9” x 12” image, acrylic on paper. Available through my website, karenknutson.com Then click Shop All.
Tip #25:
Mix up the order that you do things. It may lead to great discoveries. I loved the glassy feel of the paper after coating it with matte medium, and I added 3 layers to the background to get the antiqued blue look. Below is the wire drawing beginning.
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Day 24 of 30 Paintings!
"Snook Haven" 7" x 11" $95 |
There’s a special place in Venice, FL called Snook Haven. It really feels like you are deep in the jungle. Our plein air group paints there often. I love the cool atmosphere and the views are incredible. This painting, “Snook Haven” is 7 x 11”, watercolor, painted on location. If interested in this painting, go to karenknutson.com and click Shop All. My favorite thing about this is the light pathway. And that is today’s tip.
Tip #24: Always look for a way to connect one of the values for linkage. Don’t lift your pencil as you draw. I like to connect lights , but many artists like linkage of midtones. I like to link the viewer's eyes to at least 3 sides of the painting. Below is my painting in black and white so you can see the light pathway easier.
Black and white version of "Snook Haven"
Sent from my iPhone
Friday, February 3, 2023
Day 23 of 30 Day Challenge!
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Day 22 of 30 Day Challenge!
"Cardinal Art". 8" x 8" image $95 |
Day 22 of 30 Day Challenge!
Because I’m a bit of a hoarder, (not terrible, but I do like to save things), I keep small pieces of collage papers in a special bag. This painting was created by using those. “Cardinal Art” is 8” x 8” image. If interested go to karenknutson.com and click on Shop All.
Tip #21: Tear pieces of collage to about 1 or 2” pieces. Stack in different colored piles. Cover the entire sheet of watercolor paper (about 8”x 8”) with acrylic matte medium and quickly position the collage papers on the paper as fast as you can, securing the top with matte medium also to seal the papers. Let dry. Draw an animal or whatever simple subject you want and negative paint around it, using acrylic. This is such a fun process and a great way tp use up tiny papers. My friend, Nancy was going to throw away a bunch of them when we were at a Paint-in together and I said, I’d take them. She had the rule that anything less than 3 inches got thrown away. I quickly made a fun painting with her collage pieces, and she said, "Well, I’m going to have to start saving those again.” My friends call me the Bag Lady, cuz I save everything. Haha. Below is my first layer. Notice how I repeated colors and changed the shapes of the papers.
First layer of collage on paper. |
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Day 21 of 30 Day Challenge!
"Voice of Reason" $75 (5.5" x 6.5" image) Day 21 of 30 Day Challenge! |
"Voice of Reason” started as a doodle session, trying out many different types of eyes. By the time I got done, the figure in the middle seemed to be looking both ways! So, I named it "Voice of Reason", as he seems to be listening to both of the others. I think this is my favorite of all the paintings so far. I love letting the painting talk to me, really letting go and let it become whatever it wants. I did this a few days ago, while I was visiting my mom. I can’t wait to add color to a larger version of this. I’d like to make it very large and very bright. If interested In this drawing, go too karenknutson.com Tip #21: Be willing to let go and just play! You may learn something, just by accident. I love working out the design with these 3 value sketches in only black and white. |