5 Minute Landscapes

"Golden Sunset"   5" x 7" image.
Matted:  8" x 10"   $45

Every now and then, it's just fun to do really quick paintings.  These little gems will test your skills at timing in watercolor.  I start with a 5" x 7" watercolor paper.  Then I wet both sides of the paper several times, so it is very wet.  Then lightly sponge off the right side and begin.   Using a bright color (red/orange), I paint the sky and the water, leaving a big white shape.  Then I pick it's complementary color and smear that into the first color to create a grey color and then have the complementary color (green) on the upper left and lower left corners.  Switching to a 1/2 " flat brush, I double load the two complementary colors in a dry brush mixture to make the tree masses.  I do NOT mix the color on the palette or it would be too wet.  Pull down the colors to create the reflections.  Use a thirsty brush to wipe out the water line.  Then wipe out a ripple in the water.  You can put more detail on the trees, using a small round brush that is double loaded with the 2 colors.  That's how I was able to get the points on the top of the trees.  You do all this is only 5 minutes!  It's fun to do color studies using this process.  Odd colors are usually my favorites.

Sketch of Farm Site

"Lead Me Home"         $125
Image:  11" x 13"    Watercolor and gel medium

Today, I experimented with acrylic gel medium to prepare the surface before starting my watercolor.  I love to try new things to keep my mind fresh and learn new things.  It was fun to see the resist and it added a painterly quality to my painting that I've been striving for lately.  I really like the design of this painting, but can't wait to try more, using this technique and see if the process is easier the second time around.  I'm getting ready for a workshop at Dillman's Resort (in northern WI) and I was trying to keep this painting very simple; a beginning painting for the first day of the workshop.  It was hard for me not to keep going to weave some intricate designs into this, but I slapped my hand and called it a day.  Dillman's Resort is a very picturesque resort tucked into a forest of evergreen trees, located on a beautiful lake- a great place to unwind and totally immerse yourself into your art.  To read more about my workshop, follow this link.  http://www.dillmans.com/dcaf/2016/karen-knutson.html   I will be teaching abstract landscapes done with charcoal pours, acrylic layering, and lots of exciting textures.  This will definitely open up your imagination to all of your other artwork as well!  Hope you can join us!!!!  It runs from June 20 - 23rd, with the welcome on June 19th.  There's a concert there on the opening night;  a nice bonus for us!

"Peaceful Farm Site"- (Wire Drawing #1within 30 Days!)

"Farm Site, Wire Drawing #1"
7" x 10", Ink on Paper, $50

This is a farm site near my friend, Jennifer Stone's family lodge near Watertown, SD.  I've had a dream of painting farm scenes with Holstein cows in the foreground for about 7 or 8 years.  I decided to build up to adding the cows and start with a farm site alone to start with.  My plan is to complete a painting of this scene to enter in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America Show.  The hard part for me is that is has to be totally watercolor, and I've become a mixed media artist these past few years.  This drawing took about 4 hours, so the idea of doing quick wire drawings is a far fetched idea, at best! Stay tuned to see the finished painting! Remember, if interested in buying this, contact me right away.