"Jefferson Memorial Twilight" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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The Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin in Washington DC is a beautiful neoclassical building. At twilight, it is breathtaking. I used the pointillist technique for the painting, pretending that my dots are stardust!

"Grand Canal Sunset" (oil on stretched canvas; 12" x 12")

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It is the golden sunset in Venice. Take a gondola and glide along the Grand Canal. We just passed Santa Maria della Salute. Ah, life is good!

"Serenity Reigns" (oil on stretched canvas; 22" x 28")

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I have been working on "Serenity Reigns" for almost ten years.  Its complicated, Frank Lloyd Wrightesque architecture; the confusion between the inside and outside images; and some one's casual remark that the painting was neither here nor there got in the way.  I finally worked out the design and other problems and was able to finish it yesterday.  I cannot be happier.

The painting depicts a Chinese wooden sculpture from around 1100, a part of the fabulous Chinese art collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.  The sculpture is not Buddha, but a bodhisattva, an enlightened being who has delayed entering paradise in order to help others attain enlightenment.  In China and Korea, Guanyin, his/her Chinese name, is widely worshipped as a “goddess of mercy and compassion". In popular folklore, reciting the bodhisattva’s name during disaster would bring relief. I grew up in a devout Buddhist family, so am quite familiar with Guanyin's importance and popularity in the Buddhist milieu.

Seated in the lotus position, this figure wears the silk garments and gold jewelry befitting a bodhisattva. The gesture of both hands turned up with thumbs touching the middle fingers is perhaps that of discourse or argumentation. Carved during the last creative epoch of Chinese Buddhist sculpture, it expresses the gentle, benign calm of near enlightenment. (The information was collected from the MIA's website.)

On a personal level, I achieved my own calm and near enlightenment as I was working on the painting in the past few days. Let go of anger, frustration, and other emotions that interfere with the inner peace.  Don't let others determine what you should paint as well!

"SF Palace of Fine Arts" (oil on stretched canvas; 11" X 14")

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If you live in the the San Francisco Bay Area, you don't need the explanation for this painting. It depicts the Palace of Fine Arts on a fine day. In addition to hosting art exhibitions, it remains a popular attraction for tourists and locals and is a favorite location for weddings.

I had a lot of trouble painting "SF Palace of Fine Arts" so much so that it took several weeks to finish it.  It all had to do with the dumb idea of working with at least three photos: one for the colors of the main rotunda; the second for the colonnades; and the third for the lovely shadow shapes on the rotunda, and so on!  I was a nerve wreck.  Eventually, I redid the drawing and finished the painting based on one photo.  Aargh.  I hope it was worth all the trouble.

"Washington National Cathedral Summer Day" (oil on linen; 14" x 11") sold

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Looking up from the summer flowers of the Bishop's Garden, the beautiful Gothic architecture of the Washington National Cathedral with its flying buttresses and pointed arches appear almost immaterial in the glorious light.

"Bishop's Garden Summer" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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Tranquility reigns at the Bishop's Garden of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC on a sunny summer afternoon.

"Stone Cottage with Grape Vines" (oil on stretched canvas; 11" x 14")

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On the second day of Danni Dawson's workshop, I decided to paint the studio of her husband and fellow artist Mike Francis, a charming stone cottage with wooden doors draped with grapevines.  As I painted the scene in the shade of a plein-air umbrella, the overcast sky eventually cleared by the afternoon.  The sun moved to cast the lovely shadows of grape leaves on the old, patinaed doors.

I used to "mass produce" these plein-air paintings two a day during a workshop.  No more!  I took my time by carefully observing the growth patterns and cast shadows of grape leaves, and finished the painting on the following day.  It was a lot of fun and not as exhausting!

"Harbor in Late Afternoon Light" (oil on stretched canvas; 18" x 24")

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I started showing my art on ugallery.com, the online gallery founded in 2006 and based in San Francisco.  It's a new era in my art career with larger, better paintings, as the gallery curates the artwork submitted by the artists.  I have already got four of my paintings turned down.  I'd better work harder!

"Harbor in Late Afternoon Light" is an old painting that I spiffed up with dots.  The late afternoon sun was striking Noyo Harbor, a small, working harbor in northern California at a perfect angle, making everything glow.  How do you like it?

"Vietnam Veterans Memorial" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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The sun rises over the wall that honors those who served in the Vietnam War. Inscribed on the black granite walls are the names of more than 58,000 men and women who gave their lives or remain missing.  Early in the day, without the crowds, when the grass is still wet with morning dew, I visited to pay my respect the wall that heals.

"Venetian Gondolier" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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Venice, one of the most enchanting cities in the world, on a sunny, shimmering day.  Glide on a gondola through the meandering canals.  In Venice, one forgets time and becomes timeless. It's like a dream.

Before and After, Then and Now, or Never Say Never Again!

"Camellia Love" (oil, 8" x 10")
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As I said in the previous post, I was busy working on old paintings this month.  I am sharing a bunch here.  A couple of paintings became a lot worse after "improvements", so they ended up in a trash basket.  You cannot rise higher without taking risks and making sacrifices, right?

So, what do you think of my efforts?  Am I getting better?

"Ducks and Geese" (oil, 8" x 12")
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"Lavender Heaven" (oil, 11" x 14")
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"Lincoln Memorial Reflections" (oil, 8" x 10")
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"Primrose Season" (oil, 10" x 10")
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"Rockefeller Center Spring" (oil, 10" x 8")
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"Sacred Ground, Chichester Cathedral" (oil, 8" x 10")
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"San Francisco's Painted Ladies" (oil, 11" x 14")
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"Strawberry Pickers" (oil, 16" x 20")

"Rockefeller Center Spring" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

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Yesterday I shared an autumnal painting based on a photo I took in spring a few years ago. Some trickery, ha!  I painted "Rockefeller Center Spring" from another photo from the same trip.  You can see tulips abloom in raised beds in a courtyard with beautiful bronze water fountains at Rockefeller Center.  It is spring!

"Lincoln Memorial Sunset" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") sold

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I've noticed that some artists who are participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge actually have a theme for the month.  They are very wise and I admire them.  I, for one, have no such luxury.  Some days I wake up in the middle of night wondering what I am going to painting the next day!  That's is why I decided to paint my favorite scene one more time.

We Washingtonians don't go out of way to pay respect to these famous memorials but for the out-of-town relatives.  More than 10 years ago, before the digital age, a cousin of mine from Korea came to visit and we took her to The Mall.  It was a beautiful spring day.  As the sun started setting, the marble structure began to glow against the golden sky.  Green leaves burned orange.  It was a magical moment.  So pardon me for repeating myself and please tell me that the new painting is better than the old one!

"Lincoln Memorial at Sunset" (oil, 11" x 14"; sold)

"Carmel Mission" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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The Carmel Mission, from the late 18th century, is a Roman Catholic mission church in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.  I had the reference photo printed out six years ago and sat on it.  I have painted two other paintings of this beautiful place before, but the Mission's architecture with the two nonidentical bell towers was trickier.  Now it's Day Four of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  I decided to be brave.  What do you think of my efforts?

"Carmel Mission Garden Gate" (acrylic, 14" x 18"; sold) 

"Saintly Garden at Carmel Mission" (oil, 5" x 4"; sold)

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

"Rose Arbor" (oil on linen; 8" x 10")

"Rose Arbor"
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"White Picket Fence" (oil, 11" x 14")
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"Summer Garden" (oil, 10" x 10")
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"Victorian House" (oil, 11" x 14")
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Some paintings evoke strong feelings of nostalgia and longing.  Perhaps it is a porch, a rose arbor, or a white picket fence.  One wants to step into them and become part of the care-free place and time that these paintings promise.

"French Village" (oil on linen; 12" x 12") sold

"French Village"
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French village demo I

French village demo II

French village demo III

French village demo IV

French village demo V

Dreama's finished demo painting

On the second day of Dreama Tolle Perry's workshop, we painted a charming French village scene.  Architecture and landscape are two of my favorite subjects, so I was very happy with Dreama's choice.  My burning question was how she would approach architectural rendering.  As you can see in the first demo photo, she did some line drawing before starting the underpainting.  What a relief!

The third demo photo shows her dark/mid-tone underpainting.  Shockingly dark again! What about the pink sky?  We were in the throes of a French Revolution here!  In the fourth demo photo, you can see squiggly marks Dreama made with a color shaper (it's a rubber-tipped tool with which one can scrape out paints off canvas).  She used it to draw and add her signature.

The primary objective of the second day was bold brushstrokes for which she is famous.  She used ONE brush for the entire painting--Winsor & Newton Monarch flat brush (#14), plus a small palette knife.  With judicious and practiced use of these limited tools, she created her trademark strokes.  How about that!

Her bottom line?  Put down a stroke and leave it alone unless it really needs to be modified.  Please don't "lick" the canvas by going back and forth with your brush.  Don't make strokes in the same direction in a given section.  Don't paint from the same puddle of colors for the entire sky, or wall, or whatever.  Variety is the spice of life! Instead of making hundreds of strokes for leaves and flowers (I am guilty!), make a few suggestive strokes. Be a minimalist.

Yes, Dreama dropped some random colors here and there, especially along the edges, but in general, her choice of colors was based on knowledge.  Most importantly, what made her art so colorful was her beautiful grays as much as her bright colors.

One more thing.  Dreama is not a die-hard, plein-air painter; she is a good photographer.  You have to start with good reference photos.  It is hard to paint a sun-drenched scene with a picture taken on a cloudy day.  I will conclude my "Dreama experience" tomorrow.  Please feel free to leave comments!

"Sacred Ground, Chichester Cathedral" (oil on linen; 8" x 10")

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Chichester, West Sussex is an old Roman town.  We went to see the city and its cathedral on a cold and gray day last Month. I go wild with Gothic cathedrals, but couldn't take a really good picture.  Dang!  The painting shows the side view of the front portal.  On Palm Sunday, we went back for the Matins service.  We sat in the choir area and heard the choir sing right next to us.  It didn't seem appropriate to take pictures inside, so I can't show you the elegant interior of Chichester Cathedral.  Sorry.

A distant view of the Chichester Cathedral tower

The corridor looking out to the cathedral cloister

Chichester city walls originated in the Roman days and circles the old town.

The market cross is from 1500; it is smack in the middle of the old town.

By the way, in case you are new to my blog, here is the scoop.  Every month I challenge myself to do a series of paintings, then give away a print of the collage created with these paintings at the end of the month.  The April Challenge is "I Love England."  "Chichester Cathedral" is the third in the series.  From now on, I am going to widen the circle for my monthly drawing to all my Facebook fans.  I post a painting or two everyday.  It is the best place to get the most up-to-date information about my artwork.  Please "like" my page!  Click here to visit my Facebook page.  Thanks!

"Chimes Cottage in Early Spring" (oil on linen; 9" x 12")

nfs

It's already April 11th and you are probably wondering why I haven't yet announced the theme for the April Challenge.  Here we go.  I am going to paint a series of paintings based on the pictures I took during my recent trip to England.  The April Challenge is "I Love England"!

You know I haven't painted for three weeks.  Furthermore, I haven't touched oil paints for a month and half!  It took a while to get my mojo back.  A sudden heat wave in the mid-Atlantic region didn't help either.  My garden is going absolutely crazy.  Cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin were spectacular on Tuesday. I am in the midst of spring fever.  It is hard to sit calmly in my studio and paint.  To prove my point, I am sharing just two pictures of my garden this morning.

tulips and grape hyacinths

daffodils and woodland poppies among other flowers!

But I digress.  Let's get back to today's painting.  For eight enchanted days, we stayed at this thatched-roofed stone cottage, which belongs to my husband's first cousin and her husband.  Chimes Cottage on Church Lane in Sidlesham, West Sussex is 380 years old, and is on the British National Register.  There were several such cottages on the lane. It was as if we had walked into a fairy tale.  The painting is a gift to our wonderful hosts.  I hope they like it!

"Wisteria House" (watercolor on paper; 20" x 14") sold

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The white manor house at George Washington's River Farm in Alexandria, VA gets draped with purple wisteria flowers every spring.  It is a sight to look forward to, and I rarely miss it.  I once painted wisterias on a red-brick house.  Boy, the painting looked ugly.  Wisterias and a white house are like hydrangeas and a white picket fence.  They enhance each other, making the charm of the flowers and backdrops multiply by many times!

"US Capitol Rose Garden" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

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Last September I went downtown to take pictures of the Capitol.  It was too early for the trees to change colors, but crepe myrtles still in bloom more than compensated for my mild disappointment.  I squatted down to have the pink roses in the foreground.

The new painting looks similar to the one I did last summer--"Capitol Hill in Summertime"--I guess, because of the floral foreground.  It's just that the white architecture of the Capitol alone can be a bit severe without something to soften it and add color interests.  Which painting do you like better?  For me, "US Capitol Rose Garden" seems to have a more feeling of space.

"Capitol Hill in Summertime"
oil, 15" x 8"
sold