Monday, December 17, 2012

Small works :: Shadows on the Snow

Ideas often percolate and emerge when they are ready. This painting came about in much this fashion. I've had this subject in mind with differing colors and layout for a spell. It's from a park in the town where I grew up. Love the blue tones in the shadows on the snow. 

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SHADOWS ON THE SNOW
original pastel, 6x6" framed to 10x10"
available 
For info about this piece, please email kimweineck@gmail.com.
Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Small works :: Night Owl

Our family vacation in Vermont last year offered a lot of inspiration - but vacation is not the best time to explore the inspiration deeper. Good news: when the time is right, the inspiration returns. 

Not sure which part of this piece appeals to me more: the light in the window, the abstract shapes of the garden remnants, or the warm light toward the back of the house. What fun this was!

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
NIGHT OWL
original pastel, 6x6"
Sold!
This piece has sold, which is always nice. The person who bought this is such a lovely person who is ridiculously talented herself - so that makes the sale doubly wonderful!

Thanks for reading, as always. ~kmw

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Small works :: Conifer

The more I paint, the more I learn about composition and successful paintings. This simple construct is something I'd never have thought to try up until just recently. Lately, though, I'm terribly attracted to clean, simple paintings and I'm seeing them in galleries and museums and my art books.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
CONIFER
original pastel, 6x6"
The colors in the painting differentiate between the whites and purples a bit more. If this doesn't sell, it's one I'd be delighted to have in my own home.

Email kimweineck@gmail.com for more info on this painting.
Thanks for reading!~kmw

Friday, December 14, 2012

Assorted small works

Although I've been posting numerous small works in pastel, I've been painting other sizes, mediums, and subjects, too! 

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
NO. 10 SABLE
original watercolor, 9x2"
 This post is a selection of the watercolors I've played with.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SINGLE PEPPERMINToriginal watercolor, 4x4"
 Love "trying" to capture the iridescence. Not an easy feat.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SHINY BRITE
original watercolor, 5x5"

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SHINY BRITE II
original watercolor, 5x5"

Hands down, the brushes are my favorite. Textures, sheen, and shadow all come together in one happy still life painting for me.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SQUIRREL MOP
original watercolor, 2x9"

Email kimweineck@gmail.com for more information on these pieces.
Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Small works :: Snowy Hillside Path

Pieces of paintings make me giddy sometimes. The bottom left of this one gives me a shot of adrenaline. Love the looseness and edges. 

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SNOWY HILLSIDE PATH
original pastel, 6x6

Love the color palette in this, too. It's snowy without being the expected blue tones. The light violets evoke just enough chill. 

Email kimweineck@gmail.com for information about this piece. 
Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Small works :: Snow Day

My subject matter was pretty consistent with landscapes and such. When I looked around at what was going on in my life, I was inspired to try new subjects from our everyday. 

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SNOW DAY
original pastel, 6x6"
My girls make snowmen any time there's enough snow. I thought I'd try to paint their latest creation - with some liberties!

This piece is included in the Neponset Valley Artists' Winter Show at the Walpole Public Library.
My painting class, the NVA, is full of talent and I'm delighted and proud to have the work of my students displayed!

If you're in Walpole, MA - stop in and see.

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Small works :: Cyclamen Study

Flowers are a subject I don't visit enough. These cyclamen are on our windowsill and the color against the backdrop of the woods is vibrant and fun.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
CYCLAMEN STUDY
original pastel, 4x4"
Again I wanted to get messy and work quickly -- I set the timer again. Guesses on how long?

This one I may keep for myself. Or I may go back in and do some more work. Time will tell.
Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Monday, December 10, 2012

Small works :: Pear pairing

 A gallery owner had told me years ago: "Pears sell!" In my years in galleries, I find this to be the truth!

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
PEAR I
original pastel, 4x4"

 Recently I started looking at still lifes by pastel artists and focused on their edges. Result of the exploration? Work quickly, with aplomb, and have fun playing with the marks and pigment. Take risks. Be messy!



©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
PEAR II
original pastel, 4x4"
I set a timer on these pieces, too, so I wouldn't get too tight. Any guesses on how many minutes I permitted each piece?

Contact Gallery9 for information on these pieces.
Thanks for reading! ~kmw




Sunday, December 9, 2012

Small works :: Cumulus

Clouds are fun to paint with their flat bottoms and their multiple layers and atmospheric perspective of distance. What a challenge - but a fun one! This pastel was the first of the clouds I had done and sold right away. I reworked another that I posted earlier in this Small Works series. It's fun to revisit a subject because new things are learned the second go 'round.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
CUMULUS
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
Email kimweineck@gmail.com for more information on this piece.
Thanks for reading!~kmw

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Small works :: Single Cedar

Making green believable in the landscape is tricky. 
Creating a landscape a viewer can enter into and feel the space is a challenge. 
Evoking a mood from the atmosphere is often critical to the success of a painting. 

Taken together, these elements of painting are addressed with each painting and excite me to my toes. Off to the studio!

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SINGLE CEDAR 
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
Email kimweineck@gmail.com for more information on this painting.
Thanks for reading!~kmw

Friday, December 7, 2012

Small works :: Starlight Mint

If you have been following my Small Works postings on this blog you will recognize this favorite subject of mine: red and white. My goodness, this wee mint sits on my desk with other treasured still life objects. Once Tim tried to eat it -- I think he still can recall my scream. Ha! Important for future happiness: Don't eat the still life!

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
STARLIGHT MINT
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
Email kimweineck@gmail.com for information on this painting.
Thanks for reading!~kmw

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Small works :: Sky Afire

Despite the fact that I often discourage my students from painting sunsets because it can be difficult to make a sunset painting look believable, here I present another sunset painting! In the previous post I referred to the juxtaposition of dull and bright colors and this is another example of the same theme. In person the colors are brighter and duller simultaneously. Try as I might, this is the closest to accurate I could get.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SKY AFIRE
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
Notice my friends, the cedar trees, at the middle right of the painting? I also liked the loose details in the distant bank of land.

Email kimweineck@gmail.com for more information about this painting.
Thanks for reading!~kmw

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Small works :: Cloud Strata

Clouds and sunsets in the landscape offer such opportunity for an artist to use colors in bold new ways. This subject had me reaching for the oft-unused sticks of color: orange, magenta, bright yellow (!) and couple them with the grayed blues and greens. Who wouldn't have fun doing that? Want something to appear brighter? Surround it with darker, duller tones. Wham! Bright gorgeousness!!

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
CLOUD STRATA
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
Email kimweineck@gmail.com for information on this piece.
Thanks for reading!~kmw

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Small works :: Bird Island

As an artist-member of the Marion Art Center I'm invited to contribute artwork to their shows. The Holiday Shop is a favorite! Bird Island is the local lighthouse and looking at this painting makes me pine for summertime. Ahhhhh.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
BIRD ISLAND
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
at the Marion Art Center's Holiday Shop
Thanks for reading!~kmw

Monday, December 3, 2012

Small works :: Late Summer Marsh

This marsh on the North Shore of Massachusetts is a continuous source of inspiration for me. A delightful spot with ever-changing color and texture, I get giddy driving there anticipating what I'll see at various times of the year. 

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
LATE SUMMER MARSH
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
Email kimweineck@gmail.com for more information on this painting.
Thanks for reading!~kmw

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Small works :: Sun Streaked

Walking on the beach in the off-season is such fun! New arrays of color are everywhere and these colors are  wonderful to capture in painting. In person, the color in the shadow is deep and somewhat unexpected. I've been researching depth of color in shadows and having a great time doing it!

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SUN STREAKED
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
Email kimweineck@gmail.com for information on this piece.
Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Small works :: Peppermint Candy

For the holidays I do love the look of red and white. Starlight mints are the most perfect showcase of this color duo. Make me so happy!

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
PEPPERMINT CANDY
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
To date I've made three iterations of this one mint. Love them all!

Email kimweineck@gmail.com for information on this painting.
Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Friday, November 30, 2012

Small Works :: Warm Clouds

Marshes are my favorite subject, yet of late I've not painted a lot of them. Tim had started calling me Marsha. Alas, I cannot stay away! In person, the graded color in this work is much smoother a transition and the sky is beautiful (if I do say so myself.)

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
WARM CLOUDS
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
Email kimweineck@gmail.com for more information about this piece.
Thank you reading! ~kmw

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Small Works :: Red Summer Sky

The same spot as a prior post, these trees silhouetted by the changing sky have been holding my interest of late. So beautiful - and sort of intimidating to paint - and such fun!

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
RED SUMMER SKY
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
Email kimweineck@gmail.com for more information on this painting.
Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Small Works :: Eight Cedars

The first pastel I posted was a cedar tree. The second was a cloud. I present you with a hybrid: Cedars and a cloud! In class I often discuss the benefits of working in a series and it's evident I practice what I preach. 

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
EIGHT CEDARS 
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available
Email kimweineck@gmail.com for more information on this painting.
Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Small works:: Cloud Redux

The second in my small works showcase. A viewer told me the favorite part were the buildings and boats at the horizon - gives it such depth. This cloud was HUGE!

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
CLOUD REDUX
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available

Email kimweineck@gmail.com for more information on this painting.
Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Monday, November 26, 2012

Small Works :: Cedar Sentinels


What a time of year...I just love it!

The house is decked for Christmas. We have been cooking and baking and enjoying, and it's not even December yet. As is our tradition, the tree was cut down the weekend after Thanksgiving and here I sit enjoying the comfy house warmly illuminated for these darkest days on the calendar. 

In the studio lately I've been working on small works for various upcoming shows. Over the next few days I'm going to showcase these paintings here. Such fun to do these small pieces. So thoroughly enjoyable!

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
CEDAR SENTINELS
original pastel, 6x6"
framed to 10x10
available

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Award and a demonstration

Hurray! I'm excited and delighted to say that my painting, SUMMER SKY, has be awarded 2nd place Pastel at the recent FAA members show. It's an honor and so encouraging. 

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SUMMER SKY
original pastel, 7x7"

Sometimes when painting a piece just seems to come from your fingertips - as if through inspired intervention. Summer Sky was one of those pieces. The colors I needed were all available. The contrasts and values were spot on when I tried them out. The stars were all aligned. Funny how others can feel that, too. 

Finishing touches on my pastel demonstration 
for the Foxboro Art Association

Last week I was the demonstrator for the Foxboro Art Association filling in for a last-minute withdrawal. The crowd was responsive to my instruction for making a pastel painting on top of an oil underpainting. 

I worked on a scene inspired by Stony Brook in Norfolk, MA. If you're local to Norfolk, check out this treasured spot. Paintings are EVERYWHERE! 


Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Three for a show

The Marion Art Center in Marion, MA invited artists to submit up to three paintings inspired by the properties of the Sippican Land Trust. (Sippican is just such a fun word to say, isn't it?)

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
MARSH SUNSET
original oil, 12x16" framed
$295 www.marionartcenter.org
Howland Marsh, SLT
 

During the summer I had the good fortune to get a personal tour of some of these properties by a local friend and was inspired. While painting a sort of 'assignment' like this is not a strong suit, I decided to take it on as a challenge. With every thing you learn and this is a great opportunity to stretch! 

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
MARSH VIEW
original oil, 12x16" framed
$295 www.marionartcenter.org
Brainerd Marsh, SLT

These three oils are all on display at the MAC through November 11, 2012. While dropping off work yesterday I was impressed with the wide range of interpretations and breadth of artists contributing their art. (Willoughby Elliot, an artist I've admired FOR YEARS is in this show. I'm delighted to think I'm in a show with his work!!)

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
THE WALK BACK
original oil, 12x16" framed
$295 www.marionartcenter.org
Pierson Woods, SLT
 

While I was there I was also picking up my two paintings from the prior Small Works Summer Show. 
What a treat that the director of the MAC wouldn't let me take them home. She bought them then and there. What a huge compliment which made for an easy drive home. 

COVE ENTRY and AUTUMN STROLL by Kim Morin Weineck
original pastels, 6x6" framed to 10x10"

Stop by the MAC if you're in the area. Downtown Marion, where the art center is located, offers wonderful views for painting if you're inclined to photograph or set up an easel. 

Thanks for reading!~ kmw

Friday, September 21, 2012

Pastel to oil

Yesterday I tried to paint with pastels. Oh, I wanted them to work!

Instead the first try went into the trash and the second was scrubbed off with a high-pressured hose. 

As is my usual pattern, I went to the studio, put away all my pastels and took out all my oils. The switch is on! Last week I'd used my oils for an afternoon after oiling out paintings in my 'painting graveyard' and figuring out which I wanted to finish (or attempt to finish) for my upcoming show. 

SUNFLOWERS
original oil, 20x24"
not quite finished but almost...
The scale of this is a bit skewed,
but the colors feel right. 

Pastels are wonderful things. When I use them my color sense gets honed to a great level. "I need to use a middle value, warm yellow green" and I find it. When I venture back to oil the decisions are helpful. Now I can mix whatever color I would search for in pastel stick. And the great thing about oils: There is always the color possibility you were looking for! 

SUNFLOWERS
original oil, 20x24
in progress
The colors in the original are
much cleaner than this photo. 

The pastels I attempted yesterday were unsuccessful because of the nuances of color. One image had too much subtlety in the sky blues. My collection of pastels didn't have the colors I needed. Honest. And then there's green. Never the right one in pastel.

Going back to oil yesterday was thrilling. I mean it - THRILLING! 
And I had every green I needed. 

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Interview with Smart Creative Women

Mid-August I was interviewed by Monica Lee of Smart Creative Women. It was a humid, gorgeous, summer day and the conversation was easy and fun.

We talk about all sorts of art-related things and Monica is a delight - so upbeat and at ease.
I had a great day and seeing the interview now brings me back to those dog days of summer only a month or so ago.

Enjoy!

The art of cooking

Continuing to 'embrace autumn', today I'm posting about cooking with a little mention of art. Here's a photo of my dining room table with the recipe for me to type out. My oil paintings in-progress are on the distant wall's chair rail. 
Recipe, Apples, Art
We have art everywhere right now as
I'm getting ready for my show October 5th. 
Beef and Carrot Ragu is kid-friendly and delicious and already in the slow cooker for tonight's dinner. 
What a relief it is on the days when dinner is a no brainer. 

For the Compost
I used roma tomatoes from the garden
but threw in a small heirloom because it looked
lonely in the bowl after the romas left. 

BEEF AND CARROT RAGU

1 to 1 1/4 lbs boneless beef short ribs
salt and ground black pepper
10 (!) cloves of garlic
8 oz peeled fresh baby carrots, chopped
1 lb chopped roma tomatoes
6 oz can tomato paste
1/2 cup red wine

pappardelle noodles or something you have on hand

Place salted and peppered ribs in slow cooker. 
Smash garlic and place on ribs. 
Add tomato paste and wine, carrots and chopped tomatoes. 
Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. 
Stir, shred, mash up the carrots and tomatoes. 
Serve over pasta or crusty bread or what-have-you. 

ENJOY! 

The house already smells good!
 Thanks for reading ~kmw

Monday, September 17, 2012

Embrace autumn?

Much of my posting extols the glory of summer. My goodness I'm such a summer girl!

Fall is pretty - of course it is - with its perfect weather, cool nights for easy sleeping, gorgeous pink light and beautiful clouds and colors. Wow. It's the oncoming decline in temperatures and the diminishing light which make me glum.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineckon easel
LONG AUTUMN SHADOWS 
original pastel, 12x18

And then there's the season next on the horizon, but let's keep that in the ether for now. We can call that time of cold and snow 'the-season-that-shall-not-be-named.'

As a painter I cannot help but be inspired by this weather and color and change in the light. Last week I finished this piece.
©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
LONG AUTUMN SHADOWS 
original pastel, 12x18"

While I worked on it while the girls were in school (a MAJOR change in my life's schedule) I thought about my autumn angst and some of it abated but only for a fleeting moment.

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Three things -- pretty big ones at that!

Please visit and bookmark my new website (!) where I'll be posting new work, work as it sells, updating shows, etc. etc. The site is a work in progress which I think makes it a bit more exciting to follow.

As you browse through, please feel free to suggest things that may make it better --- like getting rid of the 'read-me' at the top. I'm working on that one.

Secondly, this October 5, 2012 will be my THIRD annual First Friday show at Gallery9 in Norwood, MA. Lately I've been working on mixing things up a bit and hopefully the body of work for my show will do just that. I'm putting some major pressure on myself and that's a good thing.

Seven years ago in the hot hot heat
Would happily do it again
Finally, it's been a flurry of activity in our household. Change is everywhere!

Tim and I celebrated our 7th anniversary (love you, darlin') on Labor Day and enjoyed kayaking until our hands blistered and our shoulders, arms, and backs were screaming with happy pain.

And here we are today - enjoying a cone
Happy summertime 2012!

Lucy started kindergarten this morning leaving Tim and I and a melancholy Pippa behind to watch as the bus pulled away.

Hey Lu, smile!
And she's off....

Worry not! Pippa starts her own preschool next week. Wowie! So much change, so much momentum, and all is well.

Pippa wearing her favorite shirt while we await Lucy's return

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Monday, August 27, 2012

Purple

When I recently stopped in to The Preservation Framer and Art Gallery I was asked if I had any purple paintings I could donate to a purple-themed benefit auction. 

Wanting to help, I went to my studio and found I had nothing available (my recent studio sale made sure of that) so I set to making new work. 

                               ©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
                          MARSH DAWN
                               original pastel, 7x5"





Purple is an interesting color. In art school I was told not to use the word but to instead say "violet" which, of course, makes me say purple every chance I can. A cool color, purple can sometimes seem so warm, depending upon its leaning toward red or blue. And one of my absolutely favorite blues in the world - Breton Blue which is the ubiquitous color of Brittany, France is often seen on its own and described as purple. 

 ©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
   SUNSET COLOR
      original pastel, 7x5"



These two works are 7x5" and each ventures to depict purple. The top is captures dawn's light with a hint of warm at the horizon. The bottom is about sunset. Perhaps both sort of seem interchangeable. 

I brought these two to have the gallery select which one seemed most purple to them. Can you guess which they chose? 

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

A series of sunsets

Often in my classes I discuss the importance of working in a series. A wonderful tool for delving into color and composition relationships, series work lets the focus shift because you're not concerned with subjects to paint. 

Here I post my latest series in the order they were painted. 

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SUMMER SKY
original pastel, 7x7" unframed


We also discuss the issue of painting a sunset. "Sunsets put a lot of pressure on you because it's not a photo. If not done well, the validity of the piece is suspect." People may question if the landscape could really look like that.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
RED REFLECTED
original pastel, 24x9" unframed


Like with so many things, I find myself in a contrary position and often explore further the subjects I bring up with my students. Here are four sunset paintings, done in quick succession, where I play with light, color, and composition. 

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
CLOUDS AND COLOR
original pastel, 10x8" unframed

 All the paintings were such fun to do and these photos don't capture the vibrancy of the light that the original does. Also, they don't quite feel as wonderful as when I was in the moment, taking photos, notes, etc.

©2012 Kim Morin Weineck
SETTING SUN
original pastel, 24x9" unframed

Such fun. With each go-'round I learn. Can't wait to take on some more. I've been working from my color notes made on location and black and white photos. An interesting approach that seems to be helping me out.

Thanks for reading! ~kmw