Original oil painting Poppy Extravaganza by Karen Tarlton

 8x10

Poppy Extravaganza

Oil

Yay for Summer weather on the way!

This California coastal landscape is reserved for a collector

I love painting a lavender sky

Soft breezes, 

warm sand

sunshine smiling down :)

Karen Tarlton Original oil painting - Romance Landscape - palette knife impasto

24x36

Title: Autumn Melody Together

Oil

Brand new and still a bit wet but available for purchase!

Beautiful color and rich thick paint. I backlit the trees in a soft silvery grey. Really makes the reds and yellow pop and buttery palette knife movements add depth and wonderful texture.

Click on image to go to my store where there are more details and many other paintings to view!

I love these two quotes and they seem to suit my prolific style:

"I dream a lot. I do more painting when I'm not painting. It's in the subconscious." ::: Andrew Wyeth ::: "When I work, I work very fast, but preparing to work can take any length of time." ::: Cy Twombly :::

Thanks for checking in!

Crimson Reflections

12x36

Oil

Available for purchase

Title: Crimson Reflections

24x30

Oil

Large and colorful new landscape....available for purchase.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi

Days are still too short but do seem to be getting brighter around here. We're all fighting off bad colds in my house so the sun is welcoming! Hopy you all have a bright, warm and sunny day!

Romance of Red Roses

Title: The Romance of Roses

16x20

Oil

Valentine's day is approaching and I am in the mood for red and romance art so here you go!

In very thick oil and very vibrant color!

Sold

"And what's romance? Usually, a nice little tale where you have everything as you like it, where rain never wets your jacket and gnats never bite your nose, and it's always daisy-time."~D.H Lawrence

Story of a Beauty in Red

Title: Story of a Beauty in Red

Size: 12 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

"The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give" --Walt Whitman

Walt was a wise man and we should all keep his words close to our hearts!

I had to paint a figure again! Every once in awhile I feel the overwhelming need to paint a beauty so here she is! The paint is very thick so it needs at least a week more to dry, but it will soon post to Etsy! Thanks for checking in! I hope you find a painting that speaks to you!

Out of the Blue

Yes these two paintings were painted by me! Sometimes I think I'm a bit schizophrenic because I can't decide on definite style.....abstract, realism or impressionism. I just enjoy the variety and constantly moving on to a different style and genre keeps me inspired. The above painting is available on my eBay auction tonight or can be purchased directly out of my Etsy store for those of you who don't like the whole auction thing.

Title: Out of the Blue

Size: 20 x 24

Medium: Acrylic on stretched canvas

Contact me for purchase or see my Etsy store!

I love this one and wonder what you see in the blur of colors and textures. This painting can be hung vertically like shown or flipped to be horizontal.

Don't forget you can .....Click to enlarge!

Working on some more abstracts this week and also some more, almost abstract but not quite, impressionistic pony paintings! I will be finishing a series of very small horse paintings...6 x 6 to put in my Etsy store soon.

thanks for checking in!

Red Umbrella

Title: Red Umbrella

size: 12 x 16

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

THE PAINTING:

Focal point on this painting is the red, of course the red umbrella and woman. Contrast is so exciting in a painting and I painted this one extra thick with impasto texture for extra drama and impact.

Today:

Wonderful day today....life is good when the air is cool. I'm loving this studio with all the window light and space. I think of Virginia and my friends there often and this painting is a reflection of memories there.

going on auction tonight....thanks for stopping by!

The Dance of the Poppies

THIS PAINTING IS SOLD

Title: The Dance of the Poppies
Size: 18 x 24
Medium: oil on stretched canvas

THE PAINTING:
I love this expressive, textured floral because if seems to move and gives a real sense of wind and outdoor air and light. Thick paint with lots of cad reds and bits of teal blue.
Today:
Settling into my new space in Vegas. I do like the desert but this 110 degrees is bit much. I have a nice cool studio with fantastic light so I can't complain. I'm thinking I need to paint some of these beautiful desert skies too....real soon!

Bountiful Roses

Title: Bountiful Roses
Size: 20 x 24
Medium: oil on stretched canvas
Going on auction tonight.
THE PAINTING:
This original oil is painted with many layers. First brush then knife, then when dry more brush and knife work until I reach a glowing and richly textured look. The layers are translucent and each plays into the next for beautiful depth.
INSPIRATION:
Our 21st wedding anniversary was July 8 and we were so busy unpacking from our big move across the country that I forgot. It wasn't until I saw a dozen orange/red roses and a bottle of wine on the table, with a tear jerking love letter from my husband, that I remembered the day. He never does forget. Roses are my favorite and he knows it. So here they are!
Thanks for checking in!

Poetic Love Story in Red

Title: Poetic Love Story in Red
Size: 12 x 24
Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

THIS PAINTING IS SOLD.

PAINTING:
Every once in awhile I stray from my very familiar landscape background and revert to my old classical training of portraiture, but put my own twist on it. I think poetry and beauty go hand in hand and this piece holds a very special place in my heart. I hope it speaks to you as well.

TODAY:
My husband has returned from Vegas to help me with the rest of our big move! Yeah! I am now a happy woman.

Dancing Red Poppies

Title: Dancing Red Poppies

Size: 18 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

THE PAINTING:

This lovely painting is a classic. Painted super textural and with lots of expressive movement, the poppies seem to dance and sway in the wind. I applied several layers of paint for layers of broken color which you will see if you click to enlarge or check out my eBay auction for more close up zooms!

It's hot and humid today and I've been trying to run a bit the past few weeks, but I feel like I'm under water with all this summer humidity. The flowers love it though....everything is so green and all the flowers in my yard are blooming...lavender, daylillies. hostas and hydrangeas, rose and butterfly bushes. Beautiful.

My Favorite Red Shoes

SOLD

Title : My Favorite Red Shoes

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

Size: 9x12

A sweet, whimsical oil. A portrait of shoes, just for fun. I have a bit of a shoe "thing", like many women. It's really hard to pass up an adorable pair. Like a work of sculpture, a new pair that fit just right, is a beautiful thing. Have a great weekend!

Red Tulips

The Iris in my yard are in full Bloom! I promise to paint them soon!

Azaleas are just finishing their peak bloom near the door on my patio, surrounded by hostas....so beautiful. Our landscape in Las Vegas will look so bleak in comparison I'm sure! Maybe I will cultivate a great cactus garden, never can tell. I am going to miss this garden though!

We have about seven weeks until we move....50 days actually. I'm starting the count down now. Only one more month of painting, at least painting in oil. In the month of June I will probably just work in acrylic because the oils need many weeks to dry. After we move, I'll switch back to oil. I think I would have serious withdrawals if I stop painting totally!

SOLD at Arlington Arts Gallery

Title: Red Tulips

Size: 12 x 24

Medium: oil on stretched canvas

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

I love the rich colors in this Spring Painting! Thick cad reds and golds with just touches of teals and blues....my favorite.

My Red Shoes

Title: My Red Shoes
Size: 9 x 12
Medium: oil on canvas

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
Every girl has a favorite pair of shoes and there's just something about sexy red heels. I'm not always a fan of wearing high shoes like these (pain) but there is something sculpural and beautiful about them. I used a brush and a palette knife so there's lots of lovely texture and broken color, cool on warm and deep cad reds make is a stand out piece. This one my seventeen year old wants and does not wish to part with; it is about to hang in her room in a modern black frame. I don't think I'll list it on eBay yet. You're welcome to contact me for purchase information.

We had a fantastic Spring day today and I hope you all are enjoying nice weather as well! tomorrow I pack for Paris!

Red Dress in the Rain

Title: Red Dress in the Rain
Size: 16 x 20
Medium: oil on stretched canvas

Sold
THE PAINTING:
I am so glad it stopped snowing but I still am very cold and so I paint another blustery, drizzly day. There is tremendous texture in this one and you can feel the rain in the night here. I used lots of play of color, cool blues against warm reds to really make the colors stand out and I like this one. I would love it in a wide black frame.
ART TIPS: I have noticed, when I visit other homes, that some folks don't really know how to hang art. It's best to use a picture hanging nail and hook, if you are hanging a framed work on a wire. Paintings need to be hung at eye level. You shouldn't have to tilt your head way up to look at the art. Hope this helps your decorating! Thanks for checking in!

Poppy Explosion

Title: Poppy Explosion

Size: 12 x 16

Medium: oil paints on stretched canvas, some acid free paper

Contact me about purchase or check my auction.

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

I enjoy painting just about everything and when I'm in the mood for some flowers, like on this cold windy day, they take on their own personal characteristics. I use many layers of paint with both brush and knife on this one, with quick movements to give it a sense of motion. The papers are varnished in at the end with a medium to add extra dimension and the sense of the pods bursting.

Poppy Dance

Title: Poppy Dance
Size: 20 x 24
Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

ABOUT THE PAINTING:
This is one of my favorite large poppy paintings so far this year! I hope you click in and see some close ups of the great textures and broken colors. Each poppy has about 5 layers of different red colors so it glows on the bright blue and green background and they seem to dance in the wind, hence the name. I almost don't want to list it because I really do need some great works to go into my gallery in January for the opening reception, but I can't resist offering to all the great eBayers first! Hope it ends up in a great home!

Pods and Poppies

Title: Pods and Poppies
Size: 11 x 14
Medium: Oil paint, acid free decorative papers, gold leaf on gallery wrapped canvas

contact me for purchase information or a similiar larger piece.

PAINTING AND INSPIRATION:
I'm in love with this poppy painting and almost don't want to sell it. I gave my daughter some beautiful decorative papers for her journal, she is very creative and makes some amazing things. They have great textures and designs so I borrowed a few tiny pieces and varnished them to look like the pods are exploding with texture and color. Painted with rich oils using brush and palette knife and varnished in with fine mediums, this painting will last forever and is quite unique.

Big Red Poppies

Title: Big Red Poppies
Size: 24 x 30
Medium: Oil on gallery wrapped canvas

See eBay auction for purchase tonight!

PAINTING:
These really are huge and make quite a statement! If you need a punch of reds in a room, this painting will do it. After painting an abstract underpainting, as I sculpted the paint these huge poppies began to emerge. I layered dark to light with a large knife, one mixed color at time, pushing the reds and then surrounded the petals with soft gold and green foliage.
INSPIRATION:
I really just can't resist painting this flower every once in awhile! It's just so much fun and looks great in my living room, especially around the holidays, in a wide black frame! I have several holiday shows coming in December and am gearing up! Hope you enjoy!

Red Umbrella

Title: Red Umbrella

Size: 9" x 12"

Medium: Oil on gallery wrapped canvas

See eBay auction tonight for purchase.

PAINTING:

This painting has lots of paint in many layers. I have an abstract underpainting and then moving horizontally, layed the rich oils down in golds, pinks and blues to lend a watery rain effect, dragging my knife every once and awhile. I then highlight with bits of white. Finally, I paint the woman with the red umbrella....the umbrella being the focal point.

INSPIRATION:

We had a big downpour today for a short time and nice drizzly rain for a few hours after that. I love the sound of rain on the roof. From my window I can see the people walking around with their umbrellas, busy going to work, but this woman's red umbrella caught my eye and made me smile. Hope you enjoy.