Karen Waltermire

Karen Waltermire

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New work – Safe in My Heart

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I started this painting maybe two years ago and it sat until I worked on it about six months ago then it sat for a few months until today. I was thinking about safety, warmth, and love and settled on the painting conveying shelter and safety. I wanted to incorporate the old Fallout Shelter symbol that used to be on many government buildings in case of a nuclear attack so people would know where to go. As a kid I always looked for that symbol and it was comforting to know there were many places to go in case of an emergency. Women are usually seen as a mother figure whether we have kids or not and a place to go to for comforting. So, one eye is the fallout shelter symbol and the other is being magnified by a looking glass. We look at the eye and see that it resembles an island surrounded by the ocean. Just below her neck, I made shapes that might be seen in an ultrasound with her red heart in the middle of it.

The painting is 30″x40″ and is for sale in my online store. I offer FREE shipping to the US only.

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We Did it!

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I painted this after falling in love with an old – probably turn of the century – photo of an African-American couple in their wedding clothes. It was a grainy black and white photo but the way they looked at each other grabbed me and I knew I had to paint them. I chose a 20″x30″ canvas because it is large enough for a composition like this but doesn’t take up an entire wall. For colors, I kept them in shades of black, white, grey and brown and for the back background, I created color square in variations of blue, red and purple so the couple would not blend in. For her head piece, I added flowers in colors similar to the background to tie them in to the space. Painting this couple was very enjoyable and I felt sad when I finished it. I hope the next owner of this special couple enjoys it as much as I have.

This original oil painting is 20″x30″ and is available for sale in my online store.

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Tampa Museum of Art – Purvis Young Exhibit

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  Not long ago I visited the Tampa Museum of Art and spent much time in the Purvis Young exhibit studying his work.  Mr. Young was a brilliant self-taught artist who painted on old doors, scrap wood, etc.  I loved how expressive and deep his work is even though he never had any formal art training and might not have studied famous artists of the past.  I love that he painted on anything he could get his hands on.  I love that sitting with his work felt like he was personally telling me about his life and experiences.  His heartfelt paintings reminded me why it is so important for all of us to see, sit with, and learn from artists of all backgrounds.  And for those of us who are artists, Mr. Young’s work is a reminder to create from deep inside ourselves and share it with the world.

 

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Happy 2025!

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This little painting is titled “Super Hero Girl” and she is ready to take on 2025 and a year full of new and exciting challenges.  I created her in the spirit of Chibis and Manga that I learned in drawing classes I took many years ago.  This style of caricature started in Japan and is also known as super deformation.  I like this style because it is about exaggeratting the character with small bodies and arms/legs, minimal detail and large heads.

“Super Hero Girl” is 6″x8″, oil on canvas.  The price is $250 .  Please contact me if you would like to purchase her.

This month I have original drawings (in the bins) and hand drawn greeting cards (in card racks) at the Van Landingham Gallery located inside the Torpedo Factory (105 Union Street, Alexandria, VA).  Please check them out if you ared in Old Town.

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Prints on Fine Art America

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I have 25 images of my work on Fine Art America that can be printed on paper, canvas, metal, or wood with your choice of printing and framing options.  Fine Art America prints are open edition and come in a variety of sizes.  Just click on the link below to check it out.

https://karen-waltermire.pixels.com

 

 

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New work in my store – “Stretched to the Limit”

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I recently completed this little painting – 11″x14″ oil on canvas.

I was feeling pushed and pulled in too many directions for a while and needed to paint how I was feeling.  The colors are bright and cheerful, her heart is bright red, and she is sort of smiling so you know the stress she is feeling is not too heavy duty.

She is available in my store to purchase.  FREE shipping to the US only.  I don’t ship outside of the US.

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Foundry Gallery – Artist Choice 2024 Juried Show

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I am thrilled to accounce that I will have two paintings in the Foundry Gallery Artist Choise 2024 exhibit (August 2 through September 1).  The reception will be on Sunday, August 3, at 4pm.

Foundry Gallery
2118 8th Street, NW
Washington, DC

Gallery hours: Friday-Sunday from 12-6

 

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Prints, Cards and Art Merchandise

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  I now have prints, cards, and art merchandise available here with my work on it.  This is a great option if an original painting is not in the budget or if you want to buy a few different pieces in different sizes to mix and match.

If your budget does allow for the purchase of an original painting, please check here to see what I have in my online store.

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Handcrafted Oil Painting: “Ready”

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I painted this about seven years ago and I remember so clearly that my goal was to show the woman sitting in a way that shows she will bolt up and run off at any moment.  She is ready for the next step in her life.  This is one of my earlier attempts at using the background to hold the figure in place and made the background into a painting on its own. I remain as fascinated by the background as I am of the figure.

“Ready” is for sale in my online store.  Explore my curated collection of drawings and paintings and find the perfect piece for your home.

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