Oil, Framed Painting "Clementines & Ivy" by Artist NORA KASTEN / Naples, Florida

"Clementines & Ivy"

"This painting "Clementines & Ivy" is sold.  It was in The 2009 Hoosier Salon and I'm happy to announce it brought me the "Outstanding Still Life" award.  I'm still posting these archives until new paintings come off my easel."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Oil Painting "Tangerine" by Artist NORA KASTEN / Naples, Florida

"Tangerine"

© NORA KASTEN 2008

Oil painting on linen   (14 x 11 inches)

"This painting is from the Archives and is sold.  It was in The Oil Painters Of America Eastern Regional Exhibit and I just wanted to post it again . . . . while I'm building up energy to paint."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Oil Painting "John Simrell / Whole Foods" by Artist NORA KASTEN / Naples, Florida

"John Simrell / Whole Foods"

 

  © NORA KASTEN 2010

Oil painting on canvas  (30 x 24 inches)

"This is my son, John, who is the Regional Director Of Finance for Whole Foods.   His photo was taken one day when he was on the huge market floor, downstairs from the corporate offices in Roswell, Georgia.  John's photo is on my desk along with the pictures of his brothers, my other three sons.   Recently, John and his wife, Colleen, have taken on the big job of helping his brother, Jett, and it was on the spur of the moment this past week that I decided to paint John from the photo." 

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Oil Painting "Roses & Gold Band" by Artist NORA KASTEN, Naples, Florida

"Roses & Gold Band"

© NORA KASTEN 2010

Oil painting on textured linen   (12 x 16 inches)

"Yesterday morning when I came back to this painting, the background was in beautiful grays.   . .  then I reverted back to deep rich color.  Today I'm asking myself why it is that I can't seem to keep a painting in the gray format.  I like this painting but it isn't what I was striving for."

WEBSITE:  www.norakasten.com

Landscape Video by Peter Fiore /NORA KASTEN Paintings Blog

"I watched this ten minute video on Frank Ordaz blog this afternoon and was really impressed with the artist, Peter Fiore.  He paints a small landscape and shows us his technique in the video.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Oil Portrait Painting "My VIP" by Artist NORA KASTEN

"My VIP"

© NORA KASTEN 2010

Oil painting on linen   (40 x 30 inches)

"This portrait of my husband, Karl, was  done over ten years ago and I'm posting it today at the request of Susan Roux.  I don't have another painting to post today so this is the day for "My VIP".   This is a bad photo of the painting but it's large, hanging in a large heavy ornate frame and I need help to take it down and bring it into my photography space to get a better shot. . . .  someday I will do that."

"I've been taking photos of my small studio, writing a  list of  the layout,  lighting,  easel,  etc.  and plan to present a good article to you soon.

WEBSITE:  WWW.NORAKASTEN.COM

"Ribbons Of Blue" Oil Painting by Artist NORA KASTEN / Naples, Florida

"Ribbons Of Blue"

 Copyright © by Nora Kasten, 2010

Oil painting on gallery wrapped canvas  24x24x1.5 inches

"It was fun creating this "Modern Expressions" painting today.  Maybe another one tomorrow."

MY WEBSITE:  www.norakasten.com

"Personal Reverie" Oil Painting by Artist NORA KASTEN

"Personal Reverie"

Copyright © by Nora Kasten, 2010

Oil painting on gallery wrapped canvas   36 x 48 x 1.5 inches

WEBSITE:  www.norakasten.com

"Personal Reverie" Progress of Oil Painting by Artist NORA KASTEN

"Personal Reverie" in progress

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Oil painting in progress on gallery wrapped canvas  (36" x 48")

"Even though there were several unexpected interruptions while painting yesterday I managed to accomplish quite a lot.  One thing was giving the painting a title and putting an opened letter in the lady's hand.  I wish the roses were not so tight but it's the best I can do right now.  The plan is to finish the painting today."

WEBSITE:  www.norakasten.com

Work in Progress by Artist NORA KASTEN

Continued progress on oil painting #1118 on gallery wrapped canvas  (36" x 48" x 1.5")

"I mixed transparent oils, Permanent Alizarin and Indian Yellow, with some Liquin to glaze over the roses and back fence.  I did this to bring the painting back to the color harmony that was my first intent.  It still looks like the palette knife will come into play soon.

Susan Roux, her husband, Mike and their son Jesse, got here late this afternoon.  They got the gallery tour of my home, checked out my studio/office  and then we all went over to The Gator Grill for our late lunch where "Happy Hour" was just beginning.  We had just met each other in person for the first time and it was a wonderful visit. . . . . we talked about art, art again and more art."  Can we ever get enough of this great passion called "Art"?

WEBSITE:  www.norakasten.com

More Painting Progress by Artist NORA KASTEN

 Continued Progress For Painting #1118 on gallery wrapped canvas  (36"x48"x1.5")

"This morning, looking at the painting I realize that painting section by section as I have been doing, I'm losing essence and liveliness in it.  For example, the chair.  It was better in the beginning rough-in.  There needs to be some distant sunlight and sky holes in the distant background too.  The painting is becoming too tight and way too early.  Maybe the palette knife will help me.

Today, Susan Roux is coming to see my studio.  We'll have lunch right here where I live in Fiddler's Creek at the Gater Grill, near the clubhouse and large pool with a waterfall.  Her husband, Mike, and their son, Jesse are coming too and I'm really looking forward to their visit.

Who knows how much painting I'll get done today."

Below is a photo of painting progress earlier in the day, yesterday.  I cut the roses down more and worked on background after this photo.

WEBSITE: www.norakasten.com

Painting In Progress by Artist NORA KASTEN

Continued Painting #1118 on gallery wrapped canvas  (36"x 48"x 1.5")

"I painted twelve hours yesterday and should have stopped at eight.  After dinner last night I came back to the studio and used turps to wipe out a lot of the bouquet and upper left.  The roses need to be smaller, lighter and much more air between them.  I'm thinking it needs a dark background and keep everything lighter in the foreground.  My eyes are getting examined this morning and I hope the drops won't keep me from painting this afternoon."

"The photo below is the painting before dinner last night."

Website:   www.norakasten.com

Painting Start by Artist NORA KASTEN

 

This is the start of my latest work.  It's an oil painting on a gallery wrapped canvas 36 x 48 x 1.5 inches.  See the small framed painting on the right.  I painted that three or four years ago and it is my inspiration for this large painting.  The goal is to produce a still life, figure and landscape in this painting (as well as good color harmony, lost and found edges get the values right and remember the warm and cool passages) . . . yes, I've been reading Don Hatfield's blog

My Website:  www.norakasten.com

"Roses Are Red" Oil Painting by Artist NORA KASTEN

"Roses Are Red"

Copyright © by Nora Kasten, 2010

Oil painting on textured canvas  24"x 20"

"Early this morning I knew this painting was not going to be the one that I had planned.  After lunch I quit fighting the canvas and let the painting dictate to me the colors and the values of those colors.   Orange was the color that I didn't want to use but there it is and I'm happy with it.  This evening I've declared victory and will start the next painting."

Please visit my website for more paintings

Oil Painting Day Three by Artist NORA KASTEN

"We filed our taxes today and I didn't have much time at the easel.

I painted in some grays on the background, added some dark leaves to the bouquet committing myself to roses and then worked on the vase.   I just really like brass on my vases.
More painting on this tomorrow. . . . . Nora "

MY WEBSITE:  www.norakasten.com

"The Beginning" Oil Painting by Artist NORA KASTEN / Naples, Florida

 

On day one of this painting I applied Liqutex light molding paste to achieve texture on the 

24 x 20 inch canvas and let it dry over night.

The photo above is the painting progress on day two.  I used Liquin to thin the following transparent colors:  Permanent Alizarin, Phthalo Blue, Viridian and Indian Yellow to block in my arrangement.  It is totally from my imagination and there is a particular color scheme I have in mind for the finished painting . . . . . hopefully, tomorrow.

MY WEBSITE:  www.norakasten.com