Watercolors by Karen Faulkner

Back By Popular Demand

2012-01-20T19:09:00.000-05:00

A few people have been asking (bugging?) me for more pendants and pocket mirrors, so here they are people! Visit the Valentine's Day section of my shop for three choices of glass tile pendants and four styles of pocket mirrors. There is even an indigo blue flower pendant...it doesn't really fit for Valentine's, but I've run out of room for more shop sections.

New Valentine's Day Art

2012-01-06T07:38:00.000-05:00

Melt My Heart

Chocolate Raspberry Valentine

Four new Valentine's Day original watercolors, each 4x6 inch painting only $10. Shop here.

Intertwined

Chocolate Raspberry Drizzle

Oh happy day, a sale!

2012-01-04T08:10:00.001-05:00

A Little Sunshine

20% off everything in my Etsy shop with coupon code JAN20 for a limited time! I need to make some space for new paintings and prints.

Happy 2012!

2012-01-03T18:06:00.001-05:00

Here are some of my favorite watercolors that I painted over the past year. I'm sure I'll have lots more to share in 2012 and I can't wait to get started! Happy New Year!

Southwest Sky

2011-11-09T16:11:00.002-05:00

Soft and Serene Greens

2011-11-05T13:06:00.001-04:00

Ever-Popular Poppies

2011-10-17T20:42:00.000-04:00

Colorful Autumn Leaves

2011-09-14T19:40:00.006-04:00

Playful Leaves

Autumn Leaf

Falling Leaf

Painting Purple

2011-08-30T20:50:00.002-04:00

Amethyst Love

Perfectly Purple Flower

Lavender Spray

2011-08-18T11:16:00.000-04:00

Lavender Spray, original watercolor 5x7 inches

Twelve Days

2011-08-17T08:29:00.000-04:00

Twelve days until I have my days free to paint again!!! Not that I'm counting down to the start of school or anything. I've been out and about with my camera a lot this summer. Like arranging flowers, it's one of those things that really relaxes me.

Enjoy these last days of Summer 2011!

Paint Your Own

2011-07-27T09:55:00.000-04:00

My daughter likes paint your own pottery places. No surprise she can wield a paintbrush pretty well; she's been stealing mine since kindergarten. I usually go along for the ride, although I'm not too sure my style of painting lends itself to glaze and 3-D objects.

Here's my latest attempt in glorious shades of periwinkle and lime. It's perfect for the Queen Anne's Lace that's cropping up in the neighbor's yard. I'm pretty sure they won't mind me taking some. I threw in the last of the fading Bachelor's Buttons.

Red. Hot. Summer.

2011-07-24T10:23:00.008-04:00

Red Hot Summer Bouquet

Zinnia in Hot Pink

Zinnia in Violet

Splashes of Color

2011-07-20T08:46:00.000-04:00

Lots of inspiration around here for painting brightly colored flowers, and a few new paint colors arrived on my doorstep yesterday.

Here are some Four O'Clocks and Cleome (Spider Flower) in a hanging vase that took me months to figure out where to hang. I finally decided it should go outdoors where I cut flowers. It looks like that Morning Glory vine is trying to find a way in.

And further down, my summer basket arrangement from last night's floral design elective class. It includes Sunflower, Gerbera Daisy, Sweet William, lilies, Alstromeria (Peruvian lilies), Chrysanthemum, Statice and a few other odds and ends.

I hope you're enjoying all the colors of the season!

Dinner!

2011-07-15T14:09:00.000-04:00

California Poppies

2011-07-14T12:08:00.011-04:00

Fresh Produce

2011-07-12T09:43:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite things about summer is fresh produce. Get it while you can! A wonderful local garden (from which I had the privilege to pick whatever I wanted) inspired my raspberry painting. They are probably glad they didn't say the flowers were fair game. The photo is from Boston's Haymarket weekend farmer's market.

Splash of Raspberry original watercolor, 4x6 inches

Summer Gardens

2011-07-11T18:15:00.001-04:00

From the look of this blog, it appears I haven't done a thing, artistically speaking, lately! In fact I've been taking tons of pictures at various gardens, public and private over the past several weeks. Here are just a few.

Bunches of Blossoms

2011-06-13T15:43:00.004-04:00

Summer's almost here! Get away from that screen and get outside :)

Bouquet of Sunshine original watercolor, 8x10 inches

Field Flowers original watercolor, 8x10 inches

Taking Flight

2011-06-04T09:18:00.000-04:00

Taking Flight

I've fallen behind in posting new watercolors finished in May, so stop over to my Etsy shop to see more! More to come...I think shades of summery green in 8x10 size will be next.

Purple-licious Poppy

Carrot Top

Sunny Day Posies

Brighter Days Flower

Flowers & Herbs

2011-05-20T14:43:00.001-04:00

Chives

This is what I was up to before the weather here on the East Coast became Noah's Ark-worthy. Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow? Stay dry!

Campanula, Lobelia, Sweet Potato Vine

Angelonia, Lobelia, Petunias, Verbena

Creeping Thyme

May Flowers, finally

2011-05-05T22:21:00.003-04:00

Pink Pansy

Royal Wedding Day

2011-04-29T07:55:00.000-04:00

This one sold very quickly but I wanted to share it anyway. My grandmother's garden always had bright pink peonies. The ants love them, and so do I!
Happy Royal Wedding Day!

Some spring painting

2011-04-27T16:39:00.004-04:00

Purple Pansy original watercolor painting, 4x6 inches

I spent most of the day spring cleaning my office and studio space (still needs more work -- ugh). I did fit in some painting time though. I was inspired by what is popping up all around: pansies, johnny jump-ups and wild violets.

(p.s. I am not loving the changes to Blogger. Maybe I'll get used to them??)

Mother's Day is coming up!

2011-04-08T14:53:00.001-04:00

I've finally had a chance to add a few new original watercolors to my shop, with Mother's Day in mind. This is an 8x10 called May Bouquet.

Sunny April Morning

2011-04-06T11:26:00.001-04:00

March Madness

2011-03-08T09:45:00.001-05:00

March Madness Flower original watercolor painting, 6x6 inches

Fruit Punch

2011-02-16T14:25:00.004-05:00

Here are a couple of fun custom projects I've been working on recently, some fruit and a seahorse (I guess that's self-explanatory, isn't it). It's always a challenge for me to paint to someone else's color preferences and specifications, or to paint a subject I've never attempted before -- good experiences and surprising outcomes.

An Early Valentine

2011-02-12T15:38:00.006-05:00

I got this for my daughter for Valentine's Day and gave it to her a couple of days early. She adores him!

Check out the Etsy shop, Sleepyking. Too. Darn. Cute.

Frozen in Time

2011-02-06T08:46:00.003-05:00

Frozen in Time, original watercolor painting 8x10 inches

Dreams of Spring

2011-02-05T07:59:00.009-05:00

The upside of being snowed and iced in just about every other day or so? Time to paint with the fresh colors of Spring! 43 days, friends.

Spitfire

2011-02-03T19:05:00.004-05:00

I think this one's just a little irritated about the lack of sunshine lately...hope all of you make it through this week's weather okay, especially those of you in the Midwest.

Spitfire original watercolor painting, 4x6 inches

A Favorite Photo

2011-01-28T18:27:00.003-05:00

I think this is my favorite beach photo I've ever taken. It reminds me of a valentine, because there is a lopsided heart-shape in the rock, and the pattern in the sand fans out like a heart as well.

I could share all the snow-covered landscape pictures I've taken lately, but like me you might be getting a little tired of that sight!

Have a great weekend.

For You

2011-01-26T17:37:00.002-05:00

Original watercolor painting, 8x10 inches

I Gathered My Love

2011-01-25T20:43:00.004-05:00

Original watercolor painting, 8x10 inches

Love, Love, Love

2011-01-21T15:50:00.003-05:00

Here's a little zero-calorie Valentine treat, title inspired by Ingrid Michaelson's song Everybody,

Try to make your heart fit like a glove, what it needs is love, love, love.

Stay Warm!

2011-01-12T18:51:00.003-05:00

Splash of Summer original watercolor painting, 4x6 inches, one of four new watercolors I painted today in warm, sunny hues.

Snowed In?

2011-01-11T18:13:00.005-05:00

If you are, why not start your Valentine's Day shopping at Etsy.com? I was browsing some of the Valentine treasuries today and was amazed at the variety of cool, creative, edgy, fun, functional, sentimental, sweet -- you name it! -- items.

Fly Me to the Moon, original watercolor painting 4x6 inches, $15

Butterflies

2011-01-06T13:21:00.002-05:00

I haven't done an ACEO in ages, and I love the way these sweet butterflies turned out! It's a little bit of Spring on a cold winter day. My painting year is off to a great start (meaning I'm having fun with it!) and I hope your 2011 is looking bright!

New paintings, new prints!

2011-01-05T18:55:00.006-05:00

If you haven't been by my shop in the past week or two, I've added a bunch of new prints, including these cute little Blue and Lime Posies. I'm also finally caught up enough (relatively speaking) post-holidays to have completed my first couple of 2011 watercolors. Add to that a couple of interesting custom requests and I'm off to a fun start!

Snowstorms and Sunsets

2010-12-27T17:29:00.004-05:00

A Colorful Year

2010-12-19T16:44:00.003-05:00

Here are some of my personal favorites from my painting adventures in 2010. It was indeed a colorful year.

Accessible Art

2010-12-16T08:18:00.007-05:00

Thank you to majoiepress for including me in this dreamy montage of accessible art!

If you are a fan of letterpress like I am, be sure to have a look at her shop. This item is my favorite.

Holiday Open House

2010-12-10T10:28:00.015-05:00

Since you can't all come visit (sadly), I thought I'd share a few pictures from my home this week. It's been COLD here in Pennysylvania, more like mid-February than early December! Brrr!!

Christmas Party

2010-12-02T14:56:00.002-05:00

Christmas Party original watercolor painting, 8x10 inches

Welcome December

2010-12-01T08:31:00.001-05:00

Giving Thanks

2010-11-24T18:32:00.005-05:00

This is the Thanksgiving centerpiece I made for my mom. My son doesn't think it is traditional enough, i.e. not shades of orange and brown in a cornucopia. My parents both like red! And I couldn't resist the scent of the purple stock...
Promise I'll be back to painting again shortly (once the kids' school break is over perhaps?)

Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-11-17T13:49:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was my birthday (thanks to all of you who sent such lovely wishes!) One of the great things about taking floral design classes is that you can make your own birthday flower arrangement, no sweat! Here's mine. Today the orange lilies are wide open and it looks even better.

I received so many nice gifts including a handmade necklace, fused glass ornament, books, and flower- and cooking-related items from my friends and family, who apparently know what I like. I wish I had time to post pictures of all of them. Here's the vase my son made in Clay Studio class, which will be on display in the high school art show. I love it!

My daughter made me a book with haiku,drawings, Lauren Alexander stickers, and song lyrics (I told you these people know what I like).

It was a wonderful day!

Window Shopping with SandFibers

2010-11-14T10:49:00.008-05:00

Thank you to SandFibers for including me in this beautiful blue collection. I want all of these, especially the pottery items!

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend. I'm getting a head start on birthday celebrating and will have pictures of a handmade gift or two I've received. They are the best kind!

Heron's Wings

2010-11-11T09:59:00.006-05:00

These two were inspired by a Great Blue Heron I saw flying over the creek...I was captivated by the color of its wings. I've seen them standing in the water fishing many times before, but only rarely flying.

Last of the Falling Leaves

2010-11-08T17:59:00.000-05:00

Jazz Ensemble

2010-11-06T10:25:00.009-04:00

Can you tell I painted this to music? It's definitely an upbeat, happy piece! I think it must have been inspired in part by my recent visit to the MIM (Musical Instrument Museum) in Phoenix, Arizona.

I'm attending an art open house at a local home this weekend, hooray. Now if I can only stick to buying holiday gifts for others...

Celebrations

2010-11-04T11:14:00.003-04:00

Doesn't this put you in a festive mood? Thanksgiving is approaching way too quickly! I've missed the timeframe for getting a calendar together and printed in time yet again. It's those October vacations I guess.

It's raining steadily here. I was planning on heading out shopping, but it's a better day for browsing handmade gifts on Etsy.

A Grape Celebration, original watercolor painting, 5x7 inches

Petals new original watercolor

2010-11-03T08:37:00.003-04:00

I just love how this one turned out! It has a quiet, relaxing feeling about it. I hope you'll like it too.
Petals original watercolor painting, 5x7 inches, $25

Vacation-Inspired Watercolors

2010-10-26T08:08:00.008-04:00

Sold the first of these last night before I could post them here...how nice!

I decided I could easily see myself painting the days away in a sunlight-filled studio nestled in the red rocks of Sedona :-)

Monarch Butterflies

2010-10-21T09:22:00.008-04:00

Before I get back to painting today, I wanted to share this picture of Monarch butterflies. This was taken during my Arizona vacation at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. What an amazing experience to linger in this green house with butterflies everywhere!

100 Followers!

2010-10-08T10:54:00.009-04:00

I was pleasantly surprised to see I've reached 100 followers. I have to admit, I haven't been the best blogger lately, but I have been creating. This little abstract landscape came about from some colors I was playing around with in my sketchbook earlier in the week.

Thanks to you lovely customers out there buying art on Etsy. I have prints headed for Zurich, Switzerland and Istanbul, Turkey today. Imagine that! It's a thrill to think of my artwork on walls around the world and not something I ever imagined.

Painted Desert, original watercolor 4x6 inches

Pinks and Purples

2010-09-29T12:27:00.012-04:00

Magenta Orchid and Fuchsia Orchid, original watercolors 4x6 inches

My first arrangement from Floral Design I class...it's not perfect, but I completed it in about a half hour. It smells so good!

A Little Optimism

2010-09-22T16:10:00.006-04:00

Just painted today, Room to Grow and Looking Up

Lakeview

2010-09-20T11:15:00.004-04:00

Lakeview original watercolor painting, 5x7 inches

Still trying to get caught up from the summer...slowly but surely. The color palette for this painting was inspired by a steamboat ride I took out west last October (finally got around to getting it on paper nearly a year later!)

I really miss painting when I don't have enough time for it. This weekend I had the chance to sketch some of the herbs from my garden.

September Madness

2010-09-10T19:43:00.003-04:00

Dear me, I am trying my best to get caught up, back in the swing, and finish some new original paintings very soon. In the meantime, here's a print of Dancing Poppies just listed.

Perfect $25 Late Summer Afternoon

2010-09-02T18:38:00.007-04:00

Caprese Salad, $3 -- local tomato, 1/3 mozzarella ball, my own basil

Book $16 (hardcover splurge from Amazon), glass of wine $2

Sunflowers and zinnias, roadside farmstand pick-your-own $4 on the honor system

(donkey brayed at me to keep me honest, not that I would even consider not paying for flowers)

= $25 Perfect late summer afternoon

In My Garden

2010-08-17T15:19:00.004-04:00

Field Flowers

2010-08-15T12:58:00.008-04:00

I'm a bit behind on posting after a week spent with visiting friends and a week along the Rhode Island coastline, but I'm back and full of inspiration! It's very "fieldy" in this part of Pennsylvania in August for lack of a better word. Here are some wildflower-inspired paintings.

I have a request for a sailboat watercolor that I'll be starting next. I've never painted one before, but lots of boats in the Narragansett Bay gave me plenty of ideas.

I hope everyone's summer is winding down in a relaxing fashion!

August Lavender

2010-08-03T11:35:00.004-04:00

A peek at some custom work...these were so relaxing to paint.

Sweet Dreams

2010-07-28T13:59:00.003-04:00

How am I finding time to paint over the summer break? No idea. Today was the point where I checked the school calendar for the first day of school though...I have big plans for 2010-2011 and need time to put them in motion!

This is called Sweet Dreams.

Something Different

2010-07-27T07:49:00.002-04:00

Glass of Vine original watercolor painting, 5x7 inches, perfect for celebrating summer!

By request, more pink and grey

2010-07-25T19:12:00.001-04:00

Pink and Grey Posy

Wearable Art

2010-07-22T18:20:00.007-04:00

New pendants! That's all I can say for now, busy enjoying the hummingbirds, butterflies and dragonflies that seem to be everywhere today. Enjoy your day :-)

To Kill a Mockingbird

2010-07-17T19:35:00.006-04:00

Next on my summer reading list, after The Sun Also Rises, is To Kill a Mockingbird. Loved both and they should be on everyone's must-read list in my opinion!

My personal favorite quotes...

"The remainder of the afternoon went by in the gentle gloom that descends when relatives appear..." (I do love my relatives, but doesn't everyone feel this way just the slightest bit?)

"He was quite calm during That's All the Harris in You Coming Out." (my tongue-in-cheek apologies to my Harris friends :)

"Atticus reached out and massaged Jem's hair, his one gesture of affection."

"She's trying to make you a lady. Can't you take up sewin' or somethin'?" (I think my mom has given up on the sewing, but she tried for quite a long time)

"August was on the brink of September."

"Your father's right. Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

The Blues Singer

2010-07-14T14:54:00.000-04:00

Summer Sizzle

2010-07-08T11:53:00.002-04:00

The Sun Also Rises

2010-07-05T19:21:00.005-04:00

I have to say, my favorite part of the holiday weekend was reading "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway. It is on my to-do list for the summer to read and re-read some of the classics, including "Catcher in the Rye" and "The Great Gatsby" which I read every summer. Next on the list are "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". What's on your summer reading list?

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from "The Sun Also Rises."

"We've a date up at Montmartre."

"It is awfully easy to be hard-boiled about everything in the daytime, but at night it is another thing."

"You haven't been around much, have you?"

"I was fool to go away," she said. "One's an ass to leave Paris."

"We ate the sandwiches and drank the Chablis and watched the country out of the window. The grain was beginning to ripen and the fields were full of poppies. The pastureland was green, and there were fine trees, and sometimes big rivers and chateaux off in the trees."

"Women made such swell friends. Awfully swell. In the first place, you had to be in love with a woman to have a basis of friendship."

"We could have had such a damned good time together." "Yes," I said. "Isn't it pretty to think?"

Taking Flight

2010-07-05T09:34:00.003-04:00

Taking Flight, original watercolor painting...An Asian calligraphy-inspired butterfly

800 Sales

2010-06-29T20:14:00.003-04:00

I didn't even get to post Two Sweet Red Poppies before it sold which was a nice surprise, and so was reaching the 800 sale milestone on Etsy this past weekend! I also received a lovely note from a customer in the mail today. All in all, a good week for me and my art :) Thanks for your ongoing support.

Here Comes Summer!

2010-06-26T14:45:00.004-04:00

Having a fun week with friends to kick off the summer, and here's a fun watercolor I just finished this morning! I hope you are all enjoying the first week of summer. Mine has been full of nice surprises. Last night was beautiful with the full moon and twinkling lightning bugs.

Don't forget to make time to play like a kid :)

Sunny new work

2010-06-15T21:22:00.002-04:00

Sunshine Dance original watercolor painting, 5x7 inches (finally found some time to paint outdoors this afternoon!)

Parisienne Purple

2010-06-09T19:29:00.003-04:00

I was having a terrible, horrible, no-good very bad day (which is saying a lot, because I've had some pretty awful ones in the scheme of things and try to keep it in perspective), Then this afternoon I got a fairly large (for me) wholesale order for prints. My artwork and the online Etsy and art communities really are my lifeline sometimes.

Here's a new original! Parisienne Purple Flower, oooh la la!

Still in a Lime Frame of Mind

2010-06-05T21:33:00.000-04:00

In Flanders Fields

2010-05-25T15:51:00.006-04:00

Some new poppy watercolors, painted just today especially to commemorate the upcoming Memorial Day.

May in PA

2010-05-18T16:27:00.001-04:00

"May Trail"

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Sublime

2010-05-16T16:18:00.014-04:00

Lime Swirl, Dandelimon and Margarita Mix

Yellow and Grey

2010-05-10T19:16:00.002-04:00

I cannot seem to keep the yellow flowers, originals or prints, in stock in my Etsy shop, especially yellow + grey. Lots of yellow fans out there, or people looking for something cheerful perhaps. Here's my latest 5x7 original.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-08T19:08:00.011-04:00

For Mother's Day, I thought I'd share some of what I've been doing this week around the porch and patio. Hope your day is blessed and thanks for following me and my painting :) xo

Fiesta!

2010-05-08T17:24:00.003-04:00

Inspired by Cinco de Mayo I suppose...see how it looks like a tiny heart in the middle of the flower? That is why I love watercolor so much; it is full of happy surprises!

Fiesta Flower, original watercolor painting, 4x6 inches

Periwinkle Blossoms

2010-05-04T16:44:00.002-04:00

Periwinkle Blossoms, original watercolor painting, 4x6 inches

Growth

2010-04-28T20:45:00.005-04:00

"The lilies of the field began as buds. We are asked to trust that just as they had a glorious and safe unfolding, so will we. In the natural world, we see butterflies emerge from awkward yet protective cocoons. We must remind ourselves that sometimes we, too, are being protected in our growth. Our erraticism, our ungainliness, our panic -- these, too, are natural to the passage of change...The unfolding saga of life on all levels is one of constant transformation, constant changing of form."
Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way Every Day, A Year of Creative Living.

Sedona Sunset

2010-04-23T15:08:00.003-04:00

Well! This sold before I even got a chance to blog about it. That happens every now and then, and lets me know I've gotten it about right.

I'm back!

2010-04-22T07:51:00.009-04:00

Between the beautiful sights of Arizona last week and the wildflowers bursting out all around here in PA, inspiration abounds. I can't wait to get painting today.

Just As I'd Imagined

2010-04-09T08:57:00.001-04:00

Abstraction

2010-04-08T20:23:00.003-04:00

Sold my first abstract landscape watercolor painting! I love the play and interaction of colors in these so more will be on the way. Every now and again I need a break from flowers :)

Fading to Dusk

Magenta Love

2010-04-06T15:39:00.000-04:00

Easter Morning Surprise

2010-04-04T20:14:00.002-04:00

Woke up to find that "Tangerine Morning" was on the Front Page of Etsy!

I hope you all had a blessed Easter.

TGIA

2010-04-01T16:51:00.003-04:00

Thank God it's April! Today is a fabulously beautiful day here in PA, near 80 degrees, a great start to the holiday weekend.

Purple Poppy, original watercolor painting, 4x6 inches, $20 USD.

In Memory

2010-03-31T07:33:00.002-04:00

Poppies!

2010-03-30T07:59:00.008-04:00

Her Heart Knows!

2010-03-27T21:30:00.003-04:00

I'm happy today that this little sweetheart is headed to a special person in a special place!

A Favorite Flower

2010-03-26T17:22:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite flowers to grow is cosmos. You sprinkle the seeds around and they grow like weeds. Here in PA I usually plant the seeds in mid-May.

Here's a little cosmos flower I painted earlier in the week. I think she's sweet!

Flower Power

2010-03-24T14:58:00.013-04:00

I'm pleased to be included in this Flower Power feature on Meylah.com which has a lot of great business information for creative entrepreneurs. I hope you'll have a look!

And my Falling print is included in a beautiful blue collection at Adore by Nat.

Thanks to you both!

Lucky 700

2010-03-24T09:14:00.005-04:00

After a pretty lousy day yesterday, I had a much better evening and my 700th sale on Etsy! I'm really happy to have more time to devote to painting and blogging again now that my house is (mostly) back in order.

Fuchia Flower original watercolor painting, 5x7 inches