Assateague Island Alliance Painting and Photogorphy Workshop

The Assateague Island Alliance sponsored workshop, Painting and Photographing Wild Horses was a wonderful success. The participants were talented and engaged. They eagerly approached the adventure of painting unrestrained horses that move  on their own timetable. We covered painting in oils, quick watercolor sketches and gesture sketching. The Photography sessions with Meredith Hudes-Lowder of Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography were educational and full of insight. Students learned to make  the most  of their DSLR, point and shoot and smart phone cameras.

Many thanks for Assateague Island Alliance, Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography and our awesome workshop participants!

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Karen McLain Studio

Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography 

Assateague Island 2016

We are getting ready for the Painting and Photographing Wild Horses at Assateague Island. Meredith Hudes-Lowder of Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography will lead photography sessions to assist participants take better reference photos; and I will be teaching painting horses from life. The three day workshop is sponsored by Assateague Island Alliance.

Contact Assateague Island Alliance for registration information.  

Workshop dates: October 28th-30th. $300.00 

National Treasures Exhibit in Estes Park

"Bighorn Beauty" Sold

"Dryhead Stallion"
Oil on linen
9x12

I am thrilled to have five pieces included in the "National Treasures: Art Celebrating the National Park System" show at Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park! These are based on my Artist in Residence at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and Assateague Island National Seashore, sponsored by Assateague Island Alliance (AIA). 

This is the National Park system's 100th anniversary and it is a pleasure to celebrate the beauty with this exhibit. 

The show and sale is July 1st-31st. Please call Cultural Arts Center of Estes Park, (970-586-9203), for purchase inquiry.

"Assateague Island Wild Horses" Sold
Oil on Gallery wrap
24x36

"Paint in Moonlight" Sold
Oil 
9x12

Wave Study.
Oil 
8x10

Photographing Wild Horses, Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Equis Art Gallery

Near the end of my Artist in residence at Assateague Island, I was joined by Meredith Hudes-Lowder from Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography. We photographed the horses at Assateague and Chincoteague Island.

After photographing the horses, we traveled to New York to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was exciting to see paintings by artists that I have studied. Rembrandt, Van Gogh,  Cezanne, Sargent, Manet, Vermeer, Zorn and many others.

We also traveled to Red Hook to visit Equis Art Gallery who represents my work. 

This was an incredible end to an awesome opportunity and trip!

Home from my Assateague Island Artist in Residence

My Artist in Residence at Assateague Island National Seashore was amazing. I spend two weeks painting and photographing the horses and the island. During that time I gave two workshops on Painting Wild Horses from Life and one presentation to a middle school art class.

The ocean was wonderful and I never tired of watching the sunlight on the waves. I was also treated to the beauty of changing leaves.

Painting an area that is so different from the desert was an excellent opportunity to see and learn. The mist and atmosphere were full of soft edges and diffused light.

I want to thank the Assateague Island Alliance for sponsoring my residency and the staff at the Assateague Island National Seashore. Every one was very kind and helpful. I look forward to returning!  

Many thanks to Rachael Parcella for the excellent online and print articles about my A.I.R.

Artist in Residence at Assateague Island

My bags are packed, my boxes shipped last week and I am ready for my trip to Assateague Island. My two week Residency is sponsored by Assateague Island Alliance, the group that supports the Assateague Island National Seashore with conservation and fundraising efforts. During my stay, I will be teaching two Introductory Workshops on Painting Wild Horses from Life.

While I am there, I will be joined by Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography. This will be a wonderful opportunity to get photos of the fall light, changing leaves and the winter coats.

I look forward to updating with photos and paintings during my stay. 

Plein Air Painting - Wild Horses

Over the past several years, I have developed my painting gear that is specific to the specialty of painting wild horses from life. Considering that I will be walking an unknown distance, I want my gear as light as I can make it, and not take anything into the field that might cause extra curiosity or be a concern for the horses. (Plastic grocery bags that I typically use for trash is one of the items I leave home when I paint horses.) My gear is compact and sets up quickly. I also have my palette set and ready to go, which eliminates the need for carrying tubes of paint.

1. Carbon fiber tripod. (I have the same mounts attached to my camera and easel)
2. Brushes, (Rosemary and Co. are my favorite brushes), palette knife, small chip brush from the hardware store and a paint scraper.
3. Strada Easel
4. Sun block, spf gloves, pen, pencil, small sketch book, and extra SD card.
5. Panels and panel carrier. (PanelPak).
6. Odorless mineral spirits, a small mesh bag for trash, a water bottle carrier to hold my OMS, napkins folded in half in a mesh bag, plastic putty scraper to clean my palette. (I don't carry a roll of paper towels when painting wild horses).
7. Storm Jacket for my camera, (in the event of rain or dust storm), View Finder, extra tripod mount, lens cleaner, extra camera battery, and business cards.
8. Canon 70D with a 100-400mm lens.
9. Camelbak backpack that will hold up to 100 oz of water. (I have one that can hold an 12x16 panel).
(The only thing not pictured is a 13 gallon trash bag for picking up trash on the way back to the car).

My goal is to be as unobtrusive as I can while I paint. I want to watch the horses interacting with each other rather than focusing on me.

Painting at Sand Wash Basin, CO 2015

Please let me know if you have any questions. Happy painting! 

Women Artists of the West 45th Annual Exhibition

As a member of the Women Artist of the West, I am excited about the 45th Annual National Exhibit. The event will be at the Tucson Desert Art Museum, Tucson, AZ. November 3rd- 28th.  It is an honor to have  "Picasso at Sunset" included in the exhibit.

"Picasso at Sunset" 12x16  $600.00

Please visit the Women Artists of the West website for additional information and to view the work that will be on exhibit.

Summer Wild Horse Painting Trip--Pre-Sale Event

During the last five years, I spend time each summer painting different mustang herds. Every year, I strive to learn more as I observe and paint.  This summer, as I have done in the past, I am pre-selling paintings that are based on this adventure.

Pre order a 9x12 painting and receive 30% off my standard price.

I will travel to the Little Book Cliffs, Sand Wash Basin, McCullough Peaks, and Pryor Mountain ranges. During this trip, I am meeting Meredith Hudes-Lowder of Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography.  We will present a free open photography workshop  at Sand Wash Basin July 3, 2015.

Painting at McCullough Peaks, 2014.

I am leaving in June for the range to paint  as many field studies of the horses and landscape as I can. When you pre-order a 9x12 painting based this trip, I will take 30% off my standard pricing.

How it works:

Original 9x12 oil painting $225.00 Quantities limited
Pre Order Price: $157.50 plus shipping. Two payments of $78.75 plus shipping.

 Payment on the first installment needs to be made before I leave, and the second payment is made when I return and you choose your painting. Choice is awarded in the order that you take advantage of the offer. (So make the first payment now!) You will be able to choose your painting in August. If you want to make other arrangements for payment, please email me.

Offer ends June 20th.

Join my e-newsletter and hear about my adventures, sign-up here.

"The Paint Box" 1972 Shasta 

 To see more photos from my Adventures visit my "Go There, Paint That" page.

Assateague Island Seashore Artist in Residence

I am thrilled to announce that I will be at Assateague Island National Seashore October 26th-November 8th, for an Artist in Residence.  On November 7th, I will give a one day workshop, "Introduction to Painting Wild Horses from Life".  The cost of the workshop is $125.00, it is sponsored by and will benefit the Assateague Island Alliance. 

Introduction to Painting Wild Horses from Life
with Karen McLain
November 7th, 2015

Artists have long painted outdoors, working in natural light to see and to be inspired by nature while immersed in its element. This workshop will cover techniques for painting the horse quickly and fluidly from life. We will discuss the challenges of painting a moving subject in changing light and coping with the problems inherent in painting outdoors. A demonstration will be given on painting the horse with emphasis on accurate anatomy. I will guide the students through the process of observing, painting and learning from wild horses to enrich studio work.
Join us for a very rewarding experience as you take advantage of the beauty that surrounds us and capture it on canvas!
Portable equipment is required – students will be working outdoors with a wild horse in their natural setting.

Registration information will be released soon. For more information or to be added to the distribution list please contact us at 443-614-3547, outreachAIA@gmail.com or keep watching for updates on Facebook and www.AssateagueIslandAlliance.org

Summer 2014 Wild Horse Painting Trip

This summer had two special events during my  five week trip. In addition to my visits to Little Book Cliffs, Sand Wash Basin, McCullough Peaks and Pryor Mountain, I had a two week Artist-in-Residency at Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area. The focus of my study was the Dry Head horses that are part of the Pryor Mountain herd. Also, the Celebration of Wild Horses Through Art and Music to benefit The Cloud Foundation had it's inaugural exhibit.

Stallion at Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area

Painted from life. Sand Wash Stallion.

Talking about my painting process during my Artist in residence.

Painting done at Bighorn Canyon.

Celebration of Wild Horses reception was attended by an enthusiastic crowd.

Opus Moon performing.

Ginger Kathrens presenting to a standing room only crowd.

 I will be posting more about the summer events, but to see an album of the paintings I created on location, click here.