“A Sense of Place” new paintings by Karen Vierneisel at the Old Town Art Center, 1763 N. North Park Ave.  See www.oldtowntriangle.com for gallery hours.  Exhibit runs through August 28, 2014

Bridges Approaching Dresden

During my cruise along the Elbe River in 2012, I would walk through the small towns and cities along the river banks and ruminate about my German ancestors.  The flood of memories this trip inspired led me to begin painting the evocative images I had seen immediately upon my return.  These richly textured associations also led me to understand my fascination with the Chicago skyline to which I return again and again as a painter. Now I appreciate more deeply the power of place in my life.   Besides the sixteen paintings of Prague, Berlin and the vistas along the banks of the Elbe River, the exhibit also features paintings that capture Chicago and New York cityscapes, the desert terrain of the Palm Springs area, and imagined places.

Join me at my artist reception Sunday, August 10 from 2 – 5 pm to see the paintings in person and learn more about the inspiration for my art.  As you view my paintings, I hope you sense the emotion that these landscapes have engendered in me, enjoy the beauty of place, and possibly hear the echoes of memories they evoke in you.

“A Sense of Place:  Real and Imagined” 

new paintings by

Karen Vierneisel

Exhibit opens August 2 and runs through August 28, 2014

Sandstone Cliffs on the Elbe

“A Sense of Place” was first inspired by two paintings I did based on my Elbe river cruise in 2012.  Those paintings led to others.  Being in Germany triggered memories of my German heritage and the paintings just seemed to flow.  Of course, the vistas along the Elbe’s banks in the Czech Republic and Germany were also made for a landscape  painter–sunrises and sunsets, mile high clouds, old bridges, misty waters, and sandstone cliffs.  My photos from the trip along with the images from my sketch book were the inspiration for the Elbe River series.

Long Ago . . . Here Now

This exhibit also features paintings that capture Chicago and New York cityscapes, the desert terrain of the Palm Springs area, and imagined places.  Come see the paintings, sense the emotion that these landscapes engendered in me, enjoy the beauty of place, and possibly hear the echoes of memories the images evoke in you.

Save the Date:  Artist Reception on Sunday, August 10, 2014 2pm – 5 pm   Light refreshments will be served.

Gallery Hours:  M – F: 10 – 5; Sat: 10 – 1

Join me Thursday, Nov. 21st for the North Shore Art League’s (NSAL) popular annual “inch works” show.  The exhibit and opening reception will be held at the Winnetka Community House, 2nd fl. from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.   My palette knife paintings “Sudden Blush”  and “Lightning Hits the Sears Tower” will be on display.

Sudden Blush

This show comes just in time for holiday gift-giving.  Featuring small  works of no larger than 12 x 12, “inch works” offers affordable art  that makes a perfect gift for your home or a special person in your  life.  The show runs from Nov. 21, 2013 through Jan. 14, 2014.

LOCATION:  620 Lincoln Ave, 2nd. floor, Winnetka, IL just  East of Green Bay Road.

Questions:  Call the NSAL office at 847-446-2870 or visit http://www.northshoreartleague.org.

The Nov. 10th show of the work of Didier Nolet and his students was a winner!  Art lovers sipped on wine while wandering the gallery to enjoy the colorful and inspired work of a group of serious artists and their teacher.  Artists mingled talking about color and what had inspired their work.  We challenged the Bears game and we WON!

Those Orange Peaks

I sold “Those Orange Peaks,” and we had lots of other interest in the work.  If you haven’t yet seen the show, you can still catch it at the Old Town School of Art through December 4, 2013.

LOCATION:  1763 N. North Park Avenue at the corner of Menomonee St. 

Questions:  Call the Old Town Art Center at 312-337-1938 or visit www.oldtowntriangle.com.

River Reflections

This is a show not to be missed! 

See new works from my “Elbe River Romance” series along with the work of my teacher Didier Nolet and fellow art students at the Old Town Art Center.  Exhibit runs Nov. 1 through December 4, 2013.

Opening Reception:  Sunday, Nov. 10 from 2 – 5 pm

Location:  1763 N. North Park Ave. in Chicago

Refreshments will be served at the opening.  Hope to see you there.

Go to http://www.oldtowntriangle.com  for details and gallery hours.

Exhibiting students from the Old Town School of Art include:  Elizabeth Collings, Marjorie Derrah, Jessica Kaplan, Katherine McCaughan, Mickey Mergener, Lenore Murphy, Gail O’Connor, Karen Vierneisel, Susan Walsh, and Ruth Woll.

Ravenswood Art Walk Salon and Silent Auction Tonight and  Art Walk tomorrow and Sunday, October 5 -6, 2013. 

Join me tonight at the Artists Salon and Silent Auction from 7 – 10:30 pm  at 4025 N. Ravenswood Ave.   My painting “Sudden Blush” will be one of many on which you can bid.  The Artists Salon is the jump start to the Ravenswood Art Walk, including a silent auction featuring Chicago artists work and local craft beer, wine, and food from Ravenswood area restaurants.  I look forward to seeing you at the Salon.

Sudden Blush

I also hope to see you the following Saturday or Sunday at the Ponce Studio at 4553 N. Wolcott in the carriage house; doors will be open on the alley from 11 am each day.   I along with other artists from the Wilson Artists’ Group will be exhibiting new paintings.  Exhibit closes Saturday between 6 & 7 pm and on Sunday between 5 & 6 pm.

The Wilson Artists’ Group is a collection of talented painters who work in various media and study with renowned painter Ann Ponce.  Representational and abstract works will be featured by the participating artists.  Ann will also be exhibiting her remarkable paintings of the Joffrey Ballet and Phil will have one his works on display as well.  This is an exhibit you don’t want to  miss!

Join me on Sunday, September 29th from Noon – 2 pm for the reception and awards ceremony of the Senior Artists’ Network Later Impressions show at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago.  Two of my paintings from my Elbe River Romance series–“Prague Canal in the Mala Strana” and “Deep Within the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe-Berlin”–were juried into the show.  Both of these paintings are based on photographs I took in 2012 on my trip from Prague, Czech Republic to Berlin, Germany along the Elbe river.

Exhibit is free to the public and runs from September 16th through October 20th.

Prague Canal in the Mala Strana

Deep Within the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe-Berlin

A warm late summer evening in Winnetka set the stage for a perfect evening on Friday, September 6th.  The Winnetka Community Center at which the North Shore Art League Members show was held was filled to capacity and the art work was impressive.  It was difficult to select a favorite.

For me the evening was capped off when I learned I had sold “Ochre Meadow with Mile High Clouds” and then listened to the riveting piano, cello, and violin of Aster Piazzolla played by the Gray Duo.  A perfect end to a perfect evening.  It is bittersweet to part with this painting which captured a deep yellow meadow and enormous billowing clouds which I photographed as my ship sailed along the Elbe river between Torgau and Wittenberg Germany.  But the new owner has a good eye and he will now be able to appreciate what first attracted my attention and compelled me to render that scene in oil.

Ochre Meadow with Mile High Clouds

Join me at the opening reception of a special show at the DANK House on Thursday, September 5th from 6:30 – 9 pm.  The show runs from September 5th through October 7th, 2013–Gallary Hours are on Saturday from 11am – 3pm.    I have three new paintings–“River Reflections,” “Misty Mountain,” and ” Sandstone Cliffs”–from my Elbe River Romance series on display.

River Reflections

Misty Mountains along the Elbe

Sandstone Cliffs on the Elbe

DANK House is the German American Cultural Center located in Lincoln Square at 4740 N. Western Ave. on Chicago’s north side.  The show will be in DANK’s  Willi Scharpenberg Gallery which hosts rotating exhibits.

Don’t miss an opportunity to see two of my new paintings in person at the 89th North Short Art League’s (NSAL) Members Show.  The opening reception is on Friday, September 6 from 6:30 – 9:30 pm.  Silent auction, light supper and open bar.  Tickets are $60 before September 3rd and $70 at the door.

The gallery will be open to the public free of charge starting September 7th through September 14th.  The North Shore Art League is located at 620 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka.  Lincoln Avenue is directly east of Green Bay Road.

“Empire State Building Reflections” and “Ochre Meadow with Mile High Clouds” will be on display at NSAL through September 14.  Call 847-446-2870 for hours.

Empire State Building Reflections

Ochre Meadow with Mile High Clouds