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Growing Responsibly: Our New Climate Action Plan & Sustainability Commitments

At Karen Wilson Art, sustainability isn’t a new trend or a buzzword—it is a natural extension of the values that have shaped this business since 2014. From my studio and gallery in the historic Skerries Mills Courtyard, my original palette-knife paintings and limited-edition prints have always been deeply inspired by the natural world around us, from local flora and fauna to our beautiful Irish seascapes. As a proud member of Guaranteed Irish, a respect for the environment, a commitment to quality Irish craftsmanship, and a strong connection to our community are at the heart of everything I do. Every piece [...]

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Black Friday vs Green Friday

Green Friday emerged as an anti-Black Friday movement in 2015, aiming to raise awareness about the negative impacts of society's shopping habits. It counters the "shop-till-you-drop" mentality of Black Friday, encouraging mindful and sustainable purchasing decisions. But Green Friday in Ireland is more about shopping local and from small businesses. Either way it is a chance to grab a bargain and tick a few items off the Christmas list. This year I am offering 20% off prints, silk scarves & sarongs, wax art lamps and my luxurious cotton throws. SHOP PRINTS - CODE GREEN20KWA

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New luxury cotton blankets

Introducing my luxurious cotton blankets inspired by my original oil paintings. As a passionate Irish artist, I've always been driven by the desire to share my artistic vision, and now, I'm thrilled to unveil my latest collection of luxurious cotton blankets, to showcase the vibrant colours and evocative scenes of my original oil paintings. These blankets are more than just a cosy addition to your home, they are a tangible representation of my work, brought to life through the warmth and comfort of cotton. Each piece is woven using the highest quality techniques, ensuring that the intricate details [...]

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Elephant In The Room

Elephant In The Room The "Elephant In The Room"  is a national project to get everyone talking about the elephant in the room......mental health.   To try and start the conversation around mental health issues, from the school yard to the board room. I was delighted to be one of the artists selected to paint one of the first 16 elephants to land in Ireland.It was a bit of a shock when it arrived.    I didn’t realise it would be so BIG!! I THINK I WILL NEED A BIGGER BRUSH. For more information on how support this [...]

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Sunflowers for Ukraine

Sunflowers for Ukraine Everyone is doing their best to raise money and contribute to the people of Ukraine in their hour of need.   I can't do much to help, but when I was painting these sunflowers I realised the relationship to their flag and how sunflowers are the national flower of Ukraine.   So I was delighted with the response to my fundraiser for a print of this painting of sunflowers in a blue and white striped jug.    With the all proceeds going to the Red Cross Ukraine Appeal. Initially I was going to offer 5 prints, [...]

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Doorway Gallery Exhibition

Doorway Gallery Exhibition The Doorway Gallery in Nutgrove Shopping Centre will be hosting an exhibition of my work. Opening on 10th February This painting of Foxgloves is 100x100cm on canvas Sweet Pea 40x40cm oil Sunflowers 40x40cm oil Summer 80x80cm oil This is a small selection of the work that will be on show at the exhibition. More details available from the Doorway Gallery here

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2022 Art Course and Workshop Dates Announced

New Palette Knife Workshop and Art Class Dates Announced. Well we have waited so long for the fantastic news that restrictions are lifted and following yesterdays announcement (21/01/2022), I am delighted to be able to finalise three new workshop dates and the commencement of my 10 week Spring Term Art Classes. Classes and Workshops book out fairly quickly so if you are interested in joining me for either, please check out the dates and book early.   If you have a gift voucher for a workshop contact me with your preferred date and I will book you in. If [...]

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Learn To Paint Amazing Paintings – 7 Day Free Trial

Learn how to paint amazing paintings  - 7 day free This online course consists of step by step painting demos, resources, challenges and feedback on your work. We meet on Wednesday mornings at 10.30 a.m. on zoom.   All meet-ups are recorded and available to watch at your convenience. Free private Facebook Group for support and encouragement. Plus 7 free video demonstrations worth €200 to watch immediately and lots of historical material from previous meetings to browse. Click on the link to learn more. Learn more here

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Strada January Challenge

Strada easel challenge - January 2021 January is a pretty quiet month and we usually go away for a few weeks, with the gallery closed and no art classes. This January was a bit different,   With lockdown there was no holiday and very little to do.   So I was delighted when I heard about the Strada Easel Challenge January 2021.   The challenge is to painting something from life (no photos) every day for the month of January, post it to social media with the day and hashtag #stradaeasel. At the end of the month Strada [...]

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Start Your Art Collection – Highest Bid Wins!

Announcing my new auction facility on my website. Each day I paint a small oil painting either 15x15cm (6″ x 6″) or 15x20cm (6″ x 8″) and post it to my Daily Painting Auction.   My daily paintings are posted to the auction weekly with all bids starting at €75. A great opportunity to begin your art collection at a reasonable price. HAPPY BIDDING!! check out the auctions here

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Champion Green campaign urges people to shop locally

Champion Green campaign urges people to shop locally. Since our opening earlier this month I have been delighted with local support here in Skerries and really appreciate the lovely shoppers who have called in to say hello, bought a card, print or painting. Your support is so amazing and I can't thank you enough. If each adult spent just €20 extra in small businesses each week for the next 12 weeks, this would amount to an injection of over €875m into the local economy and would have a huge, positive impact on jobs and the vibrancy of towns and local [...]

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Plein air June

With the lovely fine weather I managed to get out to paint a few days at the beginning of the month. plein air painting at The Ovens, Skerries beach One of my favourite spots in Skerries is called the Ovens as it is always very sheltered. It is behind Skerries Sailing Club and there is plenty of inspiration for a painting whatever direction you look. The springers, Skerries Another nice quiet place to paint is Loughshinny beach. It was really hot so lots of people in swimming and canoeing. Loughshinny Beach Skerries Rock beach is a great vantage point to [...]

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Free Zoom Art Classes End

Our last free zoom art class was on 13th June. It is hard to believe that they ran for 13 weeks in total. Thanks to everyone who took part with over 50 people signed up. We kept each there going through the lockdown and our paintings improved too. It was good fun and a learning curve on Zoom!!! But it is now time to get back to normal. So from next week classes will be going live on my new online courses and membership program. For more information check the courses out here Check our my new online courses here

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Online Art Class Launch

I have been busy with the set up of my new online art classes which will take the form of a membership and recording full painting demonstrations too.  The membership will be based on a monthly subscription with weekly classes on the Zoom app including one monthly painting demonstration video + lots more.  This is just like attending your weekly art class but now its online. With lots more resources. If you would like to learn more about the membership and how it works, hit the button below. Online courses are also being videoed presently and will be available on [...]

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Zooming Along

During the lockdown I have kept the normal weekday art classes running on the Zoom app. In my last blog about our weekly course, I opened up the class to anyone who would like to join us and was surprised by the take up of my offer. I suppose everyone is looking for ways to fill their days in these strange times. I am happy to be able to help and enjoy the interacting with everyone. https://youtu.be/ZbFYJEp2Sbs Above is a taste of our classes which include short demonstrations to answer questions posed by students. This demo of painting sunsets covered [...]

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Art In Lockdown Extended

The Art in Lockdown Exhibition was to run for the lockdown period. When it started the exhibition we expected that would mean a few weeks. Today we are on day 42, of 20 paintings per day. 840 paintings so far and still counting. The intention is to keep the exhibition running until the lockdown is lifted. Check out the exhibition on Facebook for your daily art dose. https://www.facebook.com/artinlockdown/videos/666063733968053/

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Within our 2km limit

This month's blogs are all reflecting the terrible situation we are all in. https://youtu.be/BSY3F_faJiA With the news of our lastest restriction of 2km limit, we realise most people don't live in such a beautiful town as Skerries. On our daily walk, we have this fabulous beach to clear our heads and keep us sane and we appreciate how lucky we are every day.

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Art in Lockdown

This isolation has created some brilliant ideas by people to keep everyone going. Art in Lockdown is an idea by Irish artist Roisin Duffy. Her idea was to organise 20 Irish artists to create a group on social media. Every day posting a painting from each artist with links to their profiles on Facebook and Instagram. Day one of the exhibition on Facebook and Instagram Sergio Gomez interviewed one of the exhibiting artists Niamh O'Connor live on his Facebook Page , Art NXT LEVEL, on Friday 20th March, which will give the group great exposure. https://www.facebook.com/artnxtlevel/videos/249215679418764/UzpfSTI0MDIxMDExNjAwMjkxMDozMDk5NjA2NTYzMzk2NTcw/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARBH3RvwUybqCaSX6IW3VxnfBt577BT6LYndlSavvnx-v_tXjMkcafbC0wJK1R3uxL-9vSPbOvGx2f2W Please pop over to [...]

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Coming Soon…Online Courses

Are you looking for ways to improve your painting technique and skills? Do you take classes and workshops to learn new painting techniques and see how other artists do it! I certainly do.   But sometimes we just don’t have the time to travel to classes and workshops. Even if we have the time, they can be expensive and it can be hard to find a suitable course in your area. Lugging all the paints, canvases, brushes, mediums and easel to the class can be exhausting.   That’s why I am putting together my online course, so you can learn [...]

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Artist in Residence The Montenotte Hotel Cork

I am delighted to be selected to be the Artist in Residence at The Montenotte Hotel in association with The Gallery Kinsale. To celebrate the launch of the exhibition the hotel is running a competition for this print of "Cosmos" worth €250. "Cosmos" print To enter the competition just head over to The Montenotte Hotel Instagram page, tag two friends and hashtag #artatmontenotte

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Art Source 2019

Our annual exhibition at Art Source in the RDS Dublin was a great success. We were at our usual stand beside the coffee shop and it was a very busy show. With plenty of red dots. Thanks to everyone who bought a painting. It means so much. My next show is Gifted in the RDS which will run from Wednesday 4th to Sunday 8th December.

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Paintings from the Couch

All normal plans are on hold as I am laid up until Christmas. With Art Source in the RDS fast approaching I had to get the paints out and get painting. The cupboards were raided and all the iconic bottles were lined up for a variety of still life paintings on 6" x 8" panels. Easy to paint on the couch. The fridge was next... Refreshments. All these paintings and many more will be available at the Art Source Exhibition in the RDS 15th to 17th November. If you would like complimentary tickets, let me know.

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I’ve Been In The Wars!!

We just never know what is going to happen next, thank goodness!! I was working away at paintings for Art Source, running art classes and had just finalised booking a videographer for my last palette knife workshop of 2019. Then disaster struck.....just a little trip and everything was up in the air....literally. Unfortunately, I have the added complication of a femur and knee joint prosthesis which dates back to the early '80s when I was diagnosed with bone cancer. Back then I was referred to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham for surgery as they were pioneering in manufacturing individual [...]

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Holiday sketches and paintings

Just back from an amazing three week break in Lanzarote in May. The first week was with my painting buddies, Michelle and Joyce and we managed to get the pochade boxes out for a few plein air sessions and the sketch books were always in the beach bags. Lanzarote has a lot to offer artists with its unusual landscape.   Volcanic mountains in amazing violets, blues and ochres and beaches with white sands and clear blue seas.   One of our trips was to Caleton Blanca on the north east side of the Island.   A hidden gem kept secret by the locals [...]

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Art Classes September 2019 Dates

The next term of art classes will commence on Monday 2nd and Wednesday 4th September 2019 and will run for 8 weeks, costing €140. The classes are held in the Loft Room in Skerries Mills, County Dublin, Ireland, on Monday or Wednesday morning 10.30 am to 12.30 am. The course covers painting in oils and acrylics and everyone brings their own paints etc.  In all the classes, you will enjoy the fun, relaxed atmosphere with lots of one-on-one time with me and plenty of hands-on help. One art class during this term is an outing to the National Gallery for a guided [...]

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New Autumn 2019 Dates – Palette Knife Workshops

New Dates Confirmed. Painting In Oils With A Palette Knife Autumn Dates Saturday  7th September 2019 – flowers in oils Sunday  8th September  2019 – seascapes in oils Saturday 28th September 2019 – meadows in oils Sunday 29th September 2019 – seascapes in oils  I has over 15 years experience giving workshops and teaching. I love to pass on my knowledge of painting. Passionate about teaching, I encourage my students to experience the joy that painting can bring. In all of my workshops, you will enjoy the fun, relaxed atmosphere, with lots of one-on-one time with me and plenty of demonstrations [...]

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Plein Air Holiday

PLEIN AIR HOLIDAY IN HOLLAND Deep in concentration on the beautiful sandy beach of Katwijk ann Zee Last year I took a Masterclass in Holland with Dutch Painter Roos Schuring.  The plan was to study and paint rain clouds and stormy skies,  but as you can see there wasn't a cloud in the sky. But no one was complaining!     Four days of fabulous sunshine, achieving two paintings a day. The experience was so inspirational and will influence my paintings for years to come.

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St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Up early to get the last minute touches on our float. After a wet start, things improved and we managed to add the final touches. Then down to the south strand to join the other floats.   Some fantastic ideas displayed.   Everyone waiting for the judges decision with baited breath. We were thrilled when we were handed the first prize for best float.   Couldn't believe it as there was such fabulous competition. THINKING HATS ON NOW FOR NEXT YEAR !! Mona was delighted with the news!

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Mother’s Day Shopping Event

SUNDAY 19TH MARCH @ SKERRIES MILLS ARTISAN COURTYARD A huge thank you to all the lovely people that come to our event today.    Plus a very big THANKS to Homebrew, we loved having you with us! The best tunes! So we have a FABULOUS hamper that we'd LOVE you to win! It's filled with lovely goodies & gifts from Karen Wilson Wayland's Forge Silversmiths and Jewellery School Molls Parlour The Stash Cupboard - all carefully selected for Mother's Day! If you pop into the Gallery you can see the hamper too! ? So, simply LIKE & SHARE the post on on our Facebook page Skerries Mills [...]

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