Karen
@willoaksstudio.bsky.social
Karen Stahlecker. Full time visual artist-currently watercolor painting. Progressive, feminist, environmentalist. Nature is my muse.
Happy Holidays! I hope you & yours are having a chance to celebrate & be grateful for what is good in our dangerous, difficult world. 2025 is almost over. Prayers for peace & justice in 2026🕊️🕊️🙏🏻🙏🏻⚖️⚖️
December 26, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Happy Holidays! I hope you & yours are having a chance to celebrate & be grateful for what is good in our dangerous, difficult world. 2025 is almost over. Prayers for peace & justice in 2026🕊️🕊️🙏🏻🙏🏻⚖️⚖️
Holiday ritual mostly completed: art cards, painted for winter holidays, addressed & written as greetings. I’m running behind on the schedule, but really happy that over 50 cards have been mailed!
Bitter cold has returned after a rainy Thursday. Rumor is it will get warm in time for Christmas!
Bitter cold has returned after a rainy Thursday. Rumor is it will get warm in time for Christmas!
December 20, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Holiday ritual mostly completed: art cards, painted for winter holidays, addressed & written as greetings. I’m running behind on the schedule, but really happy that over 50 cards have been mailed!
Bitter cold has returned after a rainy Thursday. Rumor is it will get warm in time for Christmas!
Bitter cold has returned after a rainy Thursday. Rumor is it will get warm in time for Christmas!
A fun challenge with pearlescent paints is how their looks change with the direction & intensity of light!
December 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
A fun challenge with pearlescent paints is how their looks change with the direction & intensity of light!
A crazy month has passed. I’m trying to grapple with the loss of my little sister late October. First I was basically catatonic. Then I realized I didn’t want to get stuck in full time grief again. I realized that I had to do something to use & transform it. Deadlines & goals can be useful. Sooo!?
December 7, 2025 at 5:26 PM
A crazy month has passed. I’m trying to grapple with the loss of my little sister late October. First I was basically catatonic. Then I realized I didn’t want to get stuck in full time grief again. I realized that I had to do something to use & transform it. Deadlines & goals can be useful. Sooo!?
Autumn Joys
1 Sunny & Bibbs keep cozy.
2 Forest cactus in bloom
3 Orchids in bloom
1 Sunny & Bibbs keep cozy.
2 Forest cactus in bloom
3 Orchids in bloom
November 6, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Autumn Joys
1 Sunny & Bibbs keep cozy.
2 Forest cactus in bloom
3 Orchids in bloom
1 Sunny & Bibbs keep cozy.
2 Forest cactus in bloom
3 Orchids in bloom
The Art of the Land, an annual fundraiser for the McHenry County Land Conservancy opens Friday, 10-23 to Saturday 10-24. Juried exhibition, music, food & cash bar at the Starline Gallery❣️
Interesting story on this work-my collection of watercolors.
Interesting story on this work-my collection of watercolors.
October 22, 2025 at 2:34 AM
The Art of the Land, an annual fundraiser for the McHenry County Land Conservancy opens Friday, 10-23 to Saturday 10-24. Juried exhibition, music, food & cash bar at the Starline Gallery❣️
Interesting story on this work-my collection of watercolors.
Interesting story on this work-my collection of watercolors.
I’m preparing for winter floral painting by collecting beautiful images for models & inspiration🥰
September 18, 2025 at 6:20 PM
I’m preparing for winter floral painting by collecting beautiful images for models & inspiration🥰
Intrigued by the challenge of “a bouquet.” This will require more tries…
September 14, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Intrigued by the challenge of “a bouquet.” This will require more tries…
The Autumn ArtWalk was great last Saturday & was very happy with our turnout! Grateful to be settling back into a painting routine—doing exhibitions take a lot of time away from studio work!
Great to get feedback on this new work, & added to my jewelry, there was a lot to look at😍
Great to get feedback on this new work, & added to my jewelry, there was a lot to look at😍
September 10, 2025 at 2:21 AM
The Autumn ArtWalk was great last Saturday & was very happy with our turnout! Grateful to be settling back into a painting routine—doing exhibitions take a lot of time away from studio work!
Great to get feedback on this new work, & added to my jewelry, there was a lot to look at😍
Great to get feedback on this new work, & added to my jewelry, there was a lot to look at😍
I’m testing some framing ideas.
August 25, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I’m testing some framing ideas.
The small orange series - two exercises & two flower cards🧡
August 20, 2025 at 2:07 AM
The small orange series - two exercises & two flower cards🧡
Inspired by today’s class exercise. It started with color tests & ended up here😂
August 13, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Inspired by today’s class exercise. It started with color tests & ended up here😂
New week of new work & I tried to make a reel—BlueSky cropping leaves a lot to be desired here.
But what I LOVED about this series was my return to using high granulation watercolors💜. It’s another step to regaining brush control after a broken knuckle. I’m not fully back yet, but it’s progress❣️
But what I LOVED about this series was my return to using high granulation watercolors💜. It’s another step to regaining brush control after a broken knuckle. I’m not fully back yet, but it’s progress❣️
August 11, 2025 at 3:27 AM
New week of new work & I tried to make a reel—BlueSky cropping leaves a lot to be desired here.
But what I LOVED about this series was my return to using high granulation watercolors💜. It’s another step to regaining brush control after a broken knuckle. I’m not fully back yet, but it’s progress❣️
But what I LOVED about this series was my return to using high granulation watercolors💜. It’s another step to regaining brush control after a broken knuckle. I’m not fully back yet, but it’s progress❣️
Whew! Finally squeezed in some painting❣️ it often takes time to get back in the flow, so sequential days really help. Newest first & earlier 2nd. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
August 5, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Whew! Finally squeezed in some painting❣️ it often takes time to get back in the flow, so sequential days really help. Newest first & earlier 2nd. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
The orange brothers, Sunny & Bibs, have fun poses. Staying cool in a Midwestern heat wave .
July 29, 2025 at 10:47 PM
The orange brothers, Sunny & Bibs, have fun poses. Staying cool in a Midwestern heat wave .
Joys of summer: flowers, fresh eggs, & garden vegetables—
—visiting my brother’s place.
—visiting my brother’s place.
July 23, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Joys of summer: flowers, fresh eggs, & garden vegetables—
—visiting my brother’s place.
—visiting my brother’s place.
Reposted by Karen
Again, the Trump Administration is dismantling any program to address racial discrimination and is not enforcing civil rights laws. They are using the fraudulent
spectre of reverse discrimination to do it. It is cynical and dangerous.
spectre of reverse discrimination to do it. It is cynical and dangerous.
July 19, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Again, the Trump Administration is dismantling any program to address racial discrimination and is not enforcing civil rights laws. They are using the fraudulent
spectre of reverse discrimination to do it. It is cynical and dangerous.
spectre of reverse discrimination to do it. It is cynical and dangerous.
I was really into using this format for several paintings before my accident where I broke my right index finger knuckle. My rehab (brush use) is still in progress but was pretty happy with this new try!! Amazing the change a frame can make to a painting!!
July 14, 2025 at 10:52 PM
I was really into using this format for several paintings before my accident where I broke my right index finger knuckle. My rehab (brush use) is still in progress but was pretty happy with this new try!! Amazing the change a frame can make to a painting!!
New multipart painting in progress. I hope I can frame it tomorrow 🙏🏻
July 14, 2025 at 1:37 AM
New multipart painting in progress. I hope I can frame it tomorrow 🙏🏻
A week of work & focus! Actually this series began 6/21/25. I designed 4 different projects using repetitive brush strokes (important brush practice = rehab!)
Each different design is reinterpreted from 5 to 12 times. All are mounted on coordinated card stock. I think my injured hand is improving
Each different design is reinterpreted from 5 to 12 times. All are mounted on coordinated card stock. I think my injured hand is improving
July 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
A week of work & focus! Actually this series began 6/21/25. I designed 4 different projects using repetitive brush strokes (important brush practice = rehab!)
Each different design is reinterpreted from 5 to 12 times. All are mounted on coordinated card stock. I think my injured hand is improving
Each different design is reinterpreted from 5 to 12 times. All are mounted on coordinated card stock. I think my injured hand is improving
Finally can see some progress on my new series of flower designs. So far, these are becoming sweet greeting cards & one batch is finished.
July 6, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Finally can see some progress on my new series of flower designs. So far, these are becoming sweet greeting cards & one batch is finished.
The tests & trials of developing a new series. Cards in different stages—a few got used right away!
July 5, 2025 at 5:24 AM
The tests & trials of developing a new series. Cards in different stages—a few got used right away!
I’m making progress towards my new painting ideas (tests & colors) AND I am trying some new paint brushes.
June 25, 2025 at 1:56 AM
I’m making progress towards my new painting ideas (tests & colors) AND I am trying some new paint brushes.