Karen
@willoaksstudio.bsky.social
Karen Stahlecker. Full time visual artist-currently watercolor painting. Progressive, feminist, environmentalist. Nature is my muse.
It’s been hard to concentrate, but I continue to make small watercolors & turn them into greeting (Valentine) cards. As a friend would say, ‘Take your broken heart & turn it into art.’
January 22, 2026 at 7:57 PM
It’s been hard to concentrate, but I continue to make small watercolors & turn them into greeting (Valentine) cards. As a friend would say, ‘Take your broken heart & turn it into art.’
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!
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.
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 🙏🏻
Hey Norma!! Check it out❣️
July 13, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Hey Norma!! Check it out❣️
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.