1-day Workshop at the Bluebird Studio: Composition and Armatures
A 1-day introduction to the use of Dynamic Symmetry and Harmonic Armatures in Composition for beginning and advanced painters. - and for art lovers and collectors.At the fabulous Bluebird Studio in Santa Fe
2025: Sunday, Aug 24. Workshop on Trees with Albert Handell (Saturday). In the planning stage.
2024: Sunday, November 10
2023: Saturday, November 4 Flipping Book View of the Notes for the 2024 Workshop is available. Send an email to Karen Halbert for information
From the Classical Greek Era to the present, artists have been using armature or grid systems based on musical and mathematical principles to help create harmonious paintings. The armatures form a scaffolding for paintings, providing stability and a road map for the design.
Participants will learn how to use armatures to design their paintings or to evaluate existing paintings. Examples of artwork will be analyzed - participants' and Master Artist paintings.
Karen has a background teaching introductory math to liberal arts students. After leaving the academic world and a career in computers in Manhattan she moved to Santa Fe and has been a practicing artist for over 20 years. When the long-standing Canyon Road Gallery representing her closed two years ago, Karen began to devote herself to research in areas where Mathematics touches Art.
* "Radical" is a play on words; it's the term Mathematicians use for 'root'; eg, square root. But in addition, radicals play a part in armatures.
Dynamic Symmetry with Two PHI DS 4 to 5
Georgia's Chimney Rocks 9x12
Georgia's Spires 9x12
Georgia's Cliffs I 12x16
HANDELL, Elusive, 16x20
HANDELL, Elusive, 16x20 wirh Dynamic Symmetry
HANDELL, Deep Woods, 28x28, OPA Silver Award, Dynamic Symmetry Armature
HANDELL Lakeway Grotto 12x16
HANDELL At the Interior Falls with Dynamic Symmetry Armature, 18x24
HANDELL Rocks and Water 12x16 with Dynamic Symmetry Armature 12x16
HANDELL Quarry Falls 12x16
Wild River Santa Fe 10x16
Abstract #1 in Raw Umber and Van Dyke Brown
Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the Winter 10x16
Waimea Waterfall III 16x10
Waimea Waterfall II 12x16
Waimea Waterfall I 18x24
Diablo Canyon Root 5 Overlapping PHI Rectangles
Studio as of Sept 2023
Studio as of Aug 2023
Ashley Pond III 12x16
Radical Impressionist: A Mathematician Paints. Fuller Lodge Art Center Exhibit
Turbulent Winds II Dynamic Symmetry
Sun Infused Santa Ritas after the Storm
Windswept
Santa Fe Studio Wall 1
Karen's Santa Fe Studio
Santa Fe Studio Wall 4
Balboa Park Impression PAPNM 2022 National Exhibit
Halbert Flyer - 2022 LCCF
Ocotillo Stormy Skies (Gift-2022)
SF Turbulence Single Point Perspective
Lake Murray, San Diego
Balboa Park Museum of Us (gift)
Balboa Park Tower from the Sculpture Garden
Oceanside Mission
Balboa Park Tower III
Balboa Park Promenade with Figures
In my San Diego Studio (WInter 2022)
Water Color Color Chart with Calligraphy and Figure practice.
Karen in the Aspens
Chamisa Season
Clouds Over the Arroyo
Moonlight in Hawaii-after Roy Tabora
Ocotillo Sunset
Windandsea Beach II
Pedernal Clouds (Gift)
Golden Sunset
My Santa Ritas
Olana Memory
Forest Hut
Mesa Sunset
The Conductor
Mission Gorge Trails Park (gift)
Desert High (2019 PAPNM)
Ghost Ranch Chimney Rock
Chama River Afternoon Glow
Chama River Cliffs II
Santa Fe River Reverie
Borrego Springs Light
Shady Lakes Lilies"
Chama Red Hills Dynamic Symmetry plus Golden Spiral
Chama Red Hills 10x16
Basic Dynamic Symmetry Armature
Dynamic Symmetry Armature 5:4 (1.25)
SF River Turbulence- PHI System
Painting at the Santa Fe River
Dynamic Symmetry Armature Root PHI (1.272..)
Basic Dynamic Symmetry Armature Construction Step 1
Turbulent Lands I 10x16 Sold 2024
Luminous Lands IV 8x16 Sold 2024
Turbulent Lands with Golden Spiral Intermediate Phase
Land Abstraction II sold 2023
PHI Dynamic Symmetry Armature with a Golden Spiral Approximation (1.618..)
Basic Dynamic Symmetry Armature Final Step
Dynamic Symmetry Armature Root 4 (2.0)
Cliff Abstraction 18x24
Bridge-Schaller-Demo (gift)
March On Chambers Street (after Thomas Schaller) Gift.
Awakening (sold PAPNM 2021)
Diablo Canyon Morning (sold 2021)
Blowing in the WInd - Palo Verde (sold 2021)
Aspen Glory I (sold 2021)
Van Gogh on my Mind (sold 2021)
Golden Luminescence (sold 2021)
Santa Fe Sunset (sold 2021)
Santa Fe Chamisa 2021
Ocotillo Rising I (sold 2021)
Trekking to the Yellow Cliffs (sold 2021)
Aspen Glory Harmonic Armature
Aspen Glory I Dynamic Symmetry
Ocotillo Pas de Deux II (sold 2020)
Ocotillo Pas de Deux I (sold 2020)
Pedernal Cliffs Mini (sold 2020)
Arizona Spring (sold 2020)
Sky Magic (sold 2019)
High Desert Dawn (sold 2019)
Sky Magic II (sold 2019)
Evening becomes Her (sold 2019)
Yellow Cliffs I (sold 2019)
White Place Impending Storm (sold 2019)
Sangres. (Sold 2019)
Southwest Glory (PAPNM 2017 - sold 2019)
Chilling by the River I (PAPNM 2018)
Chilling by the River II (PAPNM 2018)
High Desert Glory (sold 2018)
Cliff Dream (Sold 2018)
Ghost Ranch Mesa Sunset 10x8 (sold 2018)
Ghost Ranch Mesa Sunset (sold 2018)
Ghost Ranch Mesa Sunset Small #2 (sold 2018)
Ghost Ranch Mesa Sunset (Small) #1 (sold 2018)
Chama Cliffs Aglow (sold 2018)
Chama River Light (sold 2018)
Taos Mountain Morning (sold 2018)
Rushing Santa Fe RIver (sold in 2018)
Whirling Squares Upper Right
Georgia's Backyard Shadows (sold 2018)
"Colorado Serenity"
Aspen Woodlands (sold 2017)
Chama Cliffs Tapestry (sold 2016)
Georgia's Ghost"(sold 2016)
Chimney Rocks (sold 2016)
New Mexico Evening (sold 2016)
Sandia Beckons (sold 2016)
Toward the Hazy Pedernal (sold 2016)
Fibonacci Whirling Squares
Ghost Ranch Cliff (sold 2015)
Santa Rita Mountains 5x7 (sold 2015 PAAC)
New Mexico Cliffs 6x8 (sold 2015)
Diablo Canyon 6x6 (sold 2015)
Chama River Tranquility (sold 2015)
Abiquiu Peak (sold 2015)
Ghost Ranch Cliff (sold 2015)
Abiquiu Lake (sold 2015)
Toward the Sangres (sold 2015)
End of Day (sold 2014)
New Mexico Land (sold 2014)
Ghost Ranch - Three Sisters (sold 2014)
Cliffs of New Mexico 12x16
Basic 14-line Harmonic Armature
Chambers Sketch 1
Abstract #2 - 2019
New Mexico Early Snow (sold 2013)
Elephant's Head"(sold PAPNM 2013)
Shady Lakes (sold 2013)
Adobe & Arroyo (sold 2013)
Chambers St Sketch 2
Woodland Pond (sold 2012)
New Mexico Sunset (sold 2012)
Chama River Overlook I (sold 2012)
Abstract #2 - wiped
Ghost Ranch Morning Light (sold 2012)
New Mexico Vista (sold 2012)
Lily Pond 2 (sold 2012)
Kawela Palms Rise to the Morn (GIFT)
Kawela Winds"
Aspen Season I 10x8
"Raging Animas River I"
Aspen Season I
Aspen Season II 20x16
Aspen Season II Harmonic Armature
Southwest Light
Spring at Ghost Ranch 10x16
"Taos Gorge (gift) "
Turbulent Lands 15x25 2024 NM Masterworks Award
Water Works Final Square
Waterworks With Magic Eraser
Lake Murray, San Diego Waterworks II
San Diego Waterworks Early version
Georgia's Towering Cliff 14x11
Georgia's Red Hills 8x16
Undulating Cliffs of New Mexico
Stage 1 Watercolor Study (gift)
Montage of Karen's paintings with armatures.
My Black Mesa
Canyon Colors II
Chimney Rocks Sunburst
Chama Cliff Detail
Happy Trails Dynamic Symmetry
Chromatic Lands I 8x10
qr-code Chromatic Lands I Armature
Chromatic Lands I 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry Armature
Chromatic Lands I - 5:4 Two PHI Grids side by side
Chromatic Lands I Harmonic Armature
Chromatic Lands II PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral
Chromatic Lands III 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry Armature with Rebated Squares
Chromatic Lands IV 8X10
Chromatic Lands IV 5:4 Dynamic Symmetry
Chromatic Lands V Dynamic Symmetry Armature
High Desert Colors V
High Desert Colors II
Land Abstraction I 8x13
Dawn - Los Alamos 10x16
Dawn - Los Alamos Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus Golden Spiral
Land Abstraction V 12x16
Land Abstraction V Dynamic Symmetry
Arroyo Hondo (PAPNM 2020)
River Turbulence Study
Luminous Lands I 12x19
Luminous Lands I Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus Golden Spiral
Luminous Lands III 9x12
Luminous Lands V
Luminous Waters I 12x16
Luminous Lands V Dynamic Symmetry plus Rabatment
Luminous Lands VI
Luminous Waters II 16x20
Luminous Lands VI - Northern Lights
Luminous Lands VI Northern Lights PHI Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus Golden Spiral
Turbulent Lands I PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral
Turbulent Lands I - PHI - Dynamic Symmetry Armature
Turbulent Lands II 15x25
Turbulent Lands II Dynamic Symmetry Armature plus Golden Spiral
Turbulent Lands II - PHI - Dynamic Symmetry Armature
Turbulent Lands IV Borrego Springs
Turbulent Lands IV Whirling Squares
Turbulent Lands V
Turbulent Lands V PHI
Turbulent Lands V Harmonic Armature
Turbulent Lands VI 11x14
Turbulent Lands VII Harmonic Armature
Step 1: Turbulent Winds III
Step 2: Turbulent Winds III
Step 3: Turbulent Winds III
Turbulent Waters I Harmonic Armature
Turbulent Waters I - 4:3 Dynamic Symmetry Armature
Turbulent Waters II PHI Dynamic Symmetry plus Spiral
Turbulent Waters III 9x12
Turbulent Waters III Harmonic Armature
Turbulent Waters IV
Turbulent Waters IV 8x10
Turbulent Waters IV Expanded Dynamic Symmetry
Turbulent Waters V PHI DS Armature
Turbulent Waters V Harmonic Armature
Turbulent Waters V Intermediate
Turbulent Waters VI 12x16
Turbulent Waters VI Expanded Dynamic Symmetry
Turbulent Winds III Expanded Dynamic Symmetry
Taos Gorge Fusion 20x16
Cloud Fractals
Cloud Fractals Dynamic Symmetry plus Rabatment Armature
Diablo Canyon with Chamisa Dynamic Symmetry
Ashley Pond II Expanded Dynamic Symmetry Armature
Ashley Pond - Los Alamos Harmonic Armature
Las Campanas I Golf Course 11x14
Golden Mesa 12x16
Studio Tour - Turbulent Winds
Studio Tour - Taos Gorge
Studio Tour - Turbulent Lands
Studio Tour 0 Luminous Waters
Studio Tour - Land Abstraction V
Studio Tour - Luminous Lands
"3 Sisters' Evening"
"Afternoon Shadows II"
Chama Cliff
"Elephant Head Aglow"
"Ghost Ranch Impression"
Grand Tetons' Morning
"Josephine's Saddle"
"Rio Grande Morning"
"Taos Morada"
"Tree Shimmers"
Chama Overlook
2023 Bluebird Popup 1-day Workshop Composition and Armatures
2024 Weekend with Handell and Halbert
2024 Bluebird Popup 1-day Workshop Composition and Armatures (all new)
Karen in Georgia's Back Yard
"Ghost Ranch Cliff after Okeeffe"
"Dry Waterfall after OKeeffe"
Luminous Lands VII
Piedra Lumbre Fusion
Los Alamos - Anderson Trail (PAPNM 2022)
My Black Mesa Afire
Black Mesa
Sangre de Cristo High
Teton Mountains
Kalaupapa Storm
Kalawao at Dawn"
At the River Santa Fe
Award of Merit for 'Santa Fe River Turbulence"
Diablo Canyon
Chama Turbulence 5x7 (LCCF 2012-13)
Jemez Vista 1 (LCCF 2012-13)
Park Side Arroyo ( LCCF 2012-2013
Las Golondrinas Morada (LCCF 2014)
Big Tesuque Waterfall
Big Tesuque Aspens (2015)
Toward the Sangres 1 (015 LCCF)
North Shore Composition (gift)
Deviil's Canyon Expanded DS Armature++
Cliff Medley mini I (LCCF 2018)
Ghost Ranch mini (LCCF 2018)
Kawela Bay Mini gift
Sunset - Mini gift
Chama Canyon Colores (2019 LCCF)
Diablo Canyon Revisited ( 2020 LCCF)
A Tree Stands Alone (LCCF 2020)
Golden Sangre de Cristos (LCCF 2020)
Santa Fe River Flows II (LCCF 2020)
Blowin' in the Wind with Expanded Dynamic Symmetry
Diablo Canyon Evening (2022 LCCF)
Blowin' in the Wind (Honorable Mention-Taos PAPNM 2020) GIFT
Diablo Canyon Evening 4 to 3 Expanded DS++
Kawela's Sound of Music (PAPNM 2017 NFS)
Taos Gorge Light Drama (gift)
Chromatic Lands - LCCF 2023
Taos Meadow - LCCF 2023
Diablo Canyon Morning 4 to 3 Expanded DS++
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