butternut squash with onion & garlic

graphite on handmade paper

pumpkin

graphite on handmade paper - my entry for Illustrations Friday's theme "Cultivate".

Happy Spring!

No art to post today. I just wanted to post a photo from yesterday's walk. I am so excited, because spring is finally coming back! Sunshine and I have missed our walks! I hope that warmer weather in the upcoming months will bring new inspiration to paint and draw. Happy Spring, everyone!

Illustration Friday - "Layers"

drawings from 2008 (top) and 2010 (below)

New Fine Art Shop

Check out my new Etsy shop featuring my fine art originals and reproductions.

d'anjou pears

The Marathon Runner

Beyond The Coyote Arts Festival 2010

Here are some photos from this past week and weekend:

My friend Suzi (left), who bought "Crimson Leaf" on opening night.

"Crimson Leaf"

A view of exhibit space after I hung it on Thursday.

A good frame on a painting is like a good suit on a man.

Watercolor leaves, purchased by my friend Phyllis before the show.

 Framing art in my studio....watercolor mushrooms.

framed!

A good frame and mat should enhance and compliment the artwork it holds.

new shop, new art & 2 art shows

While away in California last week, I created some new art, which I wanted you to see.  I am really enjoying watercolor lately.  I have enjoyed painting these autumn leaves, but decided to stretch my wings a bit and try a still life.  My boyfriend and I visited the local farmer's market, and came home with lots of great produce, which I find makes great subjects for still lifes.  I posted my still life here, although my scanner does not do it justice.  I need to have it professionally photographed.  But here it is:

I also painted a few new leaves. Here is one of them:

Last night I opened a store on Etsy, where I will be selling fine art and giclee prints.  I had giclees made of several of my leaf paintings when I was in California.  They turned out great.  For more info, and to see my shop, click here.

Regarding art shows, if you are in the Chicago area next weekend, Sept. 10 - 12, please come meet me and see all of my fine art originals and prints at Beyond the Coyote in the Flat Iron Arts Bldg.  You can do a little early holiday shopping, or just celebrate art and culture in our beautiful city.  September is the best month here!

I will also be having an art show and sale with fellow artist Vincent S. Chiaramonte during the Rockford  Fall Artscene, in Rockford IL.  Click the link here for more info, and to map the event...we are listed as Aardvark Studio.  The hours are Friday October 1st  from 5pm - 9pm, and Saturday October 2nd from 3pm - 9pm.

weathered aspen

new watercolor paintings

pin oak

little brown leaf #3

another study in my Moleskine watercolor journal

little brown leaf #2

In my watercolor Moleskine journal

upcoming events

Please come meet me and see my new works at the Beyond the Coyote show in Chicago, IL,  September 10 - 12, 2010.  This is a fun event and will feature over 150 other artists.

I will also be showing my art along with artist Vincent S. Chiaramonte in Rockford, IL, at a pre-holiday show in mid October.  More details to follow soon...

still life with sea shells

mushrooms- watercolor study

~ in my moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

button mushrooms

spring onions

after the bath

Recently my Mac crashed and I am still trying to rebuild my system. I did find some time last week to draw in my Moleskine...for the first time in about a month. It felt good to draw again, and I've really missed it. Tonite I scanned the drawing on a friend's scanner and emailed it to myself so that I could post it. The scan did not pick up a lot of the subtleties of my drawing, but it's still a fair representation of the original. I just wanted to share with you what I have been up to lately. Thanks to all of you who encouraged me during my break. Your words meant a lot to me.

taking a little break...

I've decided to take a little break from my fine art for a while. I need some time to reflect on what I am doing, what I am trying to say through my art, and what it is saying to me. I feel as though I need a bit of quiet time to stretch and find what it is about my art that was once bringing me joy. Or maybe I need to grow as an artist. *sigh* I have some strong regrets about selling my favorite drawings, knowing that I will never get them back. Makes me wonder why I started putting a price on them in the first darned place. I used to just draw for the enjoyment of it. When did it become a commodity for me? It was never my intention when I began drawing in my Moleskine a year and a half ago to sell anything. Ever. And starting this blog was only a way to share my joy of art with you. But now something is missing, and I am left confused and regretful. Bummer. Perhaps I'll be back with a new sense of purpose, and maybe I'll even have new works to show when I return. Or maybe not. *sigh* I'm just not sure anymore....

The 2010 Spring smART Show is Coming!

The Spring 2010 smART Show has been announced. Join me on Friday March 5th through Sunday March 7th at the Flat Iron Arts Bldg in Chicago!

Getting Ready....

Today I framed my drawings for the 2009 Holiday smART Show. I will be showing 13 drawings again this time around. That seems to be a lucky number for me. The show runs from December 11-13 in Chicago.

2009 Holiday smART Show

I will be showing and selling my new drawings at the 2009 Holiday smART Show December 11-13.
Flat Iron Arts Building
1579 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622

"Eve"

This is my latest commissioned nude. It will be featured, along with "Adam", at my upcoming show & sale at the 2009 Holiday smART Show at the Flatiron Arts Bldg in Chicago, December 11 - 13.

"Adam"

I will be showing this and other new works at the Holiday smART Show in Chicago December 11-13, 2009. More details will be posted. Many works for sale.

Art on Track 2009

"Art on Track is a mobile art experience aboard an eight-car CTA train, which circles the Chicago loop for a day long celebration of fine arts culture."


My latest piece entitled "Tuesday Evening" was displayed in the October show Art on Track. I was unable to attend the event, but it looked like loads of fun! Find out more and see photos from last year's show by visiting their website.

Tuesday Evening

I recently acquired an A4 size Moleskine so that I could work on a larger surface. I am disappointed with the results. The paper is completely different in color and texture than the buttery soft, coated paper that my pencil is used to gliding over in the smaller size Moleskines. I struggled to achieve tonal range and the texture I was looking for. Nevertheless, I decided to finish the still life I had started.

Amendment: I should probably clarify...I am disappointed with the inconsistency of the paper, but I am actually pleased with the results of the finished still life. This one is also for sale, and will be featured in an upcoming show. Email me if you are interested in purchasing the finished piece. It measures 6.25" X 9.25".

river rocks

The 2nd Annual smART show at the Flat Iron Art Building in Chicago was a great success this past weekend. This was my very first time showing my fine art, and I ended up selling 5 drawings. I had a great time and met so many wonderful artists, all with unique styles all their own. I hope to participate in the Holiday smART show show this year. I will post a few photos from this weekend's event when I empty my camera.

I was so inspired to keep drawing, I came home last night and drew river rocks.

getting ready....

I am spending the week framing my artwork for the smART show in Chicago this weekend. The batteries for my camera are bad, so here is a little snapshot I took with my computer. I will take photos at the show, but if you are in town, I hope you will stop by and say hello!

come see my first fine art show and sale!

Please visit the official smART show website for more information. I will be showing my work in studio 214. Hope to see you there!

rhonda

joan's bowl

morning nude

female nude #1

Illustrations Friday - "Idle" (summer's seashells)

One of my favorite things about summer is idle time. I found the joy of drawing again tonite.....

lunch

garlic whimsy