County Shannon, Ireland

Globe Trekking in Europe

I will take a break from blogging for a few weeks while my family and I go on a much needed vacation in Europe. We are planning a 5 day visit to Stockholm, Sweden, where our German friends will take us on a tour of the city, surrounding lakes and countryside. I'm looking forward to sampling the smorgasboords and enjoying the country for it's unique and timeless qualities.

After touring museums and soaking-up the beauty of Sweden we will move on to Dublin, Ireland. This will be our 4th visit to the "emerald isle". We'll drive to Castlbar on the West Coast in County Clare. If all goes as planned we will arrive at our dear friends, the O'Malley's, home just in time for the party after the christening of the youngest of the O'Malley clan. We will enjoy the open and warm hospitality that our Irish friends. A lovely cottage will await us on the the beach overlooking the Atlantic from the "other side of the pond".

My camera, sketch books, pencils, watercolors and fresh open eyes will be at the ready for the entire trip. Check my blog to see the photos, sketches and watercolors. As the months pass I will develop the images into large scale oil paintings.

Life is an adventure and I don't want to miss a minute of it.

PBS WTTW 11 Chicago, Feature

This is a still shot from a TV program where my work was featured. I will post the video segment from my appearance on the PBS program Artbeat on Chicago Tonight which appeared on February 5, 2008. I was not aware that the segment had aired until recently when I checked the archive for WTTW Chicago Tonight. I ordered a copy of the DVD, and will post it when it is edited and prepared for the internet. The film crew did an excellent job of filming my work and the work by the other artists at the NVVAM. Keep checking my blog for the video.

I'm Offering a New Graduate Level Course for Art Teachers

In addition to the Open Studio Sessions and occasional Workshops that I offer in my studio I will be working with the Art Teachers from District 47 this fall. I have many years of art program development and implementation experience at St. Margaret Mary School in Algonquin, I will now develop curriculum art programs with art teachers from the local schools.


The course title is "Curriculum Development: Art, Culture and Community, Integrative Strategies. " This will be a curriculum development course that will integrate concepts of art, culture and community in the elementary and middle school classroom. Teachers will develop lesson plans that address the need for exposing students to the art of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Hands-on activities will reinforce the concepts and process that teachers will then translate into their classroom lesson plans.

I am looking forward to working with teachers and creating art with them. We will draw, paint, and create 3D pieces. This gives me a chance to teach experienced artists/ educators. It will be exciting to see the teachers take the art making process to a whole new level.

I will post the weekly plans on my blog. I hope to provide photos of the art works and keep a running log on the teacher's projects.

Charles S. Dole Portrait 36" x 24" oil on linen

I was commissioned by John Coonen in 2005 to paint a portrait of the 19th century Chicago wheat baron Charles Sydney Dole. Mr. Dole built the beautiful Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake, Illinois. As with all of my commissioned paintings, and especially those of historic figures, research was important before beginning the painting. There is 0nly one image of Charles Dole in the McHenry County Historical Society archives.

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Working from the postage stamp sized newspaper clipping dated 1865 provided little visual reference for this 36" x 24" painting. Rather than relying upon visual references for the portrait I pieced together clues or meaningful objects that would describe the man Charles Dole.

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Understanding the style of clothing and type of fabric from the late 19th century U.S. was

important aspect of the representation. The riding crop in his hand represents the horses and stable he owned, and so loved to watch from his roof top copula of the mansion. Charles Dole was an entrepetuer, and developed the first wheat sorting system that equipped train cars transporting wheat from the Midwest to the East coast. Note the books on his desk and the wheat decorative element on his chair. In the photo of Charles Dole it appears that his forehead was quite high, so that may be a distinguishing characteristic that Charles Dole would appreciate in his portrait.

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The painting is installed over the fireplace mantle in the newly refurbished dining room of the Dole Mansion. The height where the painting is hung and unusual lighting make an accurate photograph of the painting challenging, however this photo gives you an idea of what Charles Dole must have looked like around 1990 when he was at the prime of his life.

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You can learn more about Charles Dole and the Dole Mansion by logging on to the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park web site http://www.lakesidelegacy.org/

Open Studio Schedule

Open Studio Series will take place in my studio on Thursdays from 10:00 - 1:00

Series I: June 5, 12, 19, 26

Series II: August 14, 21, 28, September 4

Series III: September 11, 18, 25, October 2

Series IV: October 9, 16, 23, 30

Please contact me if you would like more details about the cost and for directions to my studio. A downloadable PDF listing details about the workshop can be found on my web site www.soldnerfineart.com.

New Work

As my studio work has been progressing I have developing in an interesting juxtaposition between the figures and their environment. Space is opening around the figure with light and reflected color that draws the viewer into the world partly seen and partly imagined. The places are real yet the figure is placed in ambiguous relationshops with their surroundings. I'm working hard and enjoying every minute of the process.