Call and Respond: From Atemisia to Freda at Oakton Community College

I finally sent off my entry for the upcoming juried exhibit at Oakton Community College's Koenline Museum of Art. The theme for this year is a challenge for artists to respond to the work of an influential woman from the past. I have posted my entry titled "Self Portrait in My Studio" and measures 48" high and 36" wide.

I am referencing the sixteenth century Italian artist Sofonsiba Anguissola. She was the first woman artist to gain international celebrity. She began training as a painter at a young age and her many self-portraits are also unique to sixteenth-century Italy. Sofonsiba was a pioneer of female self-portraiture, the first to show their pride in their talent. She became a renowned court painter, and was the first woman artist to have left behind at least fifty paintings as a well defined body of work.

I look forward to the exhibit and will enjoy seeing the way that other artists have interpreted the art by the women that we have to thank for paving the way for us today. I'll post photos of the event after I attend the opening reception in October.

Installing the 27th Annual Workshop for Contemporary Artists Show

Here are just few snapshots of the artists that comprise Workshop for Contemporary Artists. Pictured are Alice White, Judith Nahill, Nancy Seidler, Patricia Brutchin and Pat Tanner. We always enjoy the process of hanging the show, it is a team effort and we try to create a harmonious show with every artist showing their work in the best way. I have been in the art group for the past 13 years. I have learned so much about art, friendship, and life through these wonderful ladies.














I will post photos from the reception which is scheduled for Saturday August 27, 6:30 - 9:00 pm. at the Old Courthouse Art Center located on the Historic Woodstock Square, 101 North Johnson Street. The show runs from August 11 through September 28and the gallery phone number is 815-338-4525. We are also showing with Claymirth Pottery and the Northwest Area Arts Council sponsored Real People National Exhibit.

Three Shows in One Month

This month has been very busy for me with exhibiting my work in three different venues. In previous posts you have views of the show "Honoring and Remembering" at Northern Trust Bank in Chicago. This show has been on exhibit since early July and has received excellent reviews and a few press features. I will pick-up the work after the deinstallation at the end of the month.
The second show was installed on August 2, and is pictured in these photos taken at the Elgin Art Showcase, an alternative venue that attracts a broad audience. This is a solo show, so I took the opportunity to exhibit some of my work from a few years ago. When I look at my work from the past few years I find it very rewarding that there is a cohesive flow from one body of work to the next. I have loads of work, and continually create new paintings and drawings, but I find there is change and growth as each year of work comes into being with virtually a life of it's own.
When I have an opportunity to exhibit my work I will usually say yes. I love the process of hanging a show and seeing the work come together in a new space. I always price the work and expect that there will be some interested buyers. This is the "icing on the cake" for an artist, to exhibit their work in as many shows as possible, the final cherry that makes it all come together is a load of interested collectors buying the art.
In the following post I will include photos from the third show this month, the annual Workshop for Contemporary Artists 27 Annual Exhibit at the Old Courthouse Art Center in Woodstock.

Capturing Sparkling Light Through Water in Chicago

I take a lot of pictures as reference for my paintings and drawings. I arrived early in Chicago before I was to present an art program for the Vet Art Project at the Chicago Cultural Center so I went to Millennium Park to see the wonderful sights at Crown Fountain. This was one of the hottest days of the summer, and in the City the heat is intensified by the radiant sun reflecting from the skyscrapers onto the street. The coolest and most refreshing location in Chicago is a Crown Fountain. I took off my shoes and just started taking photographs. I was delightfully surprised when I viewed the results of light and water radiating from above onto the humanity seeking refuge from the sweltering heat. This is just one from the collection. This is one of four photos that I have on exhibit in "Backstory" the annual Workshop for Contemporary Artists show at the Old Courthouse Art Center in Woodstock.

"Honoring and Remembering" on exhibit in Chicago at Northern Trust Bank for July and August

I'm showing 14 portraits from "Portraits of American Veterans" with the National Veterans Art Museum in a show titled "Honoring and Remembering" at Northern Trust Bank in downtown Chicago located at 50 S. LaSalle Street.

"Honoring and Remembering" will be on exhibit for the months of July and August. There will be an artist reception in August, I don't have a date yet but I will post it when it as soon as I know. Below is a brief description from the press releases that I sent out. I'll post more on the show soon.

This Chicago exhibit is groundbreaking in scope, and the first art exhibition that brings together the art by veterans from the NVAM with the paintings and stories about veterans by Ms. Hill-Soldner. All artworks from the NVAM have been created by artists who are veterans of wars from the Vietnam War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The National Veterans Art Museum is the only art museum in the world that focuses on artwork created by veterans, and is locate at 1801 S. Indiana Avenue in Chicago.

More Portraits in Progress

As I continue painting the portraits I have discovered the most relaxed approach to the painting process. This is John Roach, he's a US Navy veteran who served three tours of duty in Vietnam. John was raised in military family so we had a lot to talk about before the portrait began. As you can see from the photos I have posted, John is a direct individual. His direct gaze was something that I wanted to capture in the painting. The next step in the painting process will be to loosely lay in the jacket, shirt and tie. I don't draw on the canvas before painting, instead I proceed directly with the oil on canvas. I find this brings a direct and fresh approach that is reflected in the power of the finished painting. I will post the progress of John's portrait as it develops. By the way John is the 19th veteran in the "Portrait of American Veterans Project". Also I always paint the glasses after the portrait is almost complete, so check back and see how John looks with his glasses. I will contact the 20th veteran soon and schedule his portrait session.

New Class and Workshop Schedule for My Studio

Understanding Color: Teens to Adults Starting Thurs. June 16 Thursdays 10:00- 1:00, 6 weeks sessions. 180.00 Acrylic I love color, I love the storied history of artist pigments and love to teach students about pleasures of understanding color. Learn to set-up a full color palette, mix and explore color relationships, paint nomenclature, mediums and brush work, we will create a painting on canvas. Materials list provided during registration. Minimum 4 students.

Life Model Workshop : Adults Only : Sunday June 26, 10 am—3pm $45.00 A professional model will provide one 5 hour pose in Jeanine’s spacious and inspiring studio. Easels, tables, coffee. Bring your favorite art media and hone your figure rendering skills in a friendly and supportive working artists studio. Bring a sack lunch, beverages will be provided. Minimum 5 participants.

Monthly Saturday Group Creative Sessions: Call and Schedule a Creative Break Many have requested that I offer process oriented art sessions. Focus on process and thePleasures of creating with art materials that will enrich your life like nothing else can. Make time for yourself and friends to recharge your creative batteries and make a beautiful work of art. $175.00 / 3 hours / 5 students/ materials included. Teens to adults.