New Mixed Media Assemblage

The violin and frame in this peice are actually gifts from friends who knew I would find a creative us for them. I do like the white violin on the the blue and black canvas. The deep thalo/ ultramarine blue reflects onto the vilolin in an interesting way. I was thinking in terms of a Dada like interpretation where the object is what it is, but it no longer fullfills it's previous function. I was also thinking in terms of the cool sounds violins produce.

Algonquin/ Lake in the HIlls Fire Department Mural 6' x 12' oil on canvas

I finally have a new photograph of the mural I painted for the Fire Dpt.. The installation was held 2000 at the old Fire Department building in Algonquin. The community has grown tremedously in since the installaion so the Fire Dpt. built a huge state of the art building. The mural was moved to the new space within the huge atrium entrance in 2005. This mural was my first large format painting and the most complex. The mural represents the history of the Algonquin/ LITH Fire Dept. from about 1935 until 2000. I worked with over 75 photographs that depicted the history of the Dpt. I developed a timeline with various images. There have been some significant changes during the Dpt.'s history. During the time I was painting the mural the Rescue/Ambulance service were added. You will find this on right section of the composition. The first full-time woman fire fighter is also included in the Dpt. just before I completed the mural, and you will find her on the right panel.

I enjoy working with complex images and building compositons that provide a narrative. There is a tremedous amount of processing involved when working without projectors or computers while developing the final design. I find it very rewarding to bring life to a painting and enrich the world with my artwork.

Large Format Acrylic Painting Workshop

Saturday and Sunday

May 3 & 4, 2008

10:00 a. m. - 3:00 p. m.

Cost: $150.00 for two days

Location: Historic Dole Mansion

Lakeside Legacy Arts Park

401 Country Club Rd.

Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Discover the joy of painting large format. Work from original photographs with acrylic paint on a 48" x 36" stretched canvas. Demonstration and discussion will begin each day with in-class painting and individual help. Experimentation and individual expression will facilitate the process of finding your unique style in this energetic workshop.

Students will bring their own paints and brushes with charcoal paper, pencils, a ruler and favorite photo.

Lunch will be provided each day.

Please sign-up in advance by contacting me. I will send you a registration form and supply list. Stop by my garden level studio for the application or further info or e mail me and I will send a pdf registration form.

jeanine@soldnerfineart.com

"City Summit"

This is one of my favorite views of Chicago. I call it my "city summit view", from the top floor of the Hancock Building.

Life Drawing

This is drawing from a 25 minute pose. Graphite on drawing paper. Simple, clean back to basics, good drawing translates into good painting. Life drawing is an excercise in observation and formal understanding of human proportions. Thanks goodness for the artists that work together and bring professional models to drawing sessions. This is how many artists continue to hone their skills throughout their lives.

"The Italian Alps in August"

I am working on some smaller, much smaller, (8"x 10" and 16" x 20") paintings from my travels. Many of these will be landscapes based on photos that I have taken on my many travels. While painting I am transported back to these wonderful places and the memories of journeys and discovery. I feel a kinship with mountains and nature. Many summers during my childhood were enjoyed while exploring and hiking in the mountains of North Carolina. There is nothing quite like hiking up to the summit then peering out at the vast expanse before your eyes and discovering a new world below that has changed with your view. I especially love the mountains in Wales and the Lake District in England. Standing high above on a montain is humbling and a reminder of natures' power to sculpt the earth. The experience is so refreshing it takes my breath away. The most exciting hike was to the summit of Mount Snowdon in North Wales. Cairns (small stacks of stones) are placed along the paths to lead the hiker up the rocky and treacherous face. When you finally reach the summit there is feeling of such freedom that you have left the world below and you are one with nature.

If you are ever in Chicago visit one of my favorite places to take in the view from above. Go to the top floor of the Hancock Building In the women's restroom there is wall of glass that provides the most marvelous view of downtown with Lake Michigan as a backdrop. This is my "city summit"and one of my favorite places where I can leave the world behind. Stop in a the bar and have a drink while you enjoy the view.

My screen saver is actually the view of Chicago from the top floor of the Hancock Building.

Classes in My Studio

I offer art classes in my studio for children and adults. These two boys were attending a summer workshop where they learned how to work with acrylic paints. I also offer adult classes for beginning to advanced students in oil and acrylic painting.