Workshop for Contemporary Artists

Front from left: Nancy Seidler, Doris Davis Gallagher, Alice White, Jeanine Hill-Soldner, Judith Nahill, Lynn Carlson, and Patricia Tanner

Here we all are after the first phase of hanging our group show in the Old Courthouse Art Center in Woodstock. Were lunching at the Petite Crepere in the lovely outdoor courtyard, in front of the old jail that houses the restaurant. Adjacent to the Petite Crepere is the Old Courthouse Art Center, which can be seen behind our group. The historic Woodstock Square is a wonderful part of the Midwest, alive with artists, and restaurants, shops and the Woodstock Opera House. We always enjoy a well attended artist reception in the many years that we have exhibited here.

Summer Break?

The next three weeks I will not teach classes in my studio. Instead I am working furiosly to complete some mixed media boxes for the Workshop for Contemporary Artist "25th Anniversary Group Show" at the Old Courthouse Art Center in Woodstock. The show runs from August 6 - September 29. The artist reception will be on Saturday September 22, 6:30 pm- 9:00 pm.

I also have several new works due in August for a show titled "Ethereal Fauna, the Artist's Muse" that will exhibit during the month of October for Chicago Artists Month at the Tom Robinson Studio Gallery 2416 W. North Ave. This looks to be a be an exciting collaborative exhibit that challenges a group of Chicago artists to create new works on a common theme. I'm enjoying the change of media and love the collaborative process.

National Exhibition in California

Winter 12"x 36" triptych


Summer 12" x 36" triptych

I just shipped these two paintings to a nationally juried show at the Galeria Tonantzin Center for Arts and Humanities in San Juan Bautista, California. I was very excited to be accepted in this national exhibition.

I love trees and find they are so full of life and change. And like people, no two trees are alike, each one developing their own characteristics over time. The trees represented above are part of a series I painted while working in my Algonquin studio of 71/2 years. The property where my studio was located has since been razed for new development, but the trees represent in these paintings are still standing proud and tall.

Revisiting the Small Format

I will show my work in a solo exhibit at the Barrington Area Library March 29- June 19, 2009. The space has only two walls large enough to accomodate my large works, so I am producing a new collection of small oils to fit the space. I'm actually enjoying the ease and speed at which I work on small pieces. The title is "Sight Seeting" and the theme is light and fun to explore. I have an enormous number of photos that I have taken over the years from my travels throughout the world, so this show opens-up an opportunity to revisit those images and paint them as I remember the scenes. The process is a relaxing break from my labor intensive, large format paintings. I find if I revisit older themes in my work I think about where I'm going to go with new works. I certainly have been having a lot of fun painting in small format.

You can read more about my show in Quintessential Barrington Magazine at QBarrington.com

Exhibition: Reclaiming Our Heritage Festival

I am continueing my work that has been developing, I think, for my entire life, with veterans and their families. I am a child of a veteran so my work is authentic, and continually transforming as I find more connections with my art and the world around me.
Through my commitment to Veterans issues and understanding that art is powerful, healing and empowering, and engages individuals in a deep and profound way. My work with veterans and their families, has come about through Lisa Rosenthal and her groundbreaking program the Vet Art Project. Lisa, Jessa Carlstrom, and all of the artists working in colloaboration with veterans to promote community building through art in all of it's forms.

On Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 6:30 pm- 9:00 pm in room 1G at the Chicago Cultural Center. I will present a workshop for veterans titled "Blind Contour Self- Portraits" . Through this relaxing, meditative process the participants will draw two self-protraits unlike any they have ever seen, or experieced. FREE


On May 30-31, 2009 my work will be on exhibit at the 8th Annual Reclaiming Our Heritage Festival located at the Zaplockiva Medical (VA) , 500 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI. I will be the first artist to show in the newly renovated Civil War Library which is sponsored by Dryhootch. To find out more at http://www.rohmilwaukee.org/.

New Web Pages

I'm in the process of re-designing my web site, which is in dire need of an update. I hope to have it complete within the next few days. The frantic pace of getting new work completed, while preparing for upcoming exhibits, and opportunities for teaching and grant proposals, has been wonderful, but time consuming. Please be patient, and I'll have the site looking fresh and sparkling new soon.

Painting from Life

This past Sunday I enjoyed an intense 5 hours drawing and painting session with fellow artist friends. Our model was Veronica, a dear friend whose beautiful Flamenco costume was perfect with it's red hue and wonderful flowing lines. As you can see the painting is a quick study painted in oils on primed 300 lb. cold press Arches paper.