"Discarded Memories" - opening reception May 19

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A new direction

Painting from life

I am thrilled to report a new direction in my art. Back in art school I used to really look forward to my painting from life classes. I love the immediacy of standing there and painting what you see and feel from another human being, right on the spot. It's amazing to me that there would be a class full of students, all painting the same model, same pose, each ending up with a totally different interpretation. Everyone's painting was different, because everyone's experience is unique and individual - even when the stimuli are as controlled as a single person sitting in a single pose for 3 hours time.

No opportunities

I've not had an opportunity to paint from life like this since I was in school - nude models aren't exactly knocking on my door (that's probably a good thing...) But I've always had it in the back of my mind that if I'd ever find this opportunity again, I'd jump on it. Well, the opportunity presented itself through a brilliant artist I met recently, Piotr Antonow. He and I are currently in a gallery show together in Chicago and he does these remarkable, large scale, colorful, energetic, abstracted nudes. Stunning work, I am blown away by his talent. On meeting him and discussing his work he has now invited me in on the live model sessions he attends 1-2x a week.

What joy!

Finally the opportunity has presented itself, and I am having a ball. A third artist is also working with us - Marina Nemtseva - and between the three of us we present three totally different points of view of the same model, same pose. This is just like I remember from art school. Cool!

I thought I'd show an example of this. Below is an example of two paintings I did during last week's 3 hour session, and also an image of Piotr's painting done of the same model at the same time. Alas I do not have an image of Marina's painting because I didn't have the idea to write this blog until a few days after she - shockingly - destroyed her painting! What?! Bummer! it was really cool! I guess she must not have liked it! (I'll have to be faster next time.)

Susan at the Window - original acrylic painting by Rochelle Weiner

Susan at the Window - original acrylic painting by Rochelle Weiner

Susan in Glowing Light - original acrylic painting by Rochelle Weiner

Susan in Glowing Light - original acrylic painting by Rochelle Weiner

Nude in Natural and Artificial Light by Piotr Antonow

acrylic paint / acrylic paintings / Art show / Bristol paper / By Rochelle / Materials / Painting from life / Paintings - 04/06/2012
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Opening night at the Phantom Gallery

Wow - that was fun! Last night was my first official art gallery opening night - at the Phantom Gallery currently located at 4161 North Damen in Chicago. That in itself made it a very special night for me.

Great turn out - the gallery was packed with friends of the artists and well-wishers. I got a chance to talk to some very interesting artists and patrons and got lots of compliments on my work (yay!). There were also three performance artists who provided entertainment plus a fabulous guitar player who provided beautiful music throughout the night. A man named Chris did a barefoot interpretive dance to go with his fiddle playing and Alan Hicks created temporal sculptural art on the fly with much fanfare using only an old video tape. Very cool! However the highlight of the night for me was Louise Cloutier of Voiceborne who improvised songs to a number of pieces in the show. I was able to get video of her singing to my painting, "Unfold". What a treat!

Thank you so much to those of you who made it to the show last night - I really appreciate you making an effort to come out on such short notice! You helped to make my night extra special!

To those who couldn't come, the show runs through April 10. Let me know if you'd like to go and we can set up a time to meet! 🙂

Art show / Paintings - 03/18/2012
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Accepted into IWS national exhibition!

I'm over the moon! I was just informed that my painting, "Jealousy in Red Gloves" (see below) has been accepted into the Illinois Watercolor Society's national exhibition! I've been told that nationally rated artists submit paintings to be in this show every year, so to be one of 60 selected for competition is a major honor in itself! Woohoo!

This painting is one of a series I'm developing where I use discarded antique photos to inspire a painting. I will be showing rest of the series in May in Chicago, but "Envy in Red Gloves" will be displayed that month at the IWS show.  Tentative name of this series is "Discarded".

Information regarding the show coming up in May:

IWS 28th National Exhibition

May 4 – June 1, 2012
Reception: Saturday, May 5

Judge of Awards: Donna Jill Witty, AWS, NWS, TWSA-MS
Demo by Donna Jill Witty at 1 PM

The Next Picture Show
113 W. First St., Dixon, Illinois 61021, 815 285 4924

 

Art competition / Art show / By Rochelle / Discarded series / Paintings - 03/17/2012
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Now showing in Lincoln Park

On Thursday I installed my paintings at the new art gallery opening soon in Lincoln Park. It's called "Fortunate Discoveries", it's located at 1022 W Armitage, and is a similar business model to the Andersonville Galleria. I've signed a lease and I get a wall all to myself.

Fortunate Discoveries' focus is original artwork of all types. I am one of a few 2D artists showing there, and there are jewelers, photographers, sculptors, potters and more. It's a pretty fab place!

All the artists are installing their work this week. I decided to focus on my florals, still lifes and cheery landscapes seeing that spring has made an early appearance here in Chicago. If all goes well Fortunate Discoveries opens doors within a week. Soft opening meet and greet with the neighbors is April 1 and grand opening is Friday night, May 4 from 6-9pm. Hope to see you all there!

Art show / Collage paper / Cray pas / Masa paper / Materials / Monoprints / Original portraits / Paintings / Pet Portraits / Portraits from photos / Salt / Watercolor / Yupo paper - 03/16/2012
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Show at the Phantom Gallery - St Paddy's Day

The AQUA Series

Opening night

Saturday March 17, 7pm
The Phantom Gallery
4161 North Damen

Show runs through mid April and the gallery is open daily 6-8pm and all afternoon Saturdays and Sundays. Appointments off hours are also available.

The Phantom Gallery is transient and at this time it's located in Ravenswood. I'll be showing with the International Artist Group and I have a wall 15 feet wide all to myself. It's my first art show at a real gallery space. Ok, it's a popup gallery but that counts... right?

All are invited - bring friends!

If on Saturday you're drunk and wearing green, you're still welcome, as long as you keep the green beer away from the paintings.

 

Aqua series / Art show / By Rochelle / Materials / Paintings / Watercolor - 03/12/2012
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Sweet attack

Wayne Thiebold made a name for himself during the pop art movement by painting cakes and pastries - and I can see why he chose them. They're so pretty! Like making a painting of a sculpture, it's art inspired by art.

While the Pop movement was about glorifying objects of mass culture, my inspiration is more of an homage to the work and talent that goes into making a beautiful cake or pastry.

These were way too fun to paint, and I have lots of ideas to continue the series. However, the fall out is a pretty hefty sugar craving. Uh oh!

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Art show / Collage paper / Inspiration / Masa paper / Materials / Monoprints / Paintings / Watercolor - 10/29/2011
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Love a gallery night

Woohoo! Even though the holiday weekend kept the crowd smallish, I had a great time! Thanks for all who came to see me at the Andersonville Galleria last night. I met some great new clients - regulars to the Galleria - who loved my fruit and veg series (more to come there!) And the birdies seem to be getting a lot of attention too. Some lovely neighbors also came by to show support and even bought a couple things! Thanks to everyone!

Sales included the following:

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Art show / Paintings - 09/03/2011
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Nuts for fruit and veg

I've been working on a series of fruit and veg for the last couple months and finished them up over the weekend. I was going for fun and funky, and certainly colorful.

These are the same technique I've used for florals in the past - a mix of monoprint, collage and watercolor that I learned from Karlyn Holman this spring. I love the element of the "happy accident" you get with the collage paper and the monoprinting process. You just never know what you're going to get!

I'm going to frame up a few of the originals as groups of two or four I think, for placement at the Galleria. And I just sent scans of all of them, and the little birdies, to get prints in time for the Sept 2 First Friday event at the Galleria. Which are your faves?

The fruits

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The veg

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Art show / Collage paper / Masa paper / Materials / Watercolor - 08/24/2011
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