Awarded Honorable Mention for Faded Chalkboard Memories

One of my pieces was stolen

Ok - I was showing my work - 7 pieces - at a place that for privacy reasons I will not name. The show was over and I had planned to pick up the work on a agreed-upon day. The day before that however, I find out that one of my paintings had been stolen from the show. !!!

The work that was stolen is pictured above. It's called All In, and it's part of my Discarded series. All the works in that series are based on old photographs that I've found in junk shops and antique stores.

Of course I was upset and freaked out - but also a little excited. Have I reached a new level in my art career? Work so good it's worth stealing? Well - I don't know about all that, but I couldn't help but feel a little complimented by the act of larceny. Is that weird?

The story ends well, I am happy to report. I got the painting back through the heroic acts of one lovely man who deduced who had stolen the painting and demanded it back on threat of pressing police charges.

My friend, I am forever in your debt. 😀

And for anyone interested in buying a piece with a past - please give me a call!

First day of workshop

Currently studying watercolor techniques with Karlyn Holman - today was abstract day. We worked with collage and watercolor for half the day and the other half of the day we learned to work with alcohol inks. Having a ton of fun!

: Alcohol inks on ceramic tile

: Alcohol inks on Yupo paper

: Alcohol inks on Yupo paper

: Mixed media and collage

: Mixed media and collage

Collage paper / Experimentation / Paintings / Watercolor / watercolor crayon / watercolor pencils / Watercolors / Yupo paper - 07/14/2014

In memoriam

A very good friend lost his father a few months ago, and he and his mom have been having a particularly tough time. He asked if I could create a portrait for his mother in memoriam of their beautiful marriage. Attached is the finished product - it was given to her for mother's day this year.

Portraits from photos / Watercolor - 05/15/2014

New watercolors

I've been spending the cold nights and weekends indoors painting. I've added a few to my "Snow Day" series and a few others as well that don't quite fit into a series yet. I may be starting a new series...

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Watercolor / Watercolors / Winter scenes - 03/12/2014

Loads of commissions

What a treat! I've always loved painting portraits and this season kept me really busy! Here are a few of the finished commissioned works.

All I need to create a portrait is a good photo of the subject. In focus and with good lighting.

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Collage paper / Gifts / Pet Portraits / Portraits from photos / Watercolor - 01/12/2014

Chicago Woods sold!

Thank you to Chris Martin for his recent purchase of "Chicago Woods". It fits beautifully in your room, Chris!

The work was inspired by the beautiful colors of late fall in the Chicago Forest Preserve near my home. Each time I drove by I'd literally gasp at it's beauty - especially on the sunny afternoon that gave me the impetus to create this painting.

This painting is a large scale water media work. I employed watercolor, watercolor crayons and watercolor pencils to create this painting. Framed, it measures 44" x 36" and is a great size for a large wall, as shown in the painting at left.

This painting is available as a giclee print in any size up to 15" x 22". I also have greeting cards featuring this image. Please contact me for details.

140# Arches watercolor paper / By Rochelle / Landscapes / Materials / Watercolor / watercolor crayon / watercolor pencils / Watercolors - 08/06/2013

Galleria refreshed

I have been renting a booth space at the Andersonville Galleria for a couple years now - it is a happy space for me. It was the first place I started showing my work, and not only have I made many sales, but I have also met some great people and been "found" by some people who have helped my career as a Chicago painter along on it's merry way.

A couple weeks ago I revamped my booth. I put up a fresh coat of paint, and put up all new art (save my portrait samples). I took down florals and put up abstracts. I took down my old landscapes and put up my Absurdity Birdity and Snow Day series. Now in addition to watercolors you'll also find encaustic paintings and oil/cold wax paintings. All new matted prints are available too.

It's a whole new booth. If you haven't visited recently I invite you to come take a new look. It's the Rochelle Weiner Fine Art booth, on the first floor, in the back.

TIP: If you let me know you're planning a visit, I can meet you there. And if you buy an original while I am there, I may extend you a courtesy discount!

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Art show / By Rochelle / Collage paper / Encaustic paintings / Encaustic paints / encaustic wax / Gifts / Greeting Cards / Masa paper / Materials / Monoprints / OIl paint / Oil paintings / Paintings / prints / R&F Pigment Sticks / Salt / Snow Day Series / Watercolor / Watercolors / wood board - 07/03/2013

Workshop with Karlyn Holman

I've just returned from a week long workshop with Karlyn Holman in Washburn Wisconsin. This is the 4th year in a row I've attended a workshop with her. Karlyn is such an inspiring person - she's created a wonderful life for herself in the arts. She is a great artist, she teaches in her studio and in workshops all over the world, she has a thriving business in an idyllic small town - she really is a wonder.

The first class I took with Karlyn a few years ago opened my eyes. Her success has inspired me change my life and pursue fine art as a career - something I never really believed was a feasible goal until I met Karlyn. Thank you, Karlyn - you are my inspiration!

Each year, Karlyn has new techniques to teach and new directions to take us. Each year I come away with inspiration to feed my studio time, incorporating the new ideas I've learned into my own work.

Below are my finished pieces derived from the lessons we worked on last week.

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acrylic paint / acrylic paintings / By Rochelle / Collage paper / Experimentation / Inspiration / Landscapes / Materials / Paintings / photography / Salt / Watercolor / Watercolors / Yupo paper - 06/13/2013

One way to monoprint

There are lots of ways to create monoprints. I learned a fun way to do it in a workshop with Karlyn Holman a couple years ago. I've used this process to create probably more than 100 paintings by now. I've done series of flowers, vegetables an fruits, portraits, birds, and most recently I have come up with a new series I'm calling "Absurdity Birdity".

I've found this process to be really versatile and fun, as well as freeing. You end up with smears and marks from the ink, and the collage paper ends up in places you don't expect. This gives you the opportunity to "make it work". I find it challenging and I feel some of my best work has come from this process.

I thought it would be fun to show how to do it.

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By Rochelle / Collage paper / How to / Masa paper / Materials / Monoprints / Paintings / Watercolor / Watercolors - 05/28/2013

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