Painting BIG!

 Painting a large piece pushes me, loosens up my tendency to tight brushwork because…tiny strokes would be of little impact.  Most important is value, color and shape/composition!  Even more important than painting the perfect leaf or reflection…the painting relies on me looking at it abstractly.  Does it feel right?  Do the shapes tell a story, draw the viewer in to travel throughout the scene?

Here’s the progress so far on my fall scene - - -

Wish me luck ad I continue to add darks (but keeping some sparkle), shapes and reflections!

Painting in Tuscany - such fun!

We just returned from a lovely trip to Umbria and Tuscany where we traveled by plane, train, bike and bus from Paris to Umbria to Siena (!) to Trequanda and Florence - what fun.  We first biked UP and down the huge hills with friends, fueled by croissants and lots of cappuccinos.  The food is so good that we were glad we were exerting ourselves with biking daily!

Then we finished up with a week at the Fattoria Del Colle, an agritourismo spot that produces exquisite wines.  The wined tasting was such fun, we learned a lot about the Donatella C. Colombini vineyard and Wine production.  Donatella started her wine business in 1988 on family lands owned since 1592.  When she sought a vintner/wine to oversee and produce her wines from the Wine Schools of Siena, they said they had none available, all the men had been hired already.  Donnatella thought about that, called back and asked if they had any women?  They replied that yes, they did have women available...so she hired a woman and now produces wine with all women in the production areas.  Men do help in other capacities though : )...overseeing the vineyard and olive groves, etc. - a very fun place to stay, dine on wonderful food, sample wines.  I sold a painting to a couple visiting who saw me at work!  First International sale of artwork - happy happy joy joy -

Oh - and I was part of a Art Workshop there : ).  We painted daily with Yuki Hall and Diana Mara along with lots or touring to various towns and cities nearby.  Siena and Florence caputured our hearts.  Dan and I walked daily through the countryside and I made a few paintings, took way too many photos and will make more paintings, hopefully in time for the Open Studio Tour on Oct. 19 and 20!  I will have guest artist Pam Geisel with her Art Quilts. 

Please come visit my studio and the others in Yellow Springs!  It is a fun way to see how artists work and maybe pick up a painting or piece of artwork that captures your heart...

https://ysopenstudios.ysartscouncil.org

we got to bike in Paris and Italy!

Lovely countryside

First Painting in Italy - the Tuscan fields and mountains -

Watercolors - Libby Rudolf and Diana Hoke at the Winds Cafe

I am pulling all my resources together (painting/framing/documentation) to get my art ready....still making decisions on which paintings to include in my joint exhibit at the Winds Cafe in a week...yipes.

This will be my third exhibit at the Winds - I love to have my work in the cozy ambiance of this restaurant where the small=room effect of the architecture, colors and lighting help to enhance our show.  It's still amazing how many pieces can be displayed there too!  I am joined by fellow member of  Western Ohio Watercolor Society, Diana Hoke.  Our pieces really compliment each other - both nature lovers, etc

I have the good fortune to have YS woodworker-friend Robbie Marion make me frames for a few pieces that will be in show.  He has also made a large frame (35x55!) for a commission that I'm working on.  My son, Eric will be making me frames when he has time also : ).  

Here's a poster for the show - print it out and share & share this post if you are so inclined.  Diana and I will be ever-so-grateful!  Come see the show and join us for the

Artist Reception on Sunday, June 3, 6-8pm

Merry Christmas to One and All!

Here's hoping that you have a joy-filled holiday season...

This has been a busy year - full of creating lots of ART, going to dynamic ART workshops, traveling far and wide (and painting on-site), experimenting with new ways of painting, etc.

The day usually starts with a romp with the dog who is very energetic!!! and needs a lot of walks.  Of course, that's good for me too.  If you sit/stand to paint, you have to balance it out with activity, right?

To help celebrate the holiday, I made a little illustrated poem about 'Lucky', our Border Collie.  Here you are!  It is on a website that hosts videos (though this is more of a slide show).  Enjoy : )

https://vimeo.com/247328258

Open Studios Yellow Springs

Open Studios Yellow Springs is coming up soon = October 21 and 22, 10-5pm each day.  Click the link to find out about 30 Artists who will be participating this year!   The website is all set now - please download a map and come on down the Grinnell Rd to visit!

I'll have new work as well as prints, cards, etc for you to look through.  I'll have my hopefully-cleaned-up Studio open for you to check out.  I would love to have you stop by to visit!  We'll have snacks, of course...something yummy I'll bake.

Here are a few pieces I'll have on the walls.

'Bright Waters' Watercolor 16x20"

'Covered Bridge' Watercolor 16x20"

Art House Hop!

  We hosted as one of the 'Art Houses' on the Art House Hop fundraising for Yellow Springs Arts Council a few weeks ago.  It was a wonderful event - wish that we'd been able to go visit the other homes on the tour but we were too busy escorting people around, chatting about paintings, sculptures, etc.  It feels right to support the Arts Council - they support artists by hosting rotating exhibits in the gallery, putting on various events and hosting the YS Studio Tour.
   We have a collection ranging from oil/watercolor/acrylic paintings to clay mosaics, carved wooden fishes and sculptures along with a few pieces of the beautiful artwork our children created. Of course, since I'm a painter, there are a lot of my pieces throughout the house.  People also enjoyed visiting our pet frog, SeeMore (Eatmore) in the garden room.  Seemore enjoys living in his stone pool on a pedestal surrounded by blooming bouganvillia, orchids, etc.  The room gets toasty in the summer but has ventilation = it's especially wonderful when the weather cools down in autumn and winter.  Wherever we travel, I seek out others art (around home too) because it often inspires me to keep creating.  YS Arts Council helps to keep YS Art-Full.

Sculptured pot - K. Seidl
beside bouganvillia and hoya coming down from above

YS Open Studio Tours Oct 15,16

Traverse City-LRudolf

 Yellow Springs Open Studio Tour  Oct 15 and 16, 11-5pm

Knitting - LRudolf

  Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15 & 16, I will have my home/studio open to all as part of the Yellow Springs Open Studio Tour!  I am ecstatic to be able to host this in my home once again.  Our artist community is truly fortunate to have the support of YS Arts Council and YS Chamber for the organization and co=ordination of this tour.                                     Many thanks to Nancy Mellon, Sara Gray, YS Arts Council and Karen and Alex at Chamber for getting this together----

  There are 34 artists represented in 24 studio tour stops.  I will have at least 50 paintings on display on the walls throughout the house and garden room as well as matted work for sale.  I'll have a demo area in the garden room - cactus area.  My 'studio' with all my supplies, matt cutter/framing area and sewing area is upstairs in the loft.  All are welcome to visit - I'll tell you about what drives me to create, my materials, my workflow, etc.

  My studio is #19 on the tour = at 3590 Grinnell Rd - down the hill next to the Grinnell Mill.  Please come visit - we'll have yummy snacks and will be serving wine after 3pm : )!

Hummer with Trumpets LRudolf

Commissions, Plein Air Painting and upcoming shows...

    I am happily working on a commission to paint a lovely homestead in our region - watercolor.  I have got a bit done - hoping to finish it by early August!  Here's a beginning showing the miskit protecting the whites as I glaze the painting with layers of color.  

beginning of the WC

  In September, I will hang an exhibit in Springfield at a lovely spot - Seasons' Bistro and Grill on Limestone St downtown.  It will be there from Sept. 5 through mid December.    Artist Reception with tasty goodies, etc - Thursday, Sept. 22 from 5-7pm.   Come on over!

   Then, I will open up my home and studio to participate in the 'Open Studio Tour' in Yellow Springs and surrounds.  October 15 and 16, 10-5pm, 35 or so studios will welcome you to look about, see the art, talk with the artist, perhaps purchase a favorite to take home with you : ).  

Visitors will be guided on the free tour by a map which will show the studio locations, a description of work, etc.   It will be a busy fall, that's for sure!

Finally, I will be attending a workshop up in Cleveland with Ohio Plein Air Society to study oil painting with a group of friends...and meet new friends.  I can't wait!

Art show at the Winds Cafe - Thoughts onTeaching

May and June, I will host a show at the Winds Cafe in Yellow Springs for the months of May and June with friend and artist Pam Geisel.  We're working on a title...Color and Light - Brush and Needle.  Pam creates art quilts and I mainly work in watercolor.  I am musing, dreaming up my next paintings to include, exploring themes....

    I've been painting my whole life but concentrating on it for about 15 years.  Yesterday, I taught a private lesson and thoroughly enjoyed working with an artist to help her realize her vision.  So often, watercolor is difficult for artists because they fear to make a mistake.  They often use tiny amounts of paint and great quantities of water.
 
   There are certain skills that will help along the path to a successful painting such as wet-into-wet painting but paying attention to the timing and wetness of the paper....  If you don't have sufficient pigment on your brush, the color will simply disappear as it dries.  Of course you can continue to glaze or add layers.  I think I helped her paint more freely and wield the brush more assertively.

   I truly love to help inspire confidence, freeing people from inhibition of the creative process.  Here is a photo from a mini-workshop I taught last winter - helping people go wild w/color!  Joy  Joy Joy

Dayton City Paper - 'There's something in the Watercolor'

Dayton City Paper's writer Lisa Bennet wrote up a splendid article on me and my life/work.
I hope it inspires you to stop by the Y S Brewery or Village Artisans in Yellow Springs to see my work.

Golden Harvest (Honey Biz II)

Click here to see the article...   Dayton City Paper article

Montenegro Scene from Melanie and Lilli's travels

Working on pieces for my upcoming show at the Yellow Springs Brewery!  I will put up work in late December and have a reception on Dec 27...I think.  I'd actually love to do it on Dec 31!  What a great way to ring in the new year.  will work on that - more later

'Seneca Lake'  watercolor 16x20  $450

Here's what I'll put in the Reflections Show at YS Arts Council July 17-August 16.  This hung in the Western Ohio WC Society exhibit in Troy in 2014.  See monmornartist.blogspot.com for more information.

Next week - coming up - a mini-workshop on Painting flowers in WC at the YS Senior Center at 2:45pm, Friday, June 5.  I will bring supplies but feel free to bring your own brushes if desired.  Donations gladly accepted to help offset my costs....

oh - just took work down to the Would You, Could You gallery for their Miniature Show...opening Friday, June 19 during the YS Art Stroll...

ok - one more thing - I'm reading the newest Artist Magazine and love the illustrations of Lucile Prache of recipes.....

http://www.lucileprache.com/recipe-illustrations-4/ 

More flowers...and joining the Ohio Watercolor Society

  As I amble along the shores of the Little Miami River here in OH, I often come across things I simply must paint,,,,now!  I've made a painting of the Spring Beauties that emerge first in the brown mud and bracken of winter.
 

'First Spring Beauties' wc - Libby Rudolf

  I've decided to rejoin the Ohio Watercolor Society so that I can submit a few paintings for their annual competition.  It is somewhat stressful, submitting work to organizations, hoping that the judge sees the excellence in your painting...the spirit/essence that you have endeavored to capture.  I wonder if this one will catch the eye and heart of the judge.  Even if it doesn't, I still love it.

Spring WILL come, blossoms and all...

I recently brought out a painting that had been hiding in my portfolio case, perhaps hibernating?  This has been a long grey winter...The painting pulled on my heartstrings - asking to re-bloom anew in a frame.  Since I was about to participate in a art show, I decided to frame it up.  I hung it along with many other pieces, fabric birds that I've created, cards etc.  The show was fun, lots of beautiful work and friends were exhibiting also so - rather enjoyable.  However - I had no sales...not even a card!

Blossoms - 16x20  watercolor
sold

Late in the day (it was only a 3 hour show : ), a friend looked at this painting and claimed it for her own.  It was my one and only sale for the day and yet it made the show worthwhile!  Thank you my friend.  Thank you little blossoms for inspiring the painting that gave me income to go get more art supplies!  and thus the cycle continues...

winter to spring, dormancy to bloom.............sales to new supplies!

Lunar Dance - at the Winds

When next you come to Yellow Springs, be sure to visit the back corner of the main dining room of the Winds where you will find "Lunar Dance".  I paintied it in a loose style with the moon and clouds dancing in the sky and water.  I think this painting has a sprinkling of Chesapeake Bay, Lago di Como, Ceasars Creek and somewhere in California - many waters ...  You never know what will flow from may paintbrush!



Lunar Dance - watercolor
22x27 - $400

 The show is up until Sunday, April 1.  I just received a commission so life is marvelous!

Paintings at the Winds...Reception this sunday!

River Play

Here is a painting that I love for its sweet simple joy...I've donated it to the Antioch School "Julia Sweeney" Gala and auction, happening on March 24... I hope people will bid on it.
Please come to the reception at the Winds this sunday! 4:30-6:30.