October News-Jurying the Bosque Art Association, Clifton,Tx

Clifton, Texas is the home of the Bosque Art Classic annually held in the late Spring. The Art Center is a large facility that houses the Arts, including the Classic, local shows, and theater productions. The community of local artists not only volunteer to keep the gallery running and maintain the gift shop, but also help with painting set designs for the theater productions. I was honored to jury the Bosque Art Association's art show in the upper galleries.

With me is Karen, a dedicated volunteer who gave me the initial tour of the Art Center. She is a talented portrait painter who fills the walls of her residence with family and friends.

(Never mind the "wink" in my left eye..my brother was taking pictures and moving his mouth with a joke at the same time...candid shots are not always flattering!)

No matter what is said, being a juror is not a cake walk. There were some difficult decisions to be made because there were so many potential winners, and only a few awards to be given. I think anyone who is a creative soul deserves reward! Hopefully, these awards will encourage others to reach for the prize next year..thank you Bosque Art Association for a wonderful day.

"Best of Show" award winner, "Path of the Peregrine" by Vonnie Kohn, oil on canvas, 24x30"

"Path of the Peregrine"

24 x 30"

Oil

I am honored to announce this painting has been awarded Best-of-Show in the Wild Winged Raptor Art Show at the Buffalo River Art Gallery and Eagles Nest Arts at 170 English Landing Dr in Parkville, Mo. Those who are in the area are invited to attend this art gathering July 12th-August 14th. Meredith Lockhart has done a wonderful job at putting this event together to benefit the Eagle Valley Raptor Center that rehabilitates injured birds of prey. This original oil painting is available. For more information please contact meredith@meredithlockhart.com 

"Path of the Peregrine"

24x30"

Oil on Canvas

I am honored to announce that 2 of my paintings have been selected as entries in the "Wild Winged Raptor Art Show" in Parkville, Mo. The proceeds will benefit the Eagle Valley Raptor Center. The Preview reception will be held on July 11, 2014 at the Buffalo River Art Gallery

170 English Landing Dr., Ste 131

 "Wings of Gold"

        8 x 10"  

    Oil on Board                                          

                                                                                                                                           

For additional information, please follow this link:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Winged-Raptor-Art-Show/1391232947832958

Yellowstone Splendor by Vonnie Kohn, Tx artist, plein air, landscape, oil on canvas, 11x14"

"Yellowstone Splendor"

11 x 14"

oil on canvas

$ 350

A scenic impressionistic landscape from the Yellowstone National Park. This impressionism is painted with a minimum of brushstrokes and from a limited palette. There will be many more of these "impressions" from one of the most beautiful parks in our nation. If interested please contact me:

www.vonniekohn.com 

http://vonniekohn-artist.blogspot.com 

I look forward to hearing from you...

Still-life with Daisies and Oranges by Vonnie Kohn, Tx artist, oil painting

Daisies with Oranges, Grapes

11x14"

Oil/ Canvas

$350

My latest still-life is a study in impressionism using  minimal brushwork. Reflections and transparency in the bottles add interest. Email me if interested:

www.vonniekohn.com 

http://vonniekohn-artist.blogspot.com 

Thank you for looking!

"Rachel"-Finished Portrait! by Tx. artist Vonnie Kohn

"Rachel"

20x24"

Oil on Canvas

I have finally finished this portrait of my granddaughter, Rachel. She chose this particular jacket with buttons to wear to the photo shoot. I was intrigued by the way it defined her personality differently than I had previously viewed her. This portrait has garnered much interest and has even prompted a commission or two! Rachel has just completed her MBA in accounting, married, and now moving on to a promising career. May her future be filled with joy.

Rachel-Progressions of Portrait by Texas Contemporary Artist Vonnie Kohn

Well, I'm back at the easel again with Rachel. When considering a portrait, the skin tones usually dictate the background color. Rachel's skin tones have a delicate pale blue in the shadows with very fair skin. She has hazel eyes with naturally blond hair. A pale lose background in greens seem to enhance all of her features. I loosely painted the background in an impressionistic manner.

The jacket was painted in undertones of alizarin crimson & ultramarine blue to give a little warmth to the dark jacket. If I had painted the jacket straight black, it would have looked like a "black hole" instead of being rich with deep tones.

Notice that her eyes were not painted "white" at this point. When observing a person's eyes, the eyeball is not always pure white. They are also luminous with reflected color!

The "Eyes" have it! Rachel now has eyes. I am still modifying by overlaying layers of shadows and deepening values in the skin tones. The jacket has undergone more layers with additional glazes. Next week...the finished project!

"Rachel"-Progression of Portrait by Texas Contemporary Artist Vonnie Kohn

It's been a long while since I've blogged about art. I took a sabbatical for awhile in order to concentrate on family and medical issues. It's good to be back at the easel again and share in the Celebration of Life on canvas. I have decided to change the format of my blog somewhat. I will be posting the progression of some of my paintings from time to time at the requests of other fellow artists. To the right is a photo of one of my granddaughters-Rachel. The light was not too flattering and she had just stopped by my studio after a long tiring day at work.  Isn't she beautiful? Her jacket was interesting and typified her personality perfectly.

I hung this on a display wall at the gallery where I exhibit my work and conduct lessons. I was teaching a portrait class at the time and gave a preliminary oil sketch demo to my students. The canvas size is 20x24" portrait canvas by W and N. Ordinarily I work on canvases with a neutral background, but Rachel's skin tones were so pale that I wanted to allow the white of the canvas to lighten her facial values. My palette colors were: Raw umber, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre pale and titanium white by Winsor and Newton. I ordinarily do not sketch beforehand with a pencil or charcoal but draw with a brush technique which is more spontaneous. Because of limited time in the classroom, this is where I stopped for the session. To demonstrate the layout of composition,  the canvas was divided into thirds, both vertically and horizontally. In placing her just off center and facing the viewer directly, Rachel's energetic personality is both straightforward and direct.

The basic proportions and underpainting are now in place. Next blog, I will bring her to life...see you then!