"The Life of an Artist"

I have often heard the phrase, "artists march to the beat of a different drummer"...so true! I have just found a recent article that is so appropriate in describing what we do and what we are as artists. I quote: "The life of a visual fine artist is rewarding, satisfying, and sometimes, necessary. Like many other endeavors, it has its good points. We enjoy what we do..we can do it anywhere..we can do it in our pajamas..we enjoy the process. We can often make money at it..we can teach it...we can enjoy the process. Whilethe quality & beauty of our work..is always in the eye of the beholder, it is a goal to seek out art collectors, gallery owners, or maybe even a museum ..how do we cope with the emotional roller coaster of 'approval, income, the ups and downs of our careers?'" She has many thought provoking things to say...good advice for any level of artist! This article may be seen in its entirely at www.patzart.blogspot.com . Enjoy the read!

"The Last Grandchild"

As with most families, we have a family tradition. My g-grandfather built handmade chairs & rockers for extra income. In the early days, he took a wagon load of rockers & various types of chairs to market. On his last trip, he gave each of his grown children a chair with the instructions that it was to be handed down to the youngest of each grandchild as a family heirloom. As luck would have it, the little red chair was given to my mother, the youngest at that time. Now I am in possession of this small chair which is being preserved for my youngest.

The seat is covered with old deer hide that has split & curled in the most interesting texture. The quilt, the Bethlehem Star pattern, also her quilt, is reminisicent of the period in which the chair was fashioned. Her christening dress, garden hat, and doll are all a part of her place in our family...this is a portrait of "the last grandchild" of my generation.

20 x 24 framed..please see my website if interested: www.vonniekohn.com

"Art in the Garden '09"..I've been accepted!

I've just been notified that I've been accepted into "Art in the Garden 2009" at the Ft. Worth Botanic Garden (Ft. Worth, Tx). The show will be held in the Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center on September 11-13, 2009. This artwork is posted on July 27, 2008 in this blog. I was honored to learn that the juror was very impressed with "The DeGolyer View". He has had many credentials, among them, a staff member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Washington, D.C. If you are in the vicinity of the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, please attend this noteworthy show.

"Crossroads N Ranch"

This is a very large ranch that we pass by every time we take a shortcut to one of the major interstate highways in Texas. For years I wondered why it was called "Crossroads Ranch." As we passed by on one of our trips into Oklahoma, I looked back & saw the "crosses" on the top of the silos & a cross with the letter "n" beside it. This is such a lovely area. I determined for several years that I was going to paint them. Just so happens that the tenants were there the day I chose to set my easel up & paint-such willing models! The paper was slightly wrinkled when I took this picture..the framing took out those uneven areas.

Watercolor painting on 140 lb Arches..22 x 28..double matted & framed
$ 450
http://www.vonniekohn.com/

"Vendimia"

Grapes-a symbol of life, immortality, harvest, a time of joy. This is my newest "note from the easel". I chose to paint the palomino grape which is used for making "fino" and "amontillado" (sherry wine). It is not just a white grape, but goes through many color changes as it ripens on the vine.

While on a tour through a vineyard, I spied this beautiful cluster of grapes, with the sun peeking through the leaves. I wanted to share the moment with you. Beautiful, isn't it?

11x14...oil on canvas...gallery wrapped (needs no frame)

If interested, please contact me either here or through my website:

http://www.vonniekohn.com/

"Isaiah's Scroll"

What could be more about Easter than the celebration of the Resurrection? This small painting is my spiritual tribute to the One whom this season is all about. The prophet Isaiah is known as the "prophet of the messiah" because of several writings which foretold of a coming savior for his people. His was a "celebration of life." This particular scroll is chosen from Isaiah, chapter 53....Happy Easter everyone!

5 x 7" oil on board, framed...$150
www.vonniekohn.com

"Pomegranates with Lime"

I love pomegranates....they are both tasty and interesting to paint! I also love painting small works..aka..miniatures (altho' this is not a true miniature in the sense of scale). Painting on such a small canvas helps me to have a sense of immediancy in brushwork and spontaneity in composition and color. I don't get "buried in the details". Many painters have a blog advertising "a painting a day." I do not try to keep that schedule. There are too many wonderful ideas in my head that simply won't fit that daily rigor. The pomegranates in my kitchen, however, seemed to beg to be captured in this simple, but appealing still-life. Please feel free to enjoy...or maybe you'd like to buy a pomegranate & share my enthusiam?



Oil on Canvas...5 x 5"...gallery wrap (needs no frame).. http://www.vonniekohn.com