"Acoma Treasures," by Vonnie Kohn, Texas artist, acrylic painting, deer, native american rug, native american pottery, acoma, new mexico

"Acoma Treasures"

8 x 10"

Acrylic on Canvas

"Acoma Treasures" is the second painting that was previously shipped to the Kemp Art Center for the Mystery Art Fest. The reveal night is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5th, 2015 at an artist-signing reception. I want to thank my new collectors for their participation in the art auction.  The Kemp Art Center hosts this auction annually in the Fall as a fund raiser to benefit the many programs and exhibits..it is a worthy cause.

"Desert Fire", Native American woman, abstract Native American painting, acrylic painting, by Vonnie Kohn, Texas artist

"Desert Fire"
8 x 10"
Acrylic on Canvas

Kemp Art Center in Wichita Falls, Texas hosts a Mystery Art Fest annually in the Fall. I am honored to be a participant in this great event this year. 'Desert Fire" is one of two entries. The collectors do not have knowledge of who painted these entries until the night of the "reveal." They bid on the items and wait for the next meeting (reception) at which time the artists sign their work. Both of my entries have sold..thank you!

The Reveal night is being held at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2015 at the Kemp Art Center. I am looking forward to meeting my new collector. I hope you can be a part of this worthy cause....

Lavendar Fields inTuscany by Vonnie Kohn, Texas artist, 20x30

20 x 30 "

Acrylic on Canvas

$500

I have wanted to paint lavender fields for some time. I finally found the perfect place, thanks to Franklin, a late friend, who had traveled to Italy and shared this scene with me. Beautiful, isn't it? If interested, you may contact me at:

www.vonniekohn.com

Thanks for looking!

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!

"Cactus Heat" and "Pumpkin Patch", sold at Arte de los Brazos, art exhibition in Texas

Good news! I was privileged to be accepted into the Arte de los Brazos Art Exhibition in Possum Kingdom, Texas and sold 2 of my 3 entries. The third entry garnered 1 of 12 merit awards. The painting shown is "Cactus Heat," 12 x 16 oil on canvas. This painting has gained much interest, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it had a new owner. The other was "Pumpkin Patch," a 16 x 20" watercolor of a vintage Dodge pickup sitting amidst a field of pumpkins. I was out-of-state and unable to attend this show at the time. Thank you to my new collectors! I hope you have many hours of enjoyment from my work.In addition, my 3rd entry, "Bridal Veil Falls," an oil landscape of the Falls in the Yosemite National Park, won one of 12 merit awards in this prestigious show...there were at least 150 entries. I'm grateful to the judges for the recognition.

I have been participating in several plein air events and have been missing from my usual blog posts lately. I am back now & will be posting new works very soon. What an experience to be able to enjoy my daily work...painting the great outdoors!

"Expressions from the Soul" artwork by Vonnie Kohn, Texas artist, oil paintings, Phillips 66 station, Cowboy

"Fill 'Er Up"

"Portrait of a Cowboy"

"Fill 'Er Up" is a 1920's Phillip's 66 station that we discovered in Atoka, Oklahoma. At present, it is the home of the local Chamber of Commerce. The gas pump was known as a gravity feed pump...oil on canvas..18x24"

"Portrait of a Cowboy"..oil on canvas..20x20" is of a local cowboy living near Weatherford, Tx. He is the real deal! I'm told he always wears a bandana..seems this is his trademark.


I am honored to announce that I have had 4 artworks selected for the "Expressions from the Soul" juried art exhibition at the Doss Heritage & Culture Center in Weatherford, Texas. "Fill 'Er Up" is a 1920's Phillip's 66 station that we discovered in Atoka, Oklahoma. At present, it is the home of the local Chamber of Commerce. The gas pump was known as a gravity feed pump.

The "Expressions from the Soul" exhibit, in its 4th year, brings together more than 50 top regional artists dedicated to representing the varied styles of artwork found in Texas. The show will be held October 24, 2012-February 3rd, 2013. Weatherford is about 20 minutes west of Ft. Worth, Texas. If you are in the area or need more information, please call 817-599-6168 or www.dosscenter.org. The Doss Heritage is a beautiful museum dedicated to preserving the historical significance of the West.

If you are interested in these works, please contact me at:  www.vonniekohn.com or dosscenter.org.

Thank you for looking!

God's Handiwork, landscape, oil painting by Vonnie Kohn

 "God' Handiwork"

oil on canvas

18 x 24"

It's been awhile since I have posted on my blog. I've been fortunate to do some plein air painting through the summer, although we've had record high temperatures here in Texas. When traveling, it is not wise to advertise, so I find it more advisable to post after returning home.  Our state is known for its beautiful sunsets. Luckily this image was very local for me...in my back yard. Even with drought conditions, we have had clouds rolling in from time to time.Noticing the beautiful light touching the clouds, I quickly set up my portable easel in the back yard. Painting "en plein air" requires fast observation as the light changes about every 15 seconds. My emphasis in the painting was concerned with placement of color and correct values in the horizon of the trees. The camera cannot capture the darker shadows accurately..it translates as black in the image. Plein air is the most effective manner of painting to record true color. Evidently the painting was a success...it received an award in the Weatherford Peach Festival Fine Art Show, 2012!

If interested in this painting, please contact me at:

www.vonniekohn.com

http://vonniekohn-artist.blogspot.com

Spanish Daggers, The Cove, Plein Air, Oil Paintings, Landscapes by Vonnie Kohn

"The Cove"

"Spanish Daggers"

May was a very busy month! Lately I've had several opportunities for painting "en plein aire"-a term which means painting in an outdoor setting. Sounds romantic, eh? In Texas, artists have to endure the elements of insects, heat, sudden spring storms, and prickly pears or cacti as they hike into remote areas to find beauty. Such was this trip. I was participating in Arte de los Brazos, a juried art competition at "Possum Kingdom" Lake, an area that survived wildfires involving hundreds of acres the previous year with a substantial loss of homes. This place has evolved into a resort community with retirees from corporate life escaping the large cities of Dallas and Ft. Worth. I was curious to see if "beauty had emerged from ashes." So it had. 

When I go on a plein air outing, I travel very light, carrying an 8 x 10" pochade box, some 9 x 12" wood panels, a set of water soluable oils, a paint thinner & a small amount of medium. Oh, yes, a couple of brushes, although my fingers have been known to "double" as a painting device. The morning had rained, delaying our party of about 15 painters. We headed out as soon as the clouds broke.

 In "The Cove", my goal was to capture the fast moving overcast clouds before blue sky completely covered the area-fifteen minutes later! There is an area of burnt ridges in the distant background. The sun was trying to break into the scene with a glow on the mesquite tree in the foreground. I had to paint quickly to capture the fleeting light.

"Spanish Daggers" was a term given to the yucca plant in the early days. It is amazing how our planet can renew itself when devastation has happened. This was originally intended to be the underpainting for additional layers, but became an impressionist painting itself as the colors emerged. The redder trees in the background behind the yucca stalks were burned-out post oak trees still standing. Juxtaposing the green yuccas in front of their red counterparts complemented the hardy plants. Yellow wildflowers completed the composition. "Beauty for Ashes," don't you agree?

These are available for inquiry...if interested, please contact me @ 

www.vonniekohn.com

Thank you for looking!

Arte de los Brazos, art show & sale, Plein Aire Paint Out, with Vonnie Kohn

 I am honored to be one of the participating artists in the Arte de los Brazos Art Show & Sale at Possum Kingdom Lake. This is a community that survived record breaking fire storms last year. The dates are April 14-22, 2012.

There will be a Plein Aire Paint-Out on Friday, (9 am-4:30 pm) and Saturday (9 am-noon), April 20-21.Other events include wine tasting events,  Cork and Canvas Painting Party (April 19, 6:30 pm), and Presentation of Awards, April 14, Noon.

 For information, please contact:

PK Chamber of Commerce

362 N FM 2353

Graford, Tx. 76449

PossumKingdomLake.com

I have these 3 entries listed with the show. You are invited to share a delightful evening with Award Winning Artists in this Third Annual event.

I will be entering the Plein Aire Paint-Out on Friday. It promises to be a fun event for everyone. Bring your umbrella and sun tan lotion!

Western Artists of America Show, Corsicana, Tx, April-May 2012

Pearce Museum, Corsicana, Tx.

Ready for some really outstanding Western Art? 

 I was able to attend a wonderful day-filled art seminar in Corsicana, Texas last Friday (Mar29) with Karen McLain from Apache Wells, Arizona. Sheila Cottrell, another artist,  presented an informative lecture with images of the late James Reynolds(member of CAA). Jack Muir, sculptor & foundry owner of the Kalispell Art Casting (Montana), presented a slideshow and lecture of the art of Lost Wax Sculpture. There was a varied representation of paintings and sculpture in both Contemporary and Historical genre.

Karen and another friend, Carolyn Hawley, were participating artists in this show, which also featured artists from Texas, California, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and even Massachusetts!
 

Karen McLain (left) and Vonnie

Carolyn Hawley 

Corsicana, known as the home of the Collin St. Bakery, famous for it fruitcakes, and Navarro College, a part of the Texas A & M University, is located about 50 miles south of Dallas, just off the I-45.  It's an easy day trip to view artwork of more than 75 top Western artists (by invitation only) from the Western Artists of America. All art will remain on display at the Pearce Museum until May 12, 2012.

The Civil War Art Gallery and Museum is an added bonus to the admission price to the show. This collection boasts the largest documentation of letters of the enlisted men in the state.

For additional information you may contact the Pearce Museum at:

www.pearcecollections.us

903-875-7642

3100 W. Collin Street

Corsicana, Tx. 75110

"Hey Handsome", by Vonnie Kohn, oil painting, contemporary pet portrait

"Hey Handsome..."

11 x 14" Oil

SOLD

This is a contemporary painting of a  French Bull dog with a beautiful disposition. The painting was a commission which was one of two for a canine physical therapist. His owner had trained him to sit patiently while I gathered photos for a composite. I usually study at least 5-6 photos to find the composite personality. His owner was very well pleased at the results in the painting. 

I am now available for new commissions on your beloved pets. I may be reached here or through my website:

www.vonniekohn.com 

http://vonniekohn-artist.com 

Thanks for looking!

Portrait of a Cowboy, by Vonnie Kohn, Contemporary Western Oil Painting

"Portrait of a Cowboy"

20 x 20 x 1 1/2"

Oil on Canvas

John is a remarkable cowboy of our present day. He is tall, lanky, and as a cowboy, he is the real deal. I spotted him seated in this profile next to a chuckwagon during a championship cookout. His cowboy attire typifies the American Spirit...red, white and blue. The contrast of his hat in direct sunlight with face in shadow was an invitation to paint!

Shortly after completing this painting, I learned from some of his friends that he was in an accident with his horse. His firm resolve to survive the broken bones just reinforced my opinion of the all-American Cowboy, quiet, soft spoken, endurance...courage comes in many forms.

This painting is available. You may contact me at:
www.vonniekohn.com                                                                        

Labrador Retriever Commissioned oil painting by Vonnie Kohn

"Bear"

16 x 20"

oil on canvas

Sold

Labrador retrievers are among the most favored dogs of the canine world. They are gentle giants, faithful companions, excellent hunting dogs. This is the last of my Christmas commissions. It is also one of my all-time favorites. I met "Bear" a few days ago to finalize her portrait. What an endearing canine! she was thoroughly in sync with the commands of her owner's father. (I'm not sure who is more attached-the owner or his dad) No two animals-even of the same species-are alike. Each has his own character traits, expression in the eyes, his posture...and his owner is able to recognize them at a glance. I challenged myself to capture Bear's soul on canvas. It is my hope that Bear's family will enjoy this beautiful experience as well. Merry Christmas, "Bear."

I will be accepting new commissions after January 1st. Please contact me at:

www.vonniekohn.com

Thank you for looking!