Zinnias of Rendle Garden At 5' x 4' this piece is monumental. It was made for my friends Ed and Mary's garden room. I hadn't ever included a butterfly in any of my work, however, on the day I visited their garden, the butterflies were swarming this most awesome row of Zinnia's...and so this painting came to be...














A 16' wall and a southern exposure make the perfect spot for this! I think I will be collecting packets of Zinnia seeds this winter. These beauties were called "State Fair Giants".

"Square Nest" series #1
I created this little piece for the Habitat of Humanity of Huron Valley(MI). The house is located in Ypsilanti and now occupied by one of their client families. Habitat is using the image for this year's holiday card and auctioning the original off on-line. If you would like to participate in the auction and get the first piece of my "Square Nest" series, you can reach it via this link:
Bidding for Good

The piece is 12" x 12" and painted in oil with a palette knife so the texture is very lush!

Back to Maude...



















After a busy couple of weeks getting ready for my last fine art fair of the season, it was nice to settle-in with Maude (my easel) this week. This new piece has been spinning around in my head for weeks and I have been dieing to get to work on it. If you can't tell from this first shot at my work station, it is a close up of zinnias that were inspired by a visit to the homestead of Ed & Mary Rendle in Ottawa Lake, MI. They have a beautiful home complete with extensive perennial gardens and a large vegetable garden. The pictures of these zinnias was taken from a row that had to be at least 60 feet long. The colors were amazing and they were swarming with butterflies. Thus, I have included a Monarch in this final composition on canvas.

Read on if you want more technical info about my painting process:

The painting is 5' x 4' on canvas. The canvas has three coats of regular Gesso to keep the oil paint from eating the fabric and two coats of heavy body Gesso. The first layer of the heavy body Gesso was applied with a large brush and the second with a dry wall knife. These last two layers will provide interest to the surface even before I started layering paint. Next came two coats of ochre with a little cadmium and burnt sienna to make a rich gold. The last coat before I started drawing is a combination of various reds, purples and browns that I mixed on the canvas surface as I applied them. All of this work before drawing?? Yes, it will be worth it! Painting into a red ground on the canvas contrasts the foliage greens and the sky. This provides both energy and unity to the piece as only tiny bits of the red are left between the brush strokes.

Three little landscapes...












































...went to market. Actually, they will go to the Great Lakes Art Fair with me this weekend at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, MI.

Each piece is 12" x 12" and richly painted with a palette knife. The scenery is pretty much typical of what I see around my place except for the rolling terrain. I had to imagine that!

Anyone thinking they would like to go to the fair this weekend can get a discount coupon at GLAF Discount Coupon

Kim Rhoney Oil Paintings In Situ:

Last Friday, I was treated to a rare opportunity for a working artist. I was graciously invited into the home of Andy and Salvi, a couple that collect my work. To walk in and see so much of my work so lovingly and artfully displayed was quite a rush to say the least. Here are just a few of the photos from my visit:


















4'x5 "Poppies on a Clear Sky"



















Two of my sunflowers at the end of their dining table.



















One of my all-time favorite paintings "Tulips II" - makes me crave that next pot of tulips to paint!

So nice to know my work lives in such a warm and happy house! Andy and Salvi have created a little haven in their country estate in Ottawa Lake, Michigan. My paintings are fortunate to be in a home where friends and family are often entertained. Though my visit was short for having to be home for the school bus, I felt inspired by seeing so much of my work in one place. I also enjoyed the other artists on display which included many pieces by Andy himself. He and Salvi are savvy collectors and great hosts. I feel lucky to have a relationship with them and even luckier that they provide me with opportunities to visit my work! There are over 10 original Rhoney's in their collection!! Thank you Andy & Salvi!

Late Summer Lunch











This piece is 2' x 4' on a 2" pine cradled panel. The surface was prepped with Gesso and a drywall knife to make an interesting surface. Then I took it outside where I drew and painted it right from my garden. The little Yellow Finch was feeding while I was painting and he kept making the flowers bob around. The longer I painted the more he came to feed and I finally decided that he had to be included in the painting. My first bird and likely not to be my last as I quite liked his presence in this very active composition. Ultimately, he provided a much needed focal point for this piece.

Sometimes it is hard to let a piece go when I know I may not ever see it again. Fortunately, this one went home with some of my favorite collectors, my parents. Thank you Mom & Dad!

When bigger is better...

After 7 years on my old easel, it was time for an upgrade. I had stripped out all of the threaded adjustments on the old one and felt my knees and back deserved something a little more ergonomic. Here she is, I named her Maude. The piece that I am working on in the photo is seven feet wide and Maude holds it with ease. I can raise and lower my work with just two fingers using the marine winch on the back. Maude can hold pieces up to 10' tall and 200#. She has a double masthead for small works so that I can work on a diptych or series in unison. Made in Kimberly, Wisconsin by the Richeson family, she is built to last a lifetime. I look forward to spending many years with Maude!

Nothing beats making your kids proud!




















When they're 4 and 6 it's pretty easy. This past week I completed a project for each of their schools. A permanent mural of a "Music Tree" at Milan Children's Preschool and a snowman at Paddock Elementary (illustrating what he does at night when you are sleeping) per the children's book Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner.

A series of small poppies and an art center....

Yes, I have been painting this month! A series of smaller poppy pieces with a larger work in mind. This one is my favorite and has already found a home! Also, I have a hand in bringing an art center to life in my small town of Milan, MI. One of the flip sides to these hard economic times are that people have slowed down a bit. They have time, space and materials to share. A handful of local artists and community folks are making this all happen. To check out the progress on this project go to Milan Art Center.