A Trip to Tuscany Remembered

This commission started out with a college friend and a handful of vacation photos from a special trip with her daughter. I do a fair number of commissions, but rarely work from others trip pic's. Fortunately I had been to this region of Italy and felt like I had an authentic response to the subject. I could close my eyes and remember the quality of the light. A very magical place! Thank you Kari for the opportunity!

 The painting measured 30" x 24" without the frame.

Several photos were referenced and the sketch is a bit of a montage. Here is the progression of the piece:

Here is a view of the installation:

Lily of the Valley Paintings

My ritual painting of the lilies. Every May I wait for the Lily of the Valley to bloom as there is nothing better than working directly from life. I pick fist fulls these little flowers and stick them in all manor of tiny vases so that I can get that toad's-eye view that I crave. Here are a couple of the larger works that came out of this recent series. The top piece is ready to sign. The bottom work is just getting finishing touches. Both will be on display at my open house June 7 and 8. Click here for more details.

A beautiful spring day in Michigan today! A little gardening and a little painting makes for a perfect day. The silouettes of hollyhock are so fun to paint!

Blue Orchard II

This piece hangs in the home of a special family in Clarkston, Michigan. The couple has a 3 year old daughter named Daphne. The three trees represent the family. I could have removed little Daphne's things that are strewn about, but I chose to keep them in the picture. The tiny slippers are Cinderella slippers...I happily remember those times with my girls.

This piece is painted on a 4' square wood panel. The oil paint is applied with a palette knife. The Blue Orchard painting that preceded this was painted with a brush. Here are a couple of close ups:

New Website is Up!

New Kim Rhoney Website

The new site went up this weekend and I am very happy with it! The thumbnails for each painting load super quick and you can see all the thumbnails for each category without scrolling! Aslo,  I added a new section to the "Artwork" called "Available Paintings" so that it is easier to see which paintings have not yet found a home!

 

Orange Velvet 48" x 60"

This piece is traveling to NYC with me in a couple of weeks. It reminds me of a suite of velvet furniture that my family had back in the seventies!

My Gorgeous Girls II

My Gorgeous Girls II - 4' x 3'

This painting was inspired by a row of sunflowers that I grew in the vegetable garden. Sunflowers are a constant theme in my work as I have as much fun painting the fabulous foliage as I do portraying the iconic sunflower heads. This piece is traveling to the Art Expo New York with me in March.