Three Giant Sunflowers

Another fun commission for a young family. These three sunflowers represent the three kids that are being raised in this awesome family home. Each sunflower panel is 2' wide and 6' tall. The collectors picked the concept from a small group of sketches. I think the scale and tone of these works look great in their space. 

These are painted entirely with a knife. Here is a close up of the foliage:

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.

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!

Sunflowers for Torch Lake - 2' x 6'

Here is a picture after the first wash-in which is where I cover all of the white with an "underpainting" of pigment. To enhance the depth and luminosity of an oil painting, the old masters worked in layers from dark to light. Light tones and bright highlights being added in the final stages. The one exception that I have found is yellow. Most of the yellows are extremely transparent. So the yellows in the petals are more in the mid-range with shadows and highlights both being added in subsequent layers. This piece will be painted entirely with brushes. I am using M. Grahams oil paint and Walnut oil medium to move the paint. If you are a painter, Graham's products are solvent free and non-toxic as long as you do not eat them ;) It usually takes 3 - 6 layers in various parts of the subject to get the final expression that suits me. Any suggestions for names out there? "Sunseekers of Torch Lake" is rolling around in my head.

This past couple of weeks, I have been busy painting my studio and contiguous living spaces in our home. This piece has been on my mind all the while. It is 2' tall by 6' wide and is destined to be hung with a view of Torch Lake. I couldn’t wish a better place for it!

Group Show - Pierre Paul Art Gallery
















After a crazy month, it was nice to watch this show open and to see my finished work framed so beautifully! There will be a reception this coming weekend for Art Walk . Pierre Paul is one of the sites with a "neighborhood party" on Friday. So stop by and see me as I will be there from 5pm - 10pm. Also, if you would like to see me actually painting, you can stop visit the gallery from 12n - 5pm on Saturday and I will be performing the "Artist at Work- Demo". The two pieces above are brand new works that debuted at Pierre Paul. The top piece is painted entirely with a knife and very lush. It is called "Daughters of the Sun" and the piece just beneath it is titled "Sunflowers Series IV".

Back Home from the Windy City

Here are a few shots of my booth at the One of a Kind Show - Chicago. The show features some 600 artists from all over the country. There were about 80 painters of which a handful of us were "Featured Fine Artist". The recognition was for the fact that the promoters of the show used my work to promote the event. The Chicago-ans truly appreciate fine art and I received a lot of positive interest in my work....though no one bought a piece for the Obamas to take to the White House. That was mildly disappointing ;)

5 Friends on Red










2' x 4' Oil on Panel
This is my second finished piece on the panels that my dad made for me. This one is especially cool in that I used a small drywall knife to apply and finish the gesso on the masonite. The knife left marks and undulations; adding a lot of interest to the panel surface. Again, this one was fun to paint. Really liking these panels!

Sunflowers for Jen














4' x 3' Sunflowers in a field. This piece was created with a dear friend in mind. I learned a lot from this painting in that I think my painting comes easier if I don't treat to piece too preciously. I did another piece with the same composition of the five main sunflowers but since it was second piece and this one was already complete; the second piece came a little easier. Will be interesting to see which one she is drawn to!

Sunflowers for Sylvania


















4' x 3' on Gallery Wrapped Canvas - Sunflower Oil Painting
I posted this piece in-progress back in October....I thought I was on a roll to finish it and then as paintings sometimes go with me, I had to put it aside to rest. Now I think it is done!