Getting Ready for ArtExpo New York!

My painting has been more prolific than my posts lately as I prepare to take my work to the International Art Expo New York. For those of you looking for a little "Big Apple" fun and want to see some great art from emerging and established artists from the internationally art scene, come to the show March 22 - 26, 2012. AENY is located is at Pier 92 in mid-town Manhattan.  Any of my collectors and/or friends that want to make the trip can also receive complimentary VIP Passes by emailing me. Thursday and Friday of the show are "to-the-trade" days. The show is open to consumers on Saturday and Sunday.

This painting will be one of my featured pieces:

 "Fire in the Sky"  - 3' x 5'

For tickets to the show:   www.bit.ly/artexpony
Enter:  ARTNY2012 to get complimentary tickets

Glamazons Commissioned

A few years ago a did a series of these 6' tall sunflower panels which I named my "Glamazon Series". I imagined each of them as eighties super models. They were beautiful, strong and fun. That series was the inspiration for this commission. Lots of playful color fof a huge wall. I will post a picture once they are installed.  Thank you Tom and Kathryn!

Red Barn Romantic - 18" x 24" landscape of red barns and a pasture filled with wild flowers

This title is as much about the artist as the subject. Growing up on a farm in rural Michigan, I am a sucker for old red barns. One of the saddest days of my life was watching the eventual owners of my family's farm side the perfectly patinated barns with shiny red metal siding..low maintenance and functional.... like a big gold tooth!

That said, my idea of a romantic landscape includes an old barn or two!

Poppy Painting Installed

This 3' x 4' painting was created last summer just for this spot. Working from paint and fabric swatches and a photo of this buffet, I created this for a great couple that I met at the Ann Arbor Art Fair.  I never got to see it installed until my clients sent this picture last week. What a nice surprise!! Chris and Hank, thank you for sending!

Reflecting Pink

This piece is the largest of my "Rural Imaginary Landscape" series. At 4' x 2' it is quite large compared to the others. Since it is also painted with the knife, the paint is thick and requires me to work while it's wet or at least while the area I am working on is wet. I started at the top and worked my way down. All of the changes in the land feel like a roll-a-coaster to me and then my eye rests on the sheep in the flowers.  This would be my kind of roll-a-coaster as my hubby knows that I am terrified of the real ones!

 You will be able to see this piece in person at my house on Saturday, May 21, 2011. I will be sending out a save the date soon. However, if you have read this far about my painting, you must be one of my dedicated followers, so I am pre-inviting you to my studio open house event, where I will have my home/studio filled with new work from the long winter!! More to follow on this soon ;)

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".

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!

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!

Good times in Levis Commons this past weekend!



















Here's a photo of Mary(left) behind her new poppy painting! This piece was a surprise for her husband. She knew he would love it because he had been eyeing another large work of mine that hangs in the home of Salvi & Andrew(shown on Mary's right). Salvi & Andrew are avid collectors that live in Levis Commons and I look forward to visiting with them each year at this show! I love getting to know the people that follow my work; it's often as rewarding as making the art!!
Thank you all for a great show this weekend!
Sincerely,
Kim

My Favorite Fryes













24 x 36 inch oil painting of my all time favorite boots. You may see them around again as they were kind of fun to paint!

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 ;)

October Orchard


















4' x 4' Oil on Panel. I started this painting in October during our Indian summer. This piece is painted on one of my Papa-panels(specially crafted supports created to my spec's by my favorite carpenter: my dad). They are very cool to work on and the smooth surface gives a luster to my work that I really enjoy. Tomorrow, I will post a big poppy piece that I also painted on a 4' x 4' Papa-panel. Both are traveling with me on Wednesday to Chicago!