Sun Art 2013 "Sundrops" Original Watercolor by Rusty Harden

"SunDrops"

Watercolor

7" x 10"

Rusty Harden

This is my submission for the fourth annual Sun Art Challenge hosted by Art Challenge Gallery.  This painting  will be submitted along with the other sun art of the other artists to the CBS Sunday Morning Show.

Each of my submissions to ACG for the past three years have been aired on Sunday Morning a number of times.  I have high hopes that you will be seeing this one sometime this year.

(For one of my watercolor classes I taught how to paint waterdrops and reflections in waterdrops. That class inspired my “Sundrops” for this year’s Sun Art Challenge.)  

Plein Air-A New Adventure in Watercolor

Garden Tomatoes

Alla Prima 

Watercolor

6" x 6"

$35.00

(includes custom 12" x 12" mat)

I've always been more of a "studio" artist.  I take my photographs and studies into

the studio and workout my paintings before I begin.  This has served me well.

When the opportunity came up to take a plein air workshop with Christopher Leeper 

at Studio 14 I saw an opportunity to expand my experience and perhaps improve

 on my scenery painting.  So I headed out with my watercolor supplies and easel to

 practice painting  "plein air" before the actual workshop.  It was a challenge.

Challenge, true, but an enjoyable  as I experienced the panoramic view, sounds and smells,

the frustration of changing light and distilling information.  Yea, I needed the workshop.

One afternoon (before the workshop) I really wanted to feel that I had accomplished

a painting.   

So limiting my view to a garden spot, and sitting on a case with my pallet 

on the ground I painted these glorious tomatoes.  I loved the smell of the plants as

the breeze drifted over the garden, felt the heat of the sun bare down on my back and 

kept an eye on a huge yellow and black spider in a web that was about 2 feet wide.

All in all, I painted six different landscapes and one garden tomatoe.  

I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop.  Chris was a really good teacher with a relaxed manner.

I appreciated the information on capturing shapes and values.  The most valuable reminder as 

a watercolor painter was to go warm before considering the cools.  

I think when I pack up my

supplies to head out to paint plein air at the October Paint Out in Tipp City on the 20th I will

be a more confident painter.

Acorn and Oak Leaf Watercolor ACEO original by Rusty Harden

Acorns and Oak Leaf

Watercolor

2 1/2"  x 3 1/2"

Rusty Harden

$20.00

This painting was created for the "Oxymoron"  Challenge

I chose-Living Dead

Seed Pods look dead but they carry the life of the forest in them.

Sometimes I just like to work on small pieces

"New Beginnings" (Rusty Harden and Jim Delange) Exihibit at Bear's Mill through April 22

Art Exhibit Bear's Mill "Rhythms of the Earth" Painting with Jim Delange and his Glasswork

Exhibit through April 22, 2012

"Trillium" ACEO original watercolor painting by Rusty Harden

"Trillium"

ACEO  2 1/2  x 3 1/2

Watercolor

Rusty Harden

$20.00

With this warm weather it won't be long before the trillium are in bloom.  Last Spring my Wednesday morning art group met at Studio 14 Gallery's owner, Evelyn Staub's home.  Behind her lovely home is a woodland area which was thick with blooming trillium.  Fellow artist, Sonnie, even spotted a knodding trillium.  Even though I captured several wonderful references for painting on my camera, I find myself in great anticpation at returning again this year.  I had time to sketch some studies last year.  Perhaps my schedule will allow me to actually paint them "plien aire". 

When I painted this one on Sunday afternoon,  my mind went back to that day.  I think that is one of the wonderful reasons to go out and experience the nature we strive to capture in our art.  Did I mention the flowers that led to my life of crime??  Well, that's another post. 

"Red Tailed Hawk" ACEO original by Rusty Harden

"Red Tailed Hawk"

ACEO 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"

$15.00

Original Watercolor Painting

Rusty Harden

The Red Tailed Hawk is one of the wildlife ambassadors at the Brukner Nature Center, Troy, Ohio.

We are reminded that we share this planet with other amazing living creatures and what we do or do not often has an impact on their very survival.  Education is the key.  The proceeds of this sale will go to Brukner Nature Center, directly.

"Return to Oz" Mixed Media Painting By Rusty Harden

"The Wizard's Ball"

$200.00

14"  x 20 1/2"

pen, colored pencil, watecolor

arches hotpress paper

Inspired by Ray Shuell's painting

of Dylan's song, "Desolation Row"

I couldn't help but to create some additional lyrics:

Down on Desolation Row" War on Fairytales Rusty Harden

I’ll call my friend Alice

who has left her Wonderland.

Her heart had shrunk with malice

When the rabbit took the stand.

The Queen is yelling from the tower

“Off with her head.”, you know.

Alice and I have the circus to see

Down on Desolation Row

Dorothy climbed the vortex wall

to get to the ruby shoes

Tinman plays the Wizard’s Ball

singing the cryptic blues

Glenda had her bubble burst

and is married to the Scarecrow

Both have an endless thirst

that leads to Desolation Row

Christopher is a slumlord

Cares only about the rent

Eeyore always knew the score

Found himself a tent

Tigger’s got a girlfriend

Now he’s not the only one

Poo lives around the bend

His honeypot is gone

Once a family, but who knew

How’d the story go

Piglet warms a rabbit stew

Down on Desolation Row

"Cuppa Joe" CBS Sun Art by RustyHarden

"Cuppa Joe"

8"  x 8"

acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

$200.00

Isn't it funny how we collect coffee mugs with all kinds of pictures on them.  When did that begin?  Who thought up that incredible marketing idea?  I don't personally have a collection but I enjoy looking at the variety when I'm shopping, especially at a tourist trap.  They have the best mugs, don't you think?

Available Now 2012 The Artist Challenge Sun Art Calendar

Enjoy this Beautiful Collection of Sun Art created for The Artist Challenge and CBS Sunday Morning Show.
(This Calendar features a tribute to the Sun Art of the late Vikki North, creator of The Artist Challenge)

Unexpected Adventures



Sometimes you just find yourself somewhere you never expected to land.

I think a tornado just picked me up and put me down in the land of The Artist Challenge

and The Pub

Let me start at the beginning; A couple of years ago, I submitted artwork on an online site that challenged the artists to create work based on bi-weekly themes. I benefitted by producing artwork that would otherwise not be created and I enjoyed the additional online presents. Occasionally, I engaged in some friendly banter and gleaned tidbits about successful online promotion in the artist forum.

I consider myself a serious artist who doesn't take herself "too seriously". I love my job. I create art, I teach art, I mentor those who would be artists and I co-own a company that makes artist acrylic paints. (I do more but who really cares?)

In December when the owner/creator of The Artist Challenge, Vikki North, courageously faced death with an unexpected health crisis. I recieved an email with the request that I should keep her vision alive by becoming the owner and the moderator of The Artist Challenge. As I tossed about the decision, Vikki took aim and said that there was little time remaining, that I should pee or get off the pot. (Actually, her words were more to the effect, "I have little time left. Go ahead and do it, you can always close down the site later if you decide it isn't for you".

Did she choose wisely? I don't know.

Vikki North died January 31, 2012. I was able to honor her by creating a gallery of her "Challenge" work Vikki North and with submission of loyal artists get the first gallery of the year "Show Us What You've Got" posted before her passing.

The Annual Sun Art Gallery (One of Vikki's pride and joys) 2012 Sun Art was posted last week.

(I wish she could have viewed it. I am so proud of the artist participation.)

I have been so busy trying to figure out the bells and whistles behind the scene, assuring artists that I will work to make the site a viable platform for their artwork and laying a foundation to keep Vikki's ship sailing that I failed to mourn her passing. It hit me today. (Loss is like that, it sneaks up on the one who is trying tokeep the stuff going.)

I told Vikki that I would do my best...and I will.

Its time for me to add my goodbye to the others. Somehow I can't do it on her memorial gallery.

She was closer to so many others, I sometimes suspect that she really meant to email someone else about

keeping the challenge going.

Too late now, I said "yes".

Cherry Cordial Cupcakes in Watercolor

"Gossip Girls"

Watercolor

$55.00

Rusty Harden

I think I was a little tired of setting up still life arrangements of flowers for my Wednesday morning art class.  I wanted something different for interest and challenge.  There is a cupcake shop across the street from the gallery.  What I had in mind at the time were some cute colorful cupcakes and some candies to make a fun painting.  Instead,  I couldn't resist the Cherry Cordial Chocolate Cupcakes!!! 

So we painted them.  As the day went on, we gradually ate them up!  What a fun subject.  I enjoyed painting the paper on the cupcake most.  It is translucent and has great texture to try capture. 

Oil Painting of Amethyst Geode by Rusty Harden

Amethyst Geode

Oil on Canvas

16' x 20"

Rusty Harden

Mineral owned by Matt Black

I don't usually paint minerals on canvas.  Because of the size, I thought I would give it a try.  (Hard board is still by favorite ground.)  Actually, I started this painting at the mineral show in Cincinnati but didn't get back to it until  this week.  I'm very pleased with it.  The  geode is close to 16" at the base and 17" high.  The painting of the geode is very close to those that size.  Well, its my mineral painting season.  I'll be coming up for air and food from time to time....

Thank you Matt Black for allowing me to work from your minerals.

"Breaking Through" Original Painting by Rusty Harden

 “Breaking Through”

Mixed Media
16" x 20"

Canvas

 “Whether it be to failure or success, the first need of being is endurance-to endure with gladness if we can, with fortitude in any event”-Bliss Carman

I created this piece for the theme "My So Called Life" for The Artist Challenge



"Cheshire Sun" Sun Art Aired on CBS Sunday Morning for the Second Time

"Cheshire Sun"

Mixed Media

9" x 12"

Rusty Harden

Original SOLD

Aired on CBS Sunday Morning for the second time on July 17, 2011.

To Purchase 8" x 10" Print  $25.00

To Purchase Note Cards set of 4 $10.00

 The Artist Challenge  hosts the Sun Art theme every year and submits the artwork  for the CBS Sunday Morning Sun Art Library.



Trillium New Original Painting

Woodland Trillium

8" x 7"

Watercolor

$50.00 (inlcudes custom mat)

Dramatic lighting made this trillium the leading lady, stepping forward to grab all of the attention  and seperating her from the supporting actors and back drop.                                                      

Trillium Original Watercolor Painting Rusty Harden

Woodland wildflowers are beautiful but fleating. 

If you aren't there at just the right time, they are gone

until next year.  I think that I am drawn to them for

that reason.  Its reminds me to enjoy the moment,

and to look for beauty  because it may be gone in

 the next moment.

As trillium mature (another way of saying get old) they turn pink. 

The first week I observed these trillium they were all white.

A week later, while many more had bloomed, the older ones

were in their glory of pinkness. 

"Trillium"

Wildflowers

10" x 7"

Watercolor

"Auroras" by Painting by Rusty Harden

"Auroras"

8" x 10"

$95.00

Watermedia

Rusty Harden

During the exhibit "Out of the Depths" March 4 - April 24

at Studio 14 in Tipp City, I will also be displaying

 my series of paintings created in what I call my transpoured technique.

The transpoured technique is the process that goes beyond just pouring the selected colors onto the paper. I carefully plan composition and strong design elements and manipulate the color to either be repelled or drawn to enhance color intensity. Some paintings are enhanced by working with transparent colors creating subjects and mood.



"Celestial Impact" by Rusty Harden

"Celestial Impact"

8" x  10"

$95.00

Watermedia

Rusty Harden

During the exhibit "Out of the Depths" March 4 - April 24 at Studio 14 in Tipp City, I will also be displaying my series of paintings created in what I call my transpoured technique. 

The transpoured technique is the process goes beyond just pouring the selected colors onto the paper. I carefully plan composition and strong design elements and manipulate the color to either be repelled or drawn to enhance color intensity. Some paintings are enhanced by working with transparent colors creating subjects and mood.

New Exhibit Rusty Harden, Sandra Picciano-Brand, David Brand & Evelyn Staub

Out of the Depths Exhibit

Open March 3rd - April 24th 2011

Artists Reception: March 4th from 6 - 8 PM. All are invited.

Featured Artists: Evelyn Staub with her fine art enamels, Rusty Harden's mineral paintings, Sandra Picciano-Brand's jewelry and David Brand with his bronze vessels and jewelry. A beautiful show!

Gallery hours: Mon - Sat 10-5

Sun 12-5

Located in the loft of the Benkin Antique Building, 14 E. Main St. Tipp City Ohio 45371

937.890.3614

www.studio14gallery.com