"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.