A Brush With Rusty
A Brush With Life

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

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.


Thursday, August 2, 2012

"Tipp Flowers" Series RustyHarden

"Peony Tree On Main Street"
Watercolor
11 x 14
$95.00

I spend a lot of time in Tipp City, Ohio.  I work in the gallery there, shop and support community activities when I can.  The small town is a destination for dining, shopping, and artisan shops.  Then there is my favorite location, Studio 14 Art Gallery (no surprise there).

As I drove through the streets, I appreciated the lovely diverse flower gardens.  So I decided to paint the "Tipp Flowers"  Series.  I'm almost finished with the paintings of the spring flowers and will shortly begin to paint the summer flowers.  These will include, day lilies and cone flowers!!

They are currently available at (yep, you guessed it) Studio 14, 14 E Main Street

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Sun Art Aired on CBS Sunday Morning July 8, 2012

"Crimson Journey"
17 1/2"  x 13 1/2"
Acrylic Ink and Oil
$500.00 (includes custom mat & shipping)

I smile as I share the news that my painting aired on CBS Sunday Morning on July 8th.  Smiling because they
included it after a segment about the heat wave that has gripped a large part of the states this summer.  I'm not sure that I'd really want  people to remember it because of our extreme temperatures.  

Oh well,  it does glow.  Although we expect the sun to be stationary, I created this one to suggest it has but one way to go.  Amazing how our mood influences the art.  I was feeling the heat of a particular difficult  situation.

I actually painted it working at Studio 14 Gallery.  People would stop to observe for a while.   This is when I met a very talented Artist by the name Ben Fry.  Hes is an incredible watercolor artist and I thoroughly enjoyed see his work some weeks later.  The journey continues...and its good.



Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Artist Reception Rusty Harden July 13 4 - 7

"Gentle Release" is one of the 42 original paintings that are on Exhibit in the Lobby Gallery of the Fifth Third Center downtown in Dayton.  The 42 paintings are of four different styles and mediums.  It is unusual for me to exhibit the different styles together.  It works here because of the amazing layout of this fabulous lobby.




When Arlene called and invited me to exhibit in the Lobby Gallery, I decided the timing is perfect.  It has been ten years since I decided to start an art business and this year has been full of exciting events, classes, and I've created work that I am very proud to show.

The last time I had art work in downtown Dayton it was at the CADC.  I liked the constant activity that Christy was bringing to the gallery.  Sometimes life changes happen and the wise adjust.  Trying to live wisely, I made the adjustments and later reemerged at Studio 14 Gallery in Tipp City.  I'm loving the gallery work there and a full schedule of classes.

Also exhibiting artwork at Wombat Art Gallery in Waynesville, I'd say I'm busy.

Its the right time to celebrate all of the my efforts, supporters and friends.  And Downtown Dayton is the place to do it.  Hope there is a big turn out.

Thank you to everyone.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

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