Aug
18
2009
A couple of years ago my husband and I went to South Dakota on a motorcycle trip and this is one of the beautiful rivers that we saw. I believe the atmosphere is what attracted me to this scene. I'm ready to go back to see Mount Rushmore, Iron Mountain, the Needles Highway. . .
I don't know why but I had to take a picture of every fly fisherman that I saw (and there were several).
10 x 10
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2009
no comments | posted in landscapes
May
14
2009
I've really enjoyed using my palate knife lately. I love impressionalistic paintings so I've been working on painting with less "crispy" lines and using more paint. Not really sure if I'm finished with this one but this is where it is right now. I took the picture in the Florida Everglades while dodging the alligators on an air boat, what fun memories. When I was in New York City, I stayed in the Monet area for a long time looking at his lilly pads (of course mine don't begin to compare but I can dream. . .)
I have to share good news, my son Justin is graduating from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green Kentucky, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture, his area of concentration is in Agronomy. We're are so proud of his accomplishment and we're going to C E L E B R A T E!!!
I have to name this for my show, but I don't have the energy right now!
12 x 12
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2009
no comments | posted in landscapes
Feb
4
2009
I had a few goals in mind before starting this painting:
one day to paint it
PAINT BIG
pile the paint on
subject matter was trees
So I jogged over to some trees next to our house and snapped a reference picture and began painting. It was such a beautiful day with a gorgeous blue sky. I really had a good time sloshing the paint on with my palate knife and used my brush a little. Every once in a while I would lose a glob of paint but eventually found it, in the wrong place of course. The painting is a 30" x 40", much larger than usual. I am going to try to step out of my comfort zone in 2009 and do more of these challenges.
I have entered my painting in the ART WORKS 2nd Annual Members Fine Art Exhibition from February 13 -27, 2009 at the Gallery at 916, 916 State Street, Bowling Green, KY
Please see the exhibition if you get a chance, we have so many talented artists in our area.
30 x 40
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2009
no comments | posted in landscapes
Nov
28
2008
12 x 16
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2008
This painting was a little harder than I thought it would be–as usual! The sunset was so beautiful and I really had a difficult time capturing it. Wouldn’t it be great to see this scene every evening? If that was the case, would one take it for granted?????
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had our usual family gathering with lots of good food and of course lots of love, we have so much to be thankful for.
15 comments | posted in landscapes
Nov
21
2008
My reference for this painting was a small snapshot taken while on vacation in Mexico many years ago. My husband and I were in a boat also and we passed this boat with an adorable little boy with the white hat. I love the palm trees and the bank of the river as the back drop for the boy. I spent a lot of time on this painting trying to get it “perfect”. Well I didn’t succeed but I certainly tried! This painting is one of my favorites and will stay in my private collection.
16 x 20
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2008
18 comments | posted in landscapes
Nov
9
2008
Our opening was last Friday night, November 7, and before it began, Faye and I were taking a few pictures. I am standing in front of a long wall that was devoted to my works of art. Faye’s art was on the other wall. I would like to say a big “Thank You” to Lynn and Melissa at “The Gallery at 916″ for a very nice opening event. Several attended and fun was had by all! I’m sure Faye will have pictures also so visit her at her blog Faye Christian Phillips (I have a link on my favorites list).
On my previous post, I showed a small snippet of our Main Street and “Fountain Square Park”. Although I have painted Main Street several times before, here is my latest and largest painting. I was working hard to get it delivered before the show and I made it–yeah (at noon the day before)!!!
24×36
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2008
Southgate Studio and Fine Arts Student Exhibition
You probably remember “Roxie” from a previous post. Southgate Studio and Fine Art in Franklin, Tennessee has an annual student show each November and Roxie was my entry. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to attend the opening due to a previous commitment so I got to see it for the first time last Monday night. Please stop by and see Pat and Jody, the show looks great and there is so much talent, amazing!! Roxie really pops doesn’t she–with all those pink feathers.
11 comments | posted in landscapes
Oct
30
2008
16 x 20
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2008
This painting is of the Fountain in Downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky. I was on the square for a musical event one night and took a night shot of the Fountain and really liked the way the buildings had a golden glow behind it.
There is a lot of history on our Downtain Square, the square originally had a courthouse built on it in the early 1800’s. But eventually a new bigger, better courthouse was built in another location and in May of 1872, the area was officially named “Fountain Park” by our city’s leaders and a fountain was placed there. The original fountain was replaced in 1881 by a 6,000 pound precast Fountain from J.L. Mott Ironworks of New York City. The Fountain is crowned by Hebe, the Goddess of Youth. Statues surrounding the Fountain are Mythological figures of Flora–Goddess of Flowers, Ceres–Goddess of Grain, Pomona–Goddess of Fruit and Melpomane–Goddess of Tragedy. There are two arch entries into the Park made of Bowling Green limestone. The landscaping is beautiful and buildings surrounding the park have been renovated. Very charming and a source of pride to the citizens of Bowling Green.
10 comments | posted in landscapes
Oct
18
2008
12 x 16
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2008
This was from my trip to New York City last February, it was at dusk so that’s why it’s a little grey, at that point in the day when you finally turn on your headlights. What’s a good title for this one? I know you can do better than my “The Big Apple”. I feel like this painting needs something but I’m not sure what–any suggestions?
12 comments | posted in landscapes
Oct
12
2008
8 x 10
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2008
This is a little plein air painting called “enchanted forest” that I painted in Murray Kentucky. This one really has a lot of mystery and atmosphere in it. I haven’t painted plein air in a while and I really enjoy it so I don’t know why I haven’t. Now that Fall is in the air and it has cooled off some, I may get outside and paint!
13 comments | posted in landscapes
Jul
11
2008
Desert Vista 9×12 oil
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2008
This painting reflects the cooltones of the desert, the purple mountains in the distance. These vintage cars are a challenge to paint.
Sunset Glow 9×12 oil
Rhonda Hartis Smith © 2008
This painting is so retro with the “vintage” car and trailer. The glow is from the sunset, that nice yellow orange glow that makes everything beautiful.
The slide show with this post consists of some of the sites in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We have a beautiful campus, Western Kentucky University (my alma mater), in addition to an inviting downtown square that has a beautiful fountain. And don’t forget . . . home of the Corvette!
My next post will contain two new paintings that I have done. One is a figurative and the other is a portrait piece. Until then. . .
3 comments | posted in landscapes
10 x 10
