My Ideal Reader

 "Casandra"  ©Toni Ruppert

With a commitment to building a more vibrant blog, I signed up for the 4-week Blog Triage class with Cynthia Morris and Alyson Stanfield.  Today’s assignment is to describe the people I want to visit and read my blog.  My hope is that by envisioning my Ideal Reader I will get focused and get at the heart of what I want to post about.  

Though I had to imagine my Ideal Reader, I’m grateful to my family members, friends  and fellow artists who have kept up with me through my blog.  I appreciate you.

So here is the assignment.  Using the following questions:

• Are they of a certain age or background?
• Do they live in a particular region?
• What are their interests – including, but not limited to art?
• Are they comfortable with the blog format?
• Are they likely to comment?

I imagine that my Ideal Reader:

...is ageless - he/she knows age is just a number.  He may even be like my buddy Gabe who is the father of teen girls which keep him youthful.  My reader might have a rags to riches story in the making - a Paula Deen before she was Paula Deen.  Because of this, my ideal reader exudes light and is a faith-filled person.  My ideal reader appreciates all things creative.  

Thank YOU for being my ideal reader.

You Can Build It At Your Table

Grandma's Recipe ©Antonia Ruppert
Commission for the Markham, IL Public Library
Oil on Canvas, 24x36

Yes, tables are made for eating, playing games and other familial events.  But, did you know that inspiration and dreams can be built --at the table?  After spending lots of time lately at my table painting, I began wondering what other transformers--folks making a thorough or dramatic change in themselves and the world - do at their tables.  

What are you building at your table? I believe many good things can come from time spent "at the table."  Artists have birthed new careers, adventures have been written and families have been nurtured at the family table. You can use your table to:

Build a business.  Sandra Magsamen, artist, art therapist and author, built her business over 20 years ago in her basement.  I recently found out about her and she is now my poster child for artistic success.  While working a FT job, she and her husband's shipping and receiving area was their dining room.  Sandra told her story to Marcia Brixey, founder of Money Wise Women Educational Services in a recent teleseminar.  Many entrepreneurs, like Sandra have built sustaining businesses at their tables.   

Nurture a child.  This week we carved our pumpkin to my five year olds delight.  She watched my every move and asked lots of questions.  This "table time" was precious and reminded me of other memorable times.  I remember my grandmother being a great cook.  She often fixed awesome meals--though I was too young to really appreciate dishes like jambalaya and squash pie.  My cousin and my brothers and sisters just knew that when we returned home from school, shortly thereafter we'd sit at grandma's dining room table (next to the piano) and eat whatever she fixed.   

Meals at the table are fantastic.  Time spent "at the table" can make the difference between something so-so and something truly inspiring being built. 

Can you think of anything else that can be built at the table?  Are you building anything at your table?

Eeeeck! I'm Almost Speechless!

"Heart Stuff"  12x12  Mixed Media  ©Toni Ruppert

 I'm so excited.  Words can not express how I feel right now.  I will try though.  Eeeeek!  Wow!  Yes!  (see) The words come out like that.  I'm excited because the show is hung at Chicago's Flourish Studios's Envision Gallery.  It took a lot to get here.

A mere few weeks ago, I was floundering with this new direction for my personal artwork.  Painting was flourishing in my commission work, but nothing was coming forth in my personal work.  I knew I wanted to talk about healing from fragmented relationships--healing from brokenness.  But it would not come out like I wanted to.  I was surrounded by prayer, paint jars, glue muslin, wood panels, and etc.  All the stuff I'd use to make my pieces.  Enter my success team.

I joined a success team lead by Eileen Kerlin Walsh.  (Look out world--here comes Eileen!)  My success team encouraged me and one of them literally said "Create two panels this week."  I was like, "Okay." After doing this for a time--my goal was in sight.

"Behind Her Smile"  12x12  Mixed Media  ©Toni Ruppert

In Teamworks, author Barbara Sher says, "A Success Team will keep you going, steadily, step by step, week after week...until one day...you arrive right in the middle of your goal." That's what my team did for me.  Further, when I hit a snag with my frames, one of my team mates personally made them according to my specifications.

So...you see words cannot express how I'm feeling. My hope is that whatever you're working on these days will have you so excited --you too will be (almost) speechless!

I invite you to comment (use whatever words you want) on your own creative project or on how you're utilizing a team to making your ideas/dreams happen.

New Show at Envision Gallery: Healing from Brokenness

"It's In Between Us", Mixed Media, 18x24

My dining room table, my current spot for creating, is in a state of disarray right now. But I feel a cleansing coming on--an inner cleansing. Do you know what I mean? More and more, I am feeling the freedom that comes through expression. So I don’t mind the mess.

In about four months from today, my artwork and that os artist Sharon Burrink will be shown at Flourish Studios’ Envision Gallery in Chicago. Flourish Studios was founded by Dr. Julia Rahn and the curator is Meredith Siemsen. After meeting them both recently, I was truly inspired to keep creating and, well flourishing.

The show opens October 1st, 2010 with a reception - just in time for Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Chicago Artists Month. I will be available for a short gallery talk to discuss my processes and techniques. The gallery is located at 3020 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago.

In addition, the show, “Healing from Brokenness” will be a fundraiser for IMPACT Chicago - a non-profit organization that is committed to ending violence against women.

I have posted my newest piece which has been tentatively named “It's In Between Us.” It is 18x24 and is a Mixed Media piece(pastel, torn paper, rice, photography and finger prints). I will be asking my fans on Facebook for their thoughts on my title.

I so appreciate this opportunity to share some deeper work about an issue that impacts us all. The "controlled chaos" on my table means that art is happening.

Grateful and Amazed...

I must share this with you. I got a call on my way to a meeting. I let it go into voice-mail because I did not recognize the number and it was after hours. Then I rethought my action and called back. The lady who answered said something and I could not understand - it was not obvious where I had called. She spoke with an accent. I told her who I was. She said, do you know _____? I’m like I don’t understand. I had her repeat the person's name 2 more times. Then she asked me to confirm that I am Toni Ruppert Fine Art & Design. That got my attention.

She said she was calling from a currency exchange at ______ in Chicago, IL and someone was trying to cash a check for $600 they said I mailed them. I was like “No, No, I do not know them.” She put me on hold for a long time.

When she got back on, she told me, this guy ______ tried to cash a check. But they would not process it. My heart thundered. I thanked her profusely and hung up.

I then got a call from my friend Maria - I said please pray for me. I told her quickly what happened. Then I called my bank.

I went ahead and closed the account after some discussion. My account had been compromised. After getting off of the phone, I was like Thank You Lord. Praise You Jesus. Hallelujah! I was in tears. I got to my meeting and then returned home again. I was exhausted.

But before going to bed, I wanted to grab something to remember this event and God’s protection. I grabbed our cookie jar and placed it on the table.

When you open it, my cookie jar says,”Get your hand out of my cookie jar- roar!” It sounds real menacing. It was perfect to remind me of how God is my powerful lion, my protector. I am so grateful that people did their job and called me. I‘m so grateful that wasn't ripped off.

In this post, I included this watercolor and pastel painting, "Looking Up" to share my emotions(I am so very grateful and amazed.)

Next post...my winning principles.

A Winning Principle

Praise ©Antonia Ruppert
Watercolor on Paper

I decided to post some good news along with some principles that have helped me win. I want to inspire you to continue to win too. I belong to an art group on Facebook. We artists want to be the best at what we do and have posted good news for the group to see. It has been inspiring to read what artists are doing all over the world. I decided to post my good news for you. Allow me to inspire you.

I am most grateful to share that in January I...



--- unveiled 3 new paintings

--- learned new digital imaging techniques
--- developed new painting project for a state grant

--- started dancing and reading scripture to jumpstart my day

--- started piano lessons(something I’ve wanted since I was 11)

I will now share my winning principle. I have found that this truth has helped me again and again.


Principle #1 - Be open to God. Be open to opportunity.
The unveiling of 3 new paintings happened because last spring Allen Jongsma and Pastor Dave of Living Springs Community Church contacted me and subsequently met with me to discuss their ideas for new artwork. This was my biggest endeavor at that time and boy was I nervous. But I felt good vibes after several meetings and wholeheartedly embraced the work. This all happened because I was open to where God was leading and open to the opportunity.

So now it is your turn. What positive principles have you learned so far this year? Do you have any good news to share?

Family; Not Easily Broken

With a strong foundation, a family can survive and thrive even in a tough year. According to scripture,”Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

The painting in this post is called “A Cord of Three Strands.” It is a portrait of a couple -kind of like my husband and I - who hold onto God and hold onto each other. Can you see the cross in the picture?

This watercolor painting, about 30x30, was created from an idea I had a number of years ago. I made a little 6x6 painting of it at the time. This new larger painting takes the idea further and expands it. My friend Maritza and her husband, Matt graciously modeled for me.

This painting, along with two other paintings, was created as part of a series on family, worship and praise for Living Springs Community Church in Glenwood, IL. The three works were created specifically for the church under the direction of Pastor Dave and Allen, the Director of Administration. Indiana artist Sharon Ruane created a number of works throughout the edifice previously.

This painting, “A Cord of Three Strands” and the other two works will be unveiled in an upcoming event at Living Springs Community Church on Sunday, January 17, 2010. I am scheduled to speak about the work at the 9:15 am service and the 10:30 am service.

This painting was especially wonderful for me to paint because it reminded me of my own family. Because of God, we were not easily broken. I am also reminded of those who supported me during this last year. Because of them, I was cared for and supported.

Five teachers/mentors who helped me or cared for my artistry were:

Demetria (Thanks Mom!)
Joyce R. (My other Mom)
Jimmy W.
Lupe and Mary G.
Alyson S. (ArtBizCoach.com)

Additionally, five friends who helped me this year in vital ways:

Cynthia H.
Anita B.
Sylvia H.
Teecie J.
Maria R.

I want to inspire you to remember in some way the folks who helped you this year. In The Success Principles, Jack Canfield says that one might not remember five people who won the Nobel Prize or the five wealthiest people, but one would remember five people who touched one’s life.

My family went through many challenges in 2009, but with God, prayer, family and many friends we are beginning 2010 with gratitude and appreciation.