New Show at Orland Park Library

Oak Forest, Yankee Woods
©Antonia Ruppert
Mixed Media on Paper

In conjunction with my month-long exhibition, Orland Park Library’s Outreach Services is sponsoring a Meet the Artist night on Friday, September 4th, 2009 beginning at 7pm. In addition, I will present my talk, “Aging with Dignity and Compassion” on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 beginning at 7pm.

For the last year, I have been grappling with the idea of aging and connecting that to my artwork. This new artistic direction came about when I started caring for my grandmother in the summer of 2008.  I cherished singing hymns with her or having her ask for more strawberry jello or black walnut ice cream.

After painting grandmother several times, I focused my artistic energies on capturing fleeting moments with her. I had no idea she’d leave us this past February.

Fleeting. Changing. Temporal. I found that with my experience with my grandma. I also found that same experience in my recent trip to Saugatuck, MI at Oxbow. The sun was there and then it wasn’t. Shadows moved across the space with the clouds. I had to paint, design and carve out negative spaces that moved.

Life is short. Creating helps me enjoy it.

Mmm! Oxbow School of Art in Saugatuck, MI.

Oxbow path ©Antonia Ruppert

Mmm! Ox-Bow, school of art and artists’ residency. Good views. Yummy food. Soulful people. Oxbow is in Saugatuck, MI and is affiliated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. It has served as a retreat for visual artists since 1910. This past week, I took a drawing/painting class with New York artist, Jimmy Wright. He pushed me and challenged me in significant ways - allowing me to create some paintings that are precious to me.
Here are some views of Oxbow and my first painting. Well not exactly - I had actually spent a day painting a still life of peaches which Jimmy abhorred. 
The next day he said, "No more peaches." He suggested I get out into the land. So this is actually my first finished landscape painting using the techniques he taught us.

View from my easel ©Antonia Ruppert

Landscape painting, layer one
©Antonia Ruppert

Don't you love learning something new?

I'm Going on an Adventure

Desiree's Desire ©Antonia Ruppert
Oil on Canvas, 11x14

Do you know about Saugatuck? I am headed to Saugatuck Michigan for a week to paint.  No computer. Just lots of painting supplies, nature and Mr. Jimmy Wright - my painting instructor. I'm so excited. More to come about this adventure. I am learning there is one thing I must do to make this adventure happen.

Stay open to the beautiful. Enough said.

New Painting: "Strawberry Eyes"

Strawberry Eyes ©Antonia Ruppert
Watercolor on Paper

The painting, "Strawberry Eyes" is for my friend Mia and it is of her grandson. I really like this watercolor piece because I had a chance to develop it slowly and spend time with each layer. Why rush, right? 

 I also purchased strawberries to practice painting so I could get it just right. Yummy! Well, here are the results of taking my time. 

Out and Around Southland Chicago

I'm sharing some pictures of recent shows and happenings. During the month of February, I was out and about in the Chicago Southland area. In addition to Calumet City, I was blessed to be at Tinley Park High School and Country Club Hills for African American History Month Programs. Thanks to Vikkey Perez(TPH) and to Joann Wade(CCH) for facilitating these events.

Here, I am pictured with another Antonia. Yes, that is my new best bud and name sake Antonia. We met at the Country Club Hills, IL African American History Month Program. We are standing in front of some of my artwork.

Here I am with Earline Hayden who is a staff member of the Village of Country Club Hills. She was really helpful to me at the show.

Here, I am with my mother at a presentation for the Senior Services Center of Will County. I presented "Aging with Dignity and Compassion" - paintings inspired by my grandmother. It was a bittersweet time - we held grandmother's funeral two days prior....A big Thank You goes to Wilma Hopkins for facilitating this event and for the invitation to share my work.

Praising God for Provision

Hot Pink Earmold ©Antonia Ruppert
Watercolor on Paper

The sun has been out, spring is coming and I'm praising God for his provision. So many good things have happened so far this year. Here are a few:

**Two of my paintings have been accepted into Women's Works 2009, a juried art show sponsored by the Northwest Area Arts Council in Illinois. I am thankful to art coach Janet Bloch who told me about the show.  One of the paintings is shown here - "Hot Pink Earmold."

**I was awarded an "ootra Girl" scholarship through the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Thank you to Debbie Jagel and the entire "ootra Girl" Family.

**I participated in a well-attended African American Heritage Celebration, February 7th in Calumet City. Thanks goes to my sister Teece for helping me set up my vendor booth and keeping me company all day. Thanks to Mayor Michelle and Val Williams for an inspiring day.

Remember the scriptures - Proverbs 14:23 - All hard work brings a profit AND Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I am praising Him for His provision.

Putting One's Faith in Action

Sleeping in Safety ©Antonia Ruppert
Watercolor/Pastel on Paper

This week, I watched a TD Jakes video entitled Put Your Faith in Action. It inspired me to not let my dreams die. In the message, TD Jakes said faith works if you work it. This week I worked it.

I painted more. I added exercise to my daily routine. And I simply prayed. Praying is always an example of putting one's faith in action. It takes faith to be close to God...faith to believe.

This watercolor painting - "Sleeping in Safety" describes what I want for myself, my daughter and women everywhere - to experience love and safety. The swirls and waves came to me like a rush. I painted them first on watercolor paper. Then my daughter allowed me to draw her which I did. That pastel/charcoal drawing was then added on top of the watercolor. Voila!