Family Fun Day at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/


Family fun at the Museum- below are photos from the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art's Family Fun Day held Feb 4th.  I did an Art Talk in the gallery explaining my Daubism painting process.


Family Fun Day at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. My Sky Series painting Una Vision Asentada En La Alma (A Vision Seated In The Soul) in the background
Good View of Nancy Lindsay's Brucemore painting on left.



My Corn Series Painting "The Seduction of Sampson" on the left, Stan Wiederspan's Box Series painting on back wall. Stan has been a wonderful mentor and friend!

View from the Feb 3 2012 opening night of Lure of the Local: Collecting the Corridor. Excellent view of Nina Vetrova Robinson's clock painting and Betsy Rhoads Read's vessels through the doorway. My Corn Series painting on left. Mary Zeran's tryptich is on facing wall.





Price Increase 2012- Thank You For Another Successful Year!

by Dena Tollefson http://www.denatollefson.com/

Thank You!!


I am excited to announce another 40% price increase.

Effective March 30, 2012  all sizes of all my paintings (commission or standard work), regardless of location will be 40% higher than the current 2011 prices. This is the second year in a row  I will be doing this price increase in response to a successful year as 31 paintings were sold in 2011.

Thank you so much for your support!


Please note this price increase will be effective March 30th, 2012 for original paintings only, no change to signed greeting cards.


I really appreciate your support!!! Thank you so much for another successful year!!

Dena

I love the Amana Colonies!

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

I have always loved the Amanas. Growing up in Iowa, the Amana Colonies and the rich history of the farming community were part of our fabric.  I remember going to the Ox Yoke Inn for dinner on special occasions. Maybe its also because it touches on my German history (my dad Dietrich Schaefer immigrated from Germany to the US in the 1950's).  It is a pleasure to paint the traditional barns and buildings of the Amana. I love how quiet East Amana is- it is mostly residential. The barns at the entrance to East Amana greet you as you drive up the steep entrance perpendicular to the railroad tracks. Pictured below is my newest painting, "East Amana Barn, Late Summer".




"East Amana Barn, Late Summer" Oil on Canvas Board 18"x14" copyright 2011 Dena Tollefson

  I began with a canvas toned in yellow ochre and painted a full oil underpainting on-site with my new plein air pochade box from Guerrilla Painter (I highly recommend the Large French Resistance size as it is flexible to fit many canvas sizes). It was a windy day and a few clumps of dried grass flew on to the canvas- had to pick them out with the palette knife. Due to the wind this time I allowed the underpainting to dry and then finished the Daubism piece back in my studio. I have experimented with doing a full underpainting and Daubism technique on site as a total plein air piece with no work in the studio, it is a little trickier but absolutely works- just have to be careful I don't smear anything when transporting back home, and hope for no wind or light wind. Lots of paper towels on hand helps too!

Maquoketa Art Experience Opening a Success!

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

It was a wonderful night - warm early fall in Iowa- the perfect spot for an art opening at Maquoketa Art Experience. Photos from our exhibit "Drips + Daubs: Painters Zeran and Tollefson Explore Nature" are below. Thank you to Paula Neuhaus and the team at MAE. Thank you also to Mary Zeran, artist extraodinare! Our exhibit will run until the 1st week of December. Please check it out if you are in the Maquoketa area!

View of gallery before opening reception. Paintings from Mary Zeran on left, paintings from Dena Tollefson on facing wall.



Daubism paintings by Dena Tollefson



Collage paintings by Mary Zeran

Please Join Me in Maquoketa!

"Dordogne Tulips" 40"x30" Oil on Stretched Cotton Canvas copyright 2011 Dena Tollefson

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

Please join Mary Zeran and me at the Maquoketa Art Experience on Friday, Oct 7th 6-9PM for the opening reception of  "Drips + Daubs: Artists Mary Zeran and Dena Tollefson Explore Nature". 

This is stop #2 for our 2-person show.  Mary and I are touring this exhibit throughout the Midwest.

We are so excited about this venue. Director Paula Neuhaus has been really awesome- and a lot of fun to work with.

The exhibit runs Oct 4, 2011- Nov 4, 2011 at the Maquoketa Art Experience. I hope to see you there!!

124 S. Main Street
Maquoketa, Iowa 52060
http://www.maquoketa-art.org/

Jeff Vileta Named That Painting: "Whirling Wading"

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

Jeff Vileta named that painting... "Whirling Wading"

Thank you to all the folks who emailed and posted your painting name ideas to Facebook!  There were 22 options to choose from.

I had a dickens of a time dowselecting to the final- there were so many excellent suggestions.  I really appreciate you! Have a great day, and thanks, Jeff for naming that painting

"Whirling Wading" 30"x40" Oil on Canvas copyright 2011 Dena Tollefson

Please Help Me Name this Painting

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

Hi-
Please help me name this new painting! It is a Great Egret - the first in a series of large water bird paintings...

Untitled 30"x40" Oil on Canvas Copyright 2011 Dena Tollefson

This painting will be exhibited at Wiederspan Gallery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in October as part of the Fall Metro Gallery Tour  (Event night is Thursday, Oct 20th 2011 5-8PM).

Please write your painting name idea in the comment field below, email me, or write on my Facebook page. I look forward to hearing your ideas!! Thank you in advance for your help!

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

Thank you to Olivia Vandenberg for the neat review! Click here to see her article.
I appreciate your kind words and support of my work. This Corn series has been a lot of fun to do.  I am thinking of the corn as individuals who have adventures & emotions. Have a great day!

"Corn V" Oil on Stretched Cotton Canvas 18"x24" copyright 2008 Dena Tollefson

New Gallery Representation: Quad City Arts Rock Island, Illinois

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

I am delighted to announce Quad City Arts is now representing me in Rock Island, Illinois! Many thanks to Dawn Wohlford-Metallo and the staff of Quad City Arts.  Click here to learn more about the gallery program . I have Daubism pieces at the gallery (see photo below). Am gearing up for a Corn Series exhibit to be held in July 2012 at the Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, Illinois through their program.

Photo of Quad City Arts Gallery , Rock Island Illinois. Photo courtesy http://www.quadcityarts.com/about%20us.asp

Thank you Art Guild of Burlington!

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/


Thank you to Judy Smithson-Hilkin, Jim Hilkin, and the members of the  Art Guild of Burlington   for a wonderful exhibit and reception! The space, the lighting, the food, the flowers, and most of all, the warmth from the people of Burlington really showed through. There were an estimated 150 people who attended the Saturday Member's wine tasting event and the Sunday public opening. Our exhibit "Drips and Daubs: Artists Zeran and Tollefson Explore Nature" continues until August 28th, 2011- please check it out if you are in the Burlington area!