What's in a Name?

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

How did you name that painting?  Naming a painting can be a lot of fun. I have been naming my little insect paintings (ladybugs, dragonflies, & bumblebees) after relatives and people I know.

Dragonfly Victor, for example, is named after Victor Newman on Young and the Restless (this is rather pathetic, I know, but I can't help myself as I feel I know Victor after watching him so long on TV- it is almost as though he is a member of the family!). Have named Ladybug Ida and Ladybug Hilbert after Tante Ida and Uncle Hilbert who lived in Wisconsin from my mother's side. Same with Ladybug Lydia, named after my grandmother Lydia Gnewuch. Ladybug Betsy is named after Elizabeth Rhoads Reed, an artist friend of mine. Friends Angie Rohret and Joanne Mauck inspired Ladybug on a Daisy Angie and Ladybug Joanne.

Dragonfly Victor 10"x8" Oil on Canvas Copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

New Buzzzzz

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

Last month I was at Catiri's in Amana doing a painting demo and a customer from Texas asked if I had any bumblebee paintings. I told him I have never painted a bee, instead he ended up purchasing one of my Ladybug paintings that day.

But what a great idea! So thank you to the Texas customer- a new series is born- the Bumblebee Series. Here is the underpainting of the first little guy, waiting to be turned into a Divisionism (Pointillism) painting. Next time he comes to Catiri's, I hope to have several bees ready for him to choose from.

Underpainting for first painting of new Bumblebee Series

6"x4" acrylic on canvas copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

Gearing up for 2011 exhibit

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

Took down the Tollefson/Jones/Monska exhibit at the Lowe Center this Saturday to make way for Bill Kettlekamp and Larry Zirbel's exhibit which runs July 19- Sept 10th. I fought the temptation to look at Larry and Bill's work as it was being installed- want to be surprised and see it all put together and in its full glory for the first time when I go to see their opening reception. The little peek I had was great- they will have a wonderful show. Can't wait to see it fully lit!

 I am excited as Paul told me that Abby, Paul and I are slated to exhibit for the Marion Arts Council again next year- the challenge will be to come up with a new body of work over the next 10 months.! I had only one of my Daubism pieces (a small watermelon painting), at the 2010 show, the other 26 pieces were my abstracts and pieces from my Corn Series. I plan to bring all Daubism for the exhibit next year for 2011, so I had better get painting!.  Am also pleased that Paul's painting "Alliant Energy" and  my painting "Addonis" will be part of the Marion Arts Council's permanent collection.

"Addonis" 24"x30" Oil on Canvas  Copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

Marion Arts Council Permanent Collection 

Thanks for a great painting demo turnout!

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

Thanks for the great turnout at the painting demo at Catiri's gallery in Amana! I was excited to meet folks from Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Texas, Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Vermont, and all across the country. Here are a few photos of the event. I am seated at the easel demonstrating my Daubism technique of a new dragonfly painting. The painting is 12"x24". You can see the acrylic underpainting in the photo, just got a start on the oil painting.

Photos from Last Night's Catiri's Art Oasis Gallery 1- Person Exhibit Reception

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

Thank you to Jenise and Ithiel Catiri for hosting an artist's reception for my 1- person exhibit! Here are a few photos from the event.

You are invited to the gallery this afternoon (Saturday, July 3rd) - I'll be doing an indoor painting demonstration of my Daubism technique. Will be there from 1-5PM... I hope to see you there!! Here's the address:

Catiri's Art Oasis
4506 220th Trail
Amana, Iowa 52203
Phone: (319) 622-3969
http://www.catiriartoasis.com/

Painting Demonstration: Corn at the Window: Marie Antoinette (Let Them Eat Corn)

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

New Painting in process- Marie Antoinette as Corn at her window

So I am thinking now of Marie Antoinette as corn. She stands, aloof and haughty at her window and surveys the rows of corn growing outside. She is indoors, living a luxurious life whilst the rest of the corn is sweating it out in the misquitoed humidity. The start of this painting is shown above on my studio easel.

I began this oil painting by toning my 40"x30" canvas with a wash of yellow ocher (see drips of underpainting showing). I love to have a washy, drippy underpainting- besides covering the white of the bare canvas, it creates an abstract start to the painting.

I have laid out the landscape through the window and have a good start on the distant clouds and sky. I like that a bit of the underpainting is showing in the clouds- plan to leave that as-is. Have used the same dark color (dioxadine purple mixed with cad orange) to make her hair and the windowframe. Will use this same color to unify her hair with the window as one compositional element.

Next step is to get back to HyVee for another ear of sweet corn- hard to find this time of year! They did have some shipped in earlier - it gets old quickly under the studio spotlight... I will continue painting this picture and show progress in future posts.

Thanks for a Great Turnout at the Light, Energy, and Color Exhibit!

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

Thank you all for such a wonderful turnout at our exhibit "Light, Energy and Color" held at the Lowe Center in Marion, Iowa sponsored by the Marion Arts Council. The exhibit runs until July 16, 2010. It was great to hear fellow artists Paul Monska and Abby Jones explain how they made their art and thoughts behind it at the reception. I really liked Paul's Minimalist paintings of the iconic Cedar Rapids smokestack and Alliant Energy building- and Abby's Abstract Expressionism/Primitivism paintings - how she goes into a meditative state and then goes to town, getting paint on walls, floor, etc in the process.

"Self Portrait in Corn" 24" x30" Oil on Canvas copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

"Corn IV" 24" x36" Oil on Canvas copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

I have received quite a few positive comments on my Corn Series- especially "Rapunzel", "Addonis", and "Self Portrait in Corn".  I am thinking about the corn as people- and trying to show their emotions through the paint. Since I don't do any nude paintings of people, personifying people through corn is a way to be naughty through paint, but still be conservative.

In "Corn III: Attraction", for example, the man stands behind her, she is dripping in butter. 
If you look closely at each pair of kernels in my corn series (especially evident on "Corn IV", shown above), the corn is painted in a way which looks like pairs of well toned men's bottoms. Scandalous- yes. More of the Corn series can be seen on my website .  Will be starting on another corn painting soon.

Art In Action Event a Success

by Dena Tollefson

Thanks to everyone who made the outdoor event "Art In Action" at Catiri's Art Oasis a success. Ithiel Catiri put a tent up for me which provided shade- made a huge difference and allowed me to paint the whole day for the demonstration. Met hundreds of people who walked by to see the demo, and got a good start on a new 24" x 12" tulip painting which will go into their July exhibit. It was a good day.

Painting Demonstration- Art in Action @ Catiri's Art Oasis

by Dena Tollefson
http:/www.denatollefson.com

"Daisy VIII" 4"x6" Oil on Canvas,  Private Collection. Copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson  

I will be doing a painting demonstration of my Daubism pointillism oil painting technique at Catiri's Art Oasis in Amana this Saturday, May 29th. I will be meeting people and showing how I make my daisy series paintings-  Come on out for the fun-  this is part of Catiri's annual Art In Action event where there will be jewelry making, wheel pottery, painting and glass making demonstrations. Event is 10AM-5PM. If I am not at Catiri's at the moment, I will likely be found eating a cookie at the Amana Bakery 2 shops over :)

Catiris Art Oasis

4513 220th Trail
Amana, Iowa 52203
PHONE: (319) 622-3969

I hope to see you there!

"Energy, Light and Color" Exhibit

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

Abby Jones, Paul Monska and Dena Tollefson will be exibiting over 50 paintings in a juried 3-person show entitled "Energy, Light and Color" at the Lowe Center for the Arts in Marion sponsored by the Marion Arts Council. Reception is June 3, 2010 6:00-7:30PM which is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. You are invited!!

The three of us will be giving an art talk at this reception to explain intentions behind the paintings. I am exhibiting my Corn Series and Abstract Series. Last week I wrote last week about the Corn Series- this week I'll write about the Abstracts... 

"The Last Week" 28"x22" Acrylic on Canvas copyright 2009 Dena Tollefson

"Noah's Ark, Gypsy" 40"x30" Acrylic on Canvas copyright 2005 Dena Tollefson

"Sin" 20"x16" Acrylic on Canvas copyright 2005 Dena Tollefson

"Mountain Sunrise, The Flight" 18"x24" Acryic on Canvas copyright 2009 Dena Tollefson

These Abstract paintings are all about symbolism with a goal of strong composition.  I first determine a theme or symbol for the painting and then develop a pencil or pen sketch to work out a composition of overlapping and tangential shapes which support the idea. I then lay out this plan with a thin layer of paint. The photos shown here are acrylic paintings, this approach is the same whether I am using acrylic or oil paint. I then continue building up layers by glazing color until the painting is complete.

My goal is to have connections between the small elements in the painting but have them read as a whole shape with a color balance across the painting. One should be able to divide the canvas in quarters and have balance and a sense of harmony in all quadrants. I use a lot of black and white with strong contrasts in these paintings to increased drama.