New Auction & Art from the studio

I’ve been going through my studio and finding small pieces that I had forgotten I had! What a treat to discover them again. I have photographed them and placed them in my eBay gallery.

This painting I did with gold leaf on canvas, lots of texture, and collage.

It was inspired by the Ajanta Caves in India. This piece can be used as a meditation focal. It was painted in 2006. This is the first I have photographed and shown it. 8 x 10 x 1″ Click for large detail pictures.

“Awakening”

This painting was a collage piece, with gold leaf, dollar bills, and selected images on canvas, very interesting textures. From 2007. Click to see the larger pictures.

“American Trust” 10″ x 10″

This small pastel is on live auction right now, with only a few days left. It is a pastel on hand-made bark paper, and comes framed. It was inspired by the first art objects found, most of which were carvings in stone. This depicts an ancient stone horse head fragment.

“Horsehead Fragment II”

St. Paul Studio drawing practice

Last week my talented sis Mary…

came over and we spent the evening drawing each other. I went into the exercise feeling like a little chicken….*buck-buck-buck*! But in the middle of the second drawing, I felt something take hold, and as I studied her eyes, and pushed the charcoal across the paper….the love I felt began to emerge and I captured something powerful and exiting there, in two dimensions. It didn’t quite look like her in some parts, but I was very happy with the successful bits.

Art Studio St. Paul

Wow- what a year it has been!

My journey from Oregon to Mn has been full of surprises, and new adventures. I finally got to move into my downtown artist’s loft, and I love it. Wide open space- 16′ ceilings, exposed brick walls on two sides, and huge windows surrounding the golden oak floors. I’m in artist heaven.

I am surrounded by other artists- as in the photo above-and it is inspiring to see their process and creativity at work. Our artist’s co-op will be one among the many St. Paul buildings on the upcoming Spring Art Crawl tour of Open Studios.

I have also been working at a Gallery for the past 4 months…learning quite a lot, and loving it. It was sad when it closed down last week, I had mixed feelings…glad to be back in my own studio… but even more aware of how many galleries are closing after talking to many others during our liquidation sale. I truly hope that the new White House will bring about some much-needed positive change for the arts in this country.

In other news, National Geographic’s publishing house has licensed one of my paintings for one of their books. I will show it when it is published, after I receive the images and story.

Little Kiwi is asleep on my shoulder as I type, his fluffy head buried in his downy back feathers, balancing asleep on one tiny leg…..lol.

Peace and Beauty to all.

So You Want To Be More Creative…

Here is an article by Hugh MacLeod of (gapingvoid: “cartoons drawn on the back of business cards”)

that I just have to encourage everyone to read. He points out some very useful tips and ideas in a tidy little list that would be handy for anyone to print out and glance at every once in a while.

click: gapingvoid

So you want to be more creative, in art, in business, whatever. Here are some tips that have worked for me over the years:

1. Ignore everybody.

2. The idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to change the world.

3. Put the hours in.

4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.

5. You are responsible for your own experience.

Read more at gapingvoid, and download the PDF version of the list.

Architecture in Watercolor

The next commission I will be working on is an architectural piece, which will utilize my small amount of architectural training. When I was just beginning college, I had chosen an architecture school in Portland, and I lasted a year and a summer of wonderful classes. My artwork of the New Market Theater columns (being windows into scenes of historic and preserved elements in Oregon) won to become the National Historic Preservation Week’s poster for that year. I re-assessed my future, and transferred out into art school.

hehehe

And I could be rich and famous right now as an architect!

My art challenge right now, though, is to paint the St. Paul Cathedral, in a triptych format, with the central large image being the entire Cathedral flanked by two of the Cathedral’s marble Saint statues. The Cathedral is simply amazing inside. Take a look here:

Cathedral of St. Paul

I’m setting up my art studio now- inside the cafe…… …….. I will have a room of my own, and have the air-conditioned wireless internet cafe to play in. I have worked out a trade with my friend, the owner, to watch the cafe and be artist-in-residence with Open Studio hours three days a week, and if you are lucky to come into the cafe then, I’ll even serve you an iced latte!!

This is a temporary transitional space, until about Dec/Jan, when I would like to be moved closer to the Twin Cities in my own place.

It will take about a week to plan the composition and do the underlying drawings for the watercolor.

Then, the fun begins.

Jordan Art Festival

This summer, my sister and I will be sharing a large booth at the Jordan Art Festival. Mary will be showing her pastel landscapes, horse drawings, cards, and the original Andalusian stallion drawing.

Our work was chosen to be the Art Festival poster this year. It is a double-image; her Andalusian stallion superimposed over my photograph of Montana mountains and sky. It was a gift I did for my sis last year….and marked some personal milestones between us, and my own road to recovery. We are both thrilled to see it coming to Jordan to represent the Festival. I donated some time to the project to come up with a complete graphic for the poster. It was fun!
Andalusian Dreams

(c) 2007 Mary Schenck and Cecilia Henle

Kitty’s In the House

*

Thanks to everyone who has emailed support and love. The move home brought so many changes in lifestyle, but so much gained….

Life is on the up-swing …and after a day like today, who can doubt that the magic never left? The birds were singing so loudly in so many voices, as the morning advanced, and the drive to town down gravelly roads lines with farmland beauty and river valley views…..I felt inspired and bathed in Natures elegance, the warmth of the day and sun settling in around my shoulders like a lovers mantle.

What dreams may haunt my nights can only spark another painting, another fuel for my art, another thank you for my own voice that I now hear so clearly.
This afternoon, I was at the cafe, we were all laughing so loudly, so uproariously at each other. This is so good, such good, good healthy medicine. I feel I am on the right path, the right highway, the right direction, with the right people around me!!!

Kiwi, the comical Senegal is just loving the people and extra animals in his life. He is having adventures every day, and he will be writing his news so look for them in his  pages here.

*cute cute cute icon by anna voog.

Artist Trading Cards- ATC’s

I have some new art cards for sale on eBay…..*Free Shipping on additional cards!*

Have Fun Looking!
(click the store icon)

“Bound” Pen and Ink on Paper


Go, ahead, CLICK!

About my mini-print aceo’s:

ATC’s stands for Artist Trading Cards, also called ACEO’s : Art Card Editions & Originals.

ATC’s are widely collected among art collectors and anyone who would like an affordable way to own miniatures of their favorite artists work.

My Artist Trading Cards are usually always limited editions, and are the standard ATC/ACEO size of 3.5 X 2.5″.
They are printed using heavyweight Hahnemuhle Fine Art Print stock- the finest art paper in the world.

Leaping Antelope

Recently I was commissioned to paint a pastel on hand-made bark paper, in the SW series style. My client wanted a painting similar to one that he had seen online and fallen in love with, so I am doing a smaller version with some changes, of this piece.

“Leaping Antelope”

pastel

24×32″ Diptych

I will be framing the art as well, floated on suede mat in a shadow-box type frame.

Leaping Antelope was an Indian warrior captured and held in one of the many calvary forts on the plains.

Snowbound in Minnesota

Minne-Snow-ta, winter white-outs, blustery 20 below days and warm firesides with loved ones. This is the setting for my new home, and art studio. Four one-week-old collie pups, four birds a-singing, plenty of fresh air, laughter and love.

Within one week of arriving, I have a show at a local restaurant, a new commission, and a job offer! I am meeting some wonderful people, and the countryside is very pretty, way out here in horse country. Ok, well, really, it’s Angus country, but….I am living on a horse ranch, (don’t be jealous) with inspiration abounding all around.

I will be showing some pictures of my latest commission soon, now that I am settling in to a much-needed healthy and healing lifestyle.

Back from MinneSNOWta!

Egads- I have been away for a whole month! Two weeks in OH & two weeks in MN, for Christmas.

I was able to knit about 22 scarves - all beautiful, for my family, bro’s, sis, nieces & nephews…..all of them having at least some of my mother’s yarn in them.  I barely covered the first round of family…lol….I now have about 23 N&N’s and a godzillion great-N&N’s! 23 X 2.5!!! What a delight to watch the interaction, feel the love, playfulness, teasing, pranks and comradery between them all.

Studio sale is going on here…I’m selling off most of my surplus art supplies, cleaning house, paring down, and simplifying my life. I’ll make a road-trip out to my coastal galleries, and drop off some framed work.

Kiwi learned how to say “Waaaah!”. Some kind of sick joke from my friends who looked after him while I was away! I’ll get them. I’m going to teach their Iguana how to spit.

Life

This year has brought so many changes into my life that I have learned to accept change as a matter of daily occurance. This last was a big one, and made me take a leap of faith and love. My mother passed away two days before Thanksgiving.

I was fortunate to talk with her the day before, and we shared perhaps the best conversation we ever had.

I am grateful for that, and now have the task of honoring her life the way I could not for so long.

I have been taking up her hobby of knitting, and when I learn and get good enough, will help to knit mittens and hats for childrens charities, like she did, every year before Christmas. So far, I have managed two scarves, just plain knit, knit, knit. I used three yarns together on the last one, and was surprised at the thick, soft knobby pattern that resulted. It is quite lovely.

In art news:

I have been contacted by an interior designer team who is interested in my work. I’m very happy about this, and it seems to fall in line with what I have been envisioning for myself. More on that as it developes.

Even better news: I have an opportunity to attend a retreat in Ohio that I have been waiting for an opening in for a year. Two weeks of intensive art & soul therapy and then home to Minnesota for Christmas. I’ll be working on my laptop from there. The only thing I won’t be able to do is ship out orders and prints. Exceptions are the tapestry throw blankets, which I can send direct.

Everything is in flux, as usual. The artist’s path is an uncertain road, and not for those who can’t handle surprises, bumps and bruises.

With all of that, I still feel lucky, fortunate, grateful and happy that I have this life to explore these things in my work. All of lifes experiences are only fuel for my art, and art is the expression deeper than words. New work will be coming out of this, and it won’t be like anything I’ve done before. I hope to use my talent to share artwork that illuminates the human interior and brings understanding to myself and others. I hope to heal from tragedies past, and share a story of hope and strength.

I wish everyone peace, love and joy this season, and hope that Santa leaves dreams fulfilled at every hearth.

Art Cards & ACEO’s are Hot, Hot, Hot!

Here are some of the artist trading cards (ATC) or Art Card Editions & Originals (ACEO) that I am currently selling in my eBay store.

ALL of them are in stock in store inventory, and every week I try to place one or two up on live auction, starting at a low price. This is a sacrificial lamb to draw folks to my store…otherwise how would anyone ever hear about it?

This piece, entitled “Lovely” , in sepia tones, is this weeks starter beginning at only 8.99.

Just click on either boob to be taken to the auction!

…..and she comes with this certificate of authenticity from my studio. There is no gray border, though, that is just the screen shot. The ATC image is out to the edge.

Click HERE! to see more art cards. They make lovely gifts, and can be matted and framed next to several others to make a special “Art wall”.

Henle Studio Update

I will be moving into my new studio soon.

I will be taking a short break from journaling for a few more weeks, and then I will be back to share  art news from my studio.

For now; the news is that I have left Studio Art Direct as their curator, due to contractual difficulties on their part (ie being able to pay me). I have been hired for an independent role with a company that is more established, has sound footing and experience placing artwork and working with Interior Designers.

I’ve recently been invited to play a role in the development of the company, and I believe that I will enjoy working with them. They have shown integrity in their work and their policies with artists are direct and up-front.

I learned quite a bit from my 6-month + time working for S.A.D., and building her company up for her while she was at her day job. I was looking forward to a steady build for the company , but many start-up companies fail due to lack of capital and planning, and the position I had been hired for just wasn’t possible for them any longer.
More news in a few weeks!

Stuff Artists Need to Know

I’ve just read a wonderful article on ‘trackbacks’ which *finally* takes the mystery out of it and actually explains what they are. (There’s a link to her blog in my sidebar.)
Nothing to do with tiny animals leaving paw-prints in your journal.

Read this enlightening article by Susan Reynolds:

The Truth about Trackbacks - How they Work

How Trackbacks Work

It’s all about how to connect.

While you’re there, check out some of the other interesting stories and links…if you are a creative person you will like the supportive atmosphere and scads of good information she makes available.

I happened to be reading an article from her “files from the funny zone” and the guest author, Mai Liis :

An Enmeshed Tale - Deep in the Heart of Texas

…turned out to be an artist in AJMarketing (on Yahoo), another fabulous group I am in. It is a wonderful source of art marketing and web tutorials! Small World?

Here is Mai Liis’ wonderful website and a link to her journal:

Mai-Liis

It’s really just one big party time around the online arts neighborhood.

Welcome to Henle Studio

This art journal will be a great addition to the website, where you can see new work in progress, read about events, classes, news, dreams and plans for my studio and artwork.

I welcome feedback about the artwork and the website.
Once again, welcome!