The Union

The Wisconsin Memorial Union ("The Union") is such a great place to sit and listen to live music, have a beer, and be right on Lake Mendota. Anyone who has been there will mention these chairs in shades of yellow, teal, and orange; one is even super-sized for photo opportunities. Such a great college town and Madison is definitely one of my absolute favorite cities.

8x10 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Silent Typewriter

RC Smith "Silent" typewriter... seems like an oxymoron. I don't remember typewriters being silent, and I think that was one of the best things about them. Something so nostalgic, especially for someone who enjoys writing (typing?) as much as I do.

This was a quick one that flowed from start to finish. Don't think I thought at all, and suddenly--it was done!? 

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel

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White Peonies & Satsuma

Went to Whole Foods this past week with my sister and mom. The flower bouquets were outstanding, especially the peonies, and thought they'd be perfect for painting. I also came across this delicious looking fruit with leaves. It looked like a clementine, but a bit larger (not to mention sweet, tender, and just as delicious to eat). It was another fruit considered to be a member of the mandarin family called a satsuma. Thought I'd paint them separately, but am so happy that I put them together.

9x12 on 1/8" museum quality panel

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Net Shadow

Pulled into our driveway the other morning and was so happy to see the early morning sun after many gray, rainy days in a row. The boys' basketball hoop was making a great shadow on the house and thought it would be exciting to paint. I really wanted to get a bit of the actual net in the painting too--I think it's turned out pretty cool!

12x12 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Male Cones

Months ago I took this photo of what looked like a flower on a large pine tree. Gorgeous colors--I was perplexed about what it was. Looked it up online:

Gymnosperms are seed-bearing vascular plants, such as cycads, ginkgo, yews and conifers, in which the ovules or seeds are not enclosed in an ovary. The word "gymnosperm" comes from the Greek word gymnospermos, meaning "naked seeds". Gymnosperm seeds develop either on the surface of scale or leaf-like appendages of cones, or at the end of short stalks. The largest group of living gymnosperms are the conifers.

So after much research, I found that it's a cluster of male strobili (cones) of pine at the tip of a branch in early spring prior to the release of pollen.

8x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel

www.halliekohnart.com

Pearfect

The way the morning sun shines on my kitchen counter is a daily dose of inspiration. Whatever I set there in that sunshine comes alive. Pearfect.

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

St. Mary's

This church stands out in the original part of town with it's high steeples, and is the church my family belonged to when I was a girl. It's always held a special place in my heart as I clearly remember loving the inside with it's domed ceilings.

9x12 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

I wanted to get a little history on the church.
For those interested the full article is http://nativitymary.org/our-history:

Nativity of Mary Parish began in the winter of 1876, forty years after Henry James established the original plat of the "village of Janesville" and built a log cabin on the east shore of the Rock River. Early in 1876 a meeting was held to consider organizing a second parish in Janesville. On March 3rd, the land for St. Mary, eight rods square, was purchased for $580. On March 14, the contract for the building of a plain, frame church was let for the sum of $2,000. Membership in the new congregation swelled, and by November it was necessary to build an addition to the new church. Work began in the fall of 1900 on a new church, to be built in the High Victorian Gothic style. Janesville's historic chronicle of that year described the new St. Mary Church as "by far the most imposing and handsomest church building in the city. Situated on a prominent section of the city, on high ground, its beautiful design and tall steeple add to the beauty of Janesville's architecture".

Peonies

There is nothing quite as delicious as the smell of peonies. And it is amazing to have cut peonies in the house. Luckily, these come without ants!

8x10 on 1/8" museum quality panel

www.halliekohnart.com

Curious Donkey

Whenever we go somewhere and happen to see a donkey, we seem to get so excited. My kids have even started naming them... I was thinking about two animals I seem to paint a lot, and would you believe it is elephant and donkey? It has nothing to do with politics, I promise!

8x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Zebra Back

There is something modern looking and exciting about zebras. Just love the black and white, which is never actually black and white!, and the patterning... This is my second time painting a zebra, and I'm so proud of how loose I was able to be compared with the last one. Stripes are tricky, especially when they curve around a muscular body!

6x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Gingerbread Cookies

With two little boys, we try to have a lot of traditions in our home. One of them is baking and decorating cookies for the holidays. My younger son loves gingerbread cookies, so those are always on the list. I just love the little cast of characters that develop.

12x12 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Tree Canvas

My family took an amazing hike this past weekend. It was just the perfect weather for hiking, cold with a blue sky and warm sun. There was a fallen tree surrounded by dried leaves that looked just like a canvas. There were green mosses growing on one side and fungi growing all up the other, with the light hitting it just so.

8x10 on 1/8" museum quality panel

www.halliekohnart.com

One-handed

We have always been big bike-riders in our family. Like most little boys, my sons both want to ride with one or no hands. I ignore the panic and try to focus on the great shadows they make. :)

8x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Yountville

​When we start entering the colder months and loosing color outside, my inspiration seems to fade some and I struggle a bit more for painting ideas. Luckily we had an amazing trip to Napa this past summer; my friend and I rode rental bikes 13 miles or so to Yountville for lunch. It was absolutely beautiful there! We biked around part of the town and saw so many picturesque places, including this building surrounded by roses.

8x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel

www.halliekohnart.com

Roses, Yarrow & Bittersweet

I know the roses are the star of this painting, but I am a bittersweet lover and it is what drew me to this arrangement. My mom had a selection of flowers in vases and she generously allowed me to use them. My first time painting roses too, and I'm thrilled! 

11x14 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Dahlia Bouquet

Am feeling so honored to have been contacted by a local home renovation business. They'd like to display some of my pieces in their showroom! The space looks really nice and I am so excited to see some of my paintings hanging there.

18x24 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Shadow Dancer

Went on a walk by myself the other day. I'm not much of a walker, prefer my bike or hiking, but the weather called for it. Oddly, it's the first time I can remember taking a walk alone in a good 10 years! 

A beautiful leaf and cast shadow sat on the sidewalk together just like this. I caught a photo of it the moment before it blew away.

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel

www.halliekohnart.com

Pomegranate Love

This is my third pomegranate painting, and might be the loosest one yet. Couldn't be happier with the full pomegranate sitting behind and just love the heart shapes made by the seeds. Captures how I feel about this fruit perfectly!

8x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel

www.halliekohnart.com

Tambourine

I have had so much fun painting instruments lately! I always had it in my head that I would paint three of them, but there are still plenty of options in our home. The tambourine is one of my favorite instruments, and yes I do believe it's because I think I can play this one. :)

6x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Retro Scale

Our family takes a little trip to the Wisconsin Dells every summer. One stop is always the local candy shop. The kids have a small "budget" and get to weigh their selections using one of the vintage scales--loved this one.

6x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel

www.halliekohnart.com