Renee's Artistic Journey

My first show in the US. Consider yourself invited!

2011-05-18T15:58:00.000-04:00

I haven't had much time for painting lately, but the year is flying by and with it my goal to have a show within a year of moving back to the states. So, here I go.... June 3 at my house. Sure I wish that it were at a gallery, but it's a start and for now that's all I need.

Lots to do in the next 2 weeks, but I know I will manage to get it done. Once the invites have gone out, there's not turning back!

If you don't receive an official invite it's because you live too far away or I don't have your e-mail address. If you'd like to come, consider yourself invited!

Visit Event Website or RSVP

Chamard Wines

2011-02-21T17:25:00.003-05:00

Although I still have many unfinished wine paintings to complete here are two that are done. I love painting wine, but sometimes I miss the quicker gratification of painting abstracts. These are both Connecticut wines from Chamard Vineyards.

Finish - Tall Merlot

2011-02-19T17:35:00.000-05:00

Finally I finished the tall Merlot painting that I started a while back.

Time Out Kids Magazine - Dubai

2011-02-17T17:10:00.000-05:00

I was looking to see if any of my painting images were showing up on a search on Google images and I found the article written about me for TimeOut Kids Dubai. I had completely forgotten about that. I thought I'd share...

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/print/features/13059-portrait-of-a-lady

Renee Hartshorn paints a pretty picture of life in Dubai...

Have you always painted?
I have, ever since I was a kid. I had a pony growing up and I used to draw and paint horses all the time and I did an undergraduate degree in art education. But then I was holding down a full-time job and raising kids – pretty time-consuming as you can imagine – so there was a period of about 15 years when I didn’t paint at all.
How did you get back into it?
We had a house in Connecticut with big wall space and art was expensive! Plus the girls were older, so I started again. Here, I paint a lot – almost every day.

Does it keep you sane?
Yeah, it makes the day better if I’ve painted. I went from a very busy lifestyle in the US – I was working full-time, finishing up an MBA, looking after the girls and my husband was working here in Dubai. To go from that to doing nothing was tough. I needed to have something to do. It’s funny, I thought I’d never get used to not working but now I’d love to open a gallery or a place like the JamJar when we move home. That’s the great thing about Dubai – it’s the kind of place that gives you the opportunity to try something new.
Do you find Dubai inspiring?
I do. I love painting mosques and figures, and the colours of the desert – the browns, oranges and yellows – inspire me too. I recently held a show and it was the paintings with an Arabic theme that sold. I think a lot of people felt my pictures reflected their experience here.
Is it east to be an artist in Dubai?
I did a painting course and a pottery course at the Dubai International Arts Centre (DIAC) when we first moved here. They were great and got me back into art again. I used to live near New York City and I think I would’ve found the art scene there extremely intimidating, but here it’s much more open. Supply-wise, I can get most things – Emirates Trading near the American Hospital is a great store – although the brand of paint that I like working with isn’t sold here so I have to bring that in myself.
Do your girls like your work?
Yeah, they think it’s cool. My youngest, Elle, is particularly keen. She loves artsy stuff and she has her heart set on becoming a photographer. I also invite the neighbourhood kids in to paint – not all of them! – but small groups of kids who are roughly the same age. They have a blast.
What’s next?
I haven’t painted the Burj al Arab, even though I can see it from my window. I’ve really got to do that…
Check out Renee’s paintings on her website www.rlhpainter.com or contact her on renee@rlhpainter.com.
By Time Out Dubai Kids staff
Time Out Dubai, 31 January 2010

The touch

2010-11-07T21:14:00.001-05:00

As an artist when I visit a gallery or museum I want to touch a work of art. I want to feel the brush strokes. I want to feel a Van Gogh some day. There are different kinds of paint and different kinds of strokes, like different kinds of snow, or now, after having lived in the desert, there are different kinds of sand. You feel it and know, oh, its that kind of sand. Paintings are like that too. You can feel the difference between oil or acrylic or full body or fluid. That touch breaths life into the painting.

But as my girls will tell you, I won't let them ever touch a painting or scuplture. Not mine of course, those they can touch all they want. Someone else's work of art has to be respected and preserved. I hope that my grandkids and their kids one day touch my paintings and feel my presence in those brush strokes.

Progress...

2010-11-05T17:00:00.000-04:00

The birds are still progressing along, but this one is my favorite.

This morning I did one coat for the background on the wine painting too. Hopefully I will find more time to paint later this afternoon. Now I have to do some laundry, vacuum and get the old skis out for the ski swap tonight!

Birds

2010-11-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

A bird ran into my studio/office window the other day... gave me the idea to do some birds. Picasso's dove popped into my head, a great image of peace, then living in the Middle East, etc. My head runs from idea to idea connecting them all together like a long paper chain. Here are some doves and an owl (which I had to throw in because we have some in the reservoir behind our house) in progress. I guess they are kinda hard to see. I'll do individual pics once I am finished.

Commissioned family portrait

2010-11-01T17:30:00.010-04:00

This is for a friend in Dubai for her grandmother in Texas. Interesting to work in Connecticut for a person who lives in Dubai and wants the piece sent to Texas, very cool! Portraits are not really my thing, but I'm still proud of the output.

Horses!

2010-10-15T17:15:00.000-04:00

I completed a few horses in red and gold. They turned out well. Next time I need to deviate from my usual palate.

Now looking for more inspiration from the woods and wildlife around our house.

New Subject Matter

2010-10-01T09:27:00.001-04:00

Dubai had ready made subject matter at hand... mosques, wind towers, etc. Often people buy art to commemorate an experience they've had or cherish something they love. What do I paint in Connecticut? Big green trees and rocks, oh lots of rocks.... I've decided on horses for now. I started 4 new paintings today. They'll be abstract horse in different colors.

Changing times, changing site, selling art

2010-09-30T07:56:00.003-04:00

As time passes so does our approach to whatever we do, hopefully anyway, I sure don't want to be stuck in the past. This blog was my original website, alas I created a new website and this will become a blog about creating my art vs showcasing it.

After recently moving back to the US from living in Dubai, I am at a cross roads, what to do with my life... something tougher to ponder beyond what to make for dinner. I love creating art, but is there a strong enough market for it here in Connecticut. Maybe yes, maybe no, but it would mean I have to come busting out of my shelf and sell my work. Selling your own art isn't like selling a product on a shelf. It's selling a piece of you, which is waaaayyyy harder to do. My inner insecurities always creep to the surface when I think about walking into a gallery with my portfolio. Art lies in the eye of the beholder. I've sold pieces that I've loved and pieces that I thought were crap, because everyone has different taste.

I've already e-mailed/called 3 places about showing my work. Every week I will call or visit more. It will come in time. Here's to today and moving forward!

Inside Zayed Mosque

2010-03-10T08:55:00.000-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
60cm x 90cm
March 2010

Zayed Mosque at Sunset

2010-03-10T08:54:00.000-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
60cm x 90cm
March 2010

Blue Burj

2010-03-10T08:53:00.000-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
30cm x 40cm
March 2010

Sandy Skies Wind Tower

2010-03-10T08:52:00.000-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
60cm x 90cm
March 2010

Sandy Skies Burj

2010-03-10T08:51:00.002-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
60cm x 90cm
March 2010

Zayed Dome

2010-03-10T08:51:00.001-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
60cm x 90cm
March 2010

Green Zayed Hallway

2010-03-10T08:50:00.000-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
60cm x 90cm
March 2010

Crackle Mosque

2010-03-10T08:48:00.002-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
45cm x 60cm
March 2010

Two Dome Mosque

2010-03-10T08:48:00.001-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
45cm x 60cm
March 2010

Purple Mosque

2010-03-10T08:47:00.000-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
45cm x 60cm
March 2010

Yellow Burj Al Arab

2010-03-10T08:39:00.001-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
45cm x 60cm
March 2010

Red Mosque

2010-03-10T08:37:00.000-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
45cm x 60cm
March 2010

Hallway in Zayed Mosque

2010-03-10T08:36:00.000-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
45cm x 60cm
March 2010

Warm Mosque

2010-03-10T08:35:00.000-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
30cm x 40cm
March 2010

Warm Mosque Hallway

2010-03-10T08:34:00.001-05:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
30cm x 40cm
March 2010

Orange Wind Tower

2010-03-10T08:33:00.000-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
45cm x 60cm
March 2010

Orange Mosque

2010-03-10T08:31:00.001-05:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
30cm x 40cm
March 2010

Crackle Wind Tower

2010-03-10T08:22:00.001-05:00

Acrylic, ink and glue on canvas
30cm x 40cm
March 2010

Zuzanna's Wine

2010-02-11T05:57:00.000-05:00

Acrylic on canvas
50cm x 170cm
February 2010

Lisa's Live Laugh Love

2010-02-11T05:55:00.001-05:00

Acrylic on canvas
145cm x 54cm
January 2010

Zayed Mosque in browns

2010-02-11T05:52:00.001-05:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
60cm x 90cm
January 2010

Blue Woman

2009-11-01T06:11:00.000-05:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
18" x 24"
November 2009

Sunset

2009-11-01T06:09:00.000-05:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
45cm x 60cm
November 2009

Warm Nude

2009-10-05T06:14:00.000-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
120cm x 80 cm
October 2009

Green Nude

2009-10-01T06:07:00.000-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
45cm x 60cm
October 2009

2009-10-01T05:59:00.001-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
16 x 20 inches

Orange Nude

2009-09-05T06:06:00.000-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
18" 24"
September 2009

White Wine

2009-09-01T06:08:00.000-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
12"x24"
September 2009

Lady in Red

2009-09-01T06:05:00.000-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
16" x 24"
September 2010

2009-06-01T06:03:00.000-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
60cm x 60 cm
2009

Zayed Mosque

2009-05-01T06:12:00.000-04:00

Ink, graphite and acrylic on linen
20" x 30"
May 2009

Cold Desert

2009-04-30T14:28:00.002-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
24" x 36"
April 2009

Beginnings End

2009-04-30T14:28:00.001-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
36" x 24"
April 2009

Sandy Nude

2009-04-30T14:27:00.000-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
30" x 30"
April 2009

Doorways

2009-04-30T14:26:00.000-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
24" x 36"
April 2009

Blue Nude

2009-04-30T14:25:00.000-04:00

Acrylic and ink on canvas
18" x 24"
April 2009

Grey Nude

2009-04-30T14:23:00.001-04:00

Acrylic, charcoal and ink on canvas
24" x 36"
April 2009

Abstract nude

2009-03-26T04:01:00.000-04:00

Acrylic, charcoal and ink on canvas
23.5" x 29.5"
March 2009

Warm Starry Night

2009-03-26T03:01:00.002-04:00

Acrylic, texture medium, and stain on canvas
35.5" x 23.5"
March 2009

Untitled abstract

2009-03-26T02:59:00.000-04:00

Acrylic on canvas
24" x 48"
March 2009

In my hear and in my soul

2009-03-14T10:55:00.000-04:00

Acrylic, charcoal and ink on canvas
60" x 46"
March 2009

Horses

2009-03-14T10:44:00.003-04:00

Acrylic, ink, and charcoal on canvas
37" x 31.5"
March 2009

Inspiration

2009-02-17T01:45:00.003-05:00

Acrylic on canvas
23.5" x 23.5"
February 2009

Three Bottles #2

2009-02-09T07:45:00.002-05:00

Acrylic on canvas
30" x 30"
February 2009

Tree of Life

2008-12-29T06:31:00.001-05:00

Acrylic on canvas
30" x 30"
December 2008

Embrace

2008-12-29T06:29:00.001-05:00

Acrylic on canvas
30" x 48"
December 2008

Three Bottles

2008-12-29T06:24:00.001-05:00

Acrylic on canvas
40" x 30"
December 2008

A Taste of Dubai

2008-11-10T05:10:00.001-05:00

Acrylic on canvas
36" x 60"
November 2008
The inspiration for this piece came from 2 vases that our housing agent gave to us. It reminds me of the colors of sand in the UAE.

Untitled

2008-11-10T05:02:00.002-05:00

Acrylic on canvas
36" x 24"
October 2008

I need to think up some creative titles for my work. This is a piece that I created to cover up the electrical panels in the entryway.

Arabic Live, Laugh, Love

2008-09-29T01:49:00.002-04:00

acrylic on canvas
36" x 24"
September 2008
Live, Laugh, Love with a local feel.

Study of Van Gogh's Sunflowers

2008-09-29T01:45:00.005-04:00

acrylic on canvas
36" x 24"
September 208
Finally I have time to paint again!

Man in the Maze

2007-08-29T15:45:00.000-04:00

acrylic on canvas
12" x 12"
August 2007
Life, death and rebirth

Old Wine and Old Friends

2007-08-07T08:32:00.000-04:00

acrylic on canvas
72" x 36"
August 2007
"Old wine and old friends improve with age."

Midnight

2007-03-29T14:37:00.000-04:00

acrylic on canvas
30" x 30"
March 2007
This is my good friend's dog who died last year.

Tree of Life

2007-03-23T16:26:00.001-04:00

acrylic on canvas
40" x 20"
March 2007

My latest untitled work

2007-02-02T16:57:00.000-05:00

Embrace Life

2006-12-14T16:24:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
28" x 72"
December 2006

Blue Moon

2006-12-14T08:52:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
30" x 40"
December 2006

I painted this for an old college friend. Good times!

Untitled Nov 06

2006-12-14T08:50:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
72"x28"
November 2006

Trilogy of Circles

2006-11-07T16:20:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
3 panels 11" x 14"
November 2006

Lover

2006-07-27T08:05:00.000-04:00

acrylic on canvas
10'x3.5'
July 2006

Untitled

2006-07-14T14:23:00.000-04:00

acrylic on canvas
14"x18"
June2006

Dream

2006-06-01T14:16:00.000-04:00

acrylic on canvas
30"x40"
May 2006

Starry Night - I Wish I May...

2006-04-20T20:51:00.000-04:00

acrylic on canvas
54"x60"
April 2006

An ode to Van Gogh and to the stars from home that I miss.

Horses

2006-03-22T13:36:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
30"x40"
March 2006

Circles

2006-03-05T19:46:00.000-05:00

New and Improved circles (on the top)
acrylic on canvas
30"x40"
April/March 2006

Serenity

2006-01-27T17:47:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
30"x24"
January 2006

I just love this one! Sometimes you just amaze yourself with what you can do. Where I place the brush seems so random, yet it the composition seems to work out.

Untitled

2006-01-26T14:39:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
30"x40"
January 2006

working with texture and laying colors. I liked it so much that I created 2 more for friends who just got married.

Intertwined

2006-01-25T14:52:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
30" x 40"
January 2006

Not sure if I like this one yet or not.

Our Lives

2005-12-27T10:52:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
30" x 40"
December 2005

Vineyard

2005-12-27T10:49:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
72" x 28"
December 2005

Birth of Venus

2005-12-06T08:49:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
135" x 68"
May 2005
Venus finally lives! She's been done for a while but waiting on my digital camera to be fixed. It is hanging in our entryway, way high up on the wall which is very hard to photograph.

Elle

2005-12-03T16:14:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
52" x 52"
May 2005

Dani

2005-12-03T16:13:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
52"x52"
May 2005

Sketchs of Dani and Elle

2005-12-03T16:12:00.000-05:00

pencil on paper
6" x 9"
April 2005

Live Laugh Love

2005-12-03T16:11:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
78" x 28"
March 2005

Symbols of Life

2005-12-03T16:10:00.001-05:00

acrylic on canvas
31"x31"
January 2005

Three Amigos

2005-12-03T16:10:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
31"x31"
January 2005

Vodka & Tonic on a Friday

2005-12-03T16:09:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
7'x3' January 2005

Sisterly Love - Dani and Elle

2005-12-03T16:08:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
July 2004

Foursome

2005-12-03T16:07:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
June 2004

Kerzic Wine + 9

2005-12-03T16:03:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
March 2004

Picasso Study

2005-12-03T16:02:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
2003

Rothko Study

2005-12-03T16:01:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
2003

Family

2005-12-03T16:00:00.000-05:00

acrylic on canvas
2003