FEATURED ARTIST - RHONDA CARPENTER

How long have you been a member of the GCWS and why did you join?
At the time I joined GCWS in Fall of 2006, I was taking weekly lessons from Sandy Maudlin in her Indiana studio. She was President of the GCWS at that time and convinced many of her students into joining. Then she talked me into becoming the Recording Secretary in 2007. So I jumped in with both feet, not knowing many of the members - but it made me learn quickly!
Have you held any positions with the GCWS; if so, what positions?
Almost immediately after joining GCWS, I was elected to be the Recording Secretary and held that position for 3 years, working on the minutes as well as working to get those minutes on our first GCWS blog (which I also helped set up).
I took photos at each meeting and wrote up the information about each guest artist's program, as well as kept up with the regular business meetings for the group. I've also been chair of one GCWS show, and worked with the chair for the last GCWS show.

What are some of your artistic achievements?
I have been juried into several shows, including the Greater Hamilton Art Show (at the Fitton Center), the Middletown Art Center show, and the Cincinnati Art Club's Viewpoint show. I have also won a couple of honorable mention awards at the Rising Sun Plein Air Paint Out and the 2011 spring show of the GCWS held at the Women's Art Club Barn. I also was voted Artist of the Year 2007-2008 by one of my online Yahoo groups, WatercolorWorkshop. It has almost 1,000 members and the vote was for artistic merit as well as helpfulness to other artists.

Describe your usual procedures for creating a painting.
Well, I think something - a scene or a photograph - has to draw me in to want to paint it. That usually happens when the light and shadows are just right to inspire me. I try to stick with just watercolor on watercolor paper, having gone through my stages of painting on YUPO and gessoed paper and doing batik, etc. I have an affinity for crows, so I am currently gathering crow photos, receiving them from friends and family (my husband is a photographer and allows me to use his photos as reference in many instances), as well as taking my own when travelling. I then look through those to get some inspiring ideas on how to create an interesting composition. I usually make a drawing on tracing paper so I can make changes before putting the drawing onto my watercolor paper. Then, it's just colors and values and trying to do the best I can with what I've learned. I think I've gone from having about 10% success and 90% failures to about 80% success and 20% failures - which isn't bad for someone who hasn't been painting a long time.

How long have you been painting.
Not long at all, in the scheme of things - just since 2003!

In what medium, other than watercolor or acrylic, do you work?
I've taken life drawing classes, working with graphite, charcoal and some pastel. I've done some collage work, too.   But I'm mainly interested in watercolor or watermedia.

Where do you get your inspiration for paintings?
From life, from photos I see, from trips I've been on around the US, Canada, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands,
Hawaii, Belize, Australia, etc. My husband loves to travel. I also become inspired by viewing other artists' work; and while taking workshops from other artists.

Are you a teacher?
No, but maybe someday in the future - when I've gotten at least 10 years of painting under my belt.

Where do you see yourself in the future? (ie., is painting a hobby; will you enter shows; do you see yourself teaching?)
I hope I will continue to get better, and have more creative, unusual and personal ideas that come out on paper. I will certainly enter more shows in the future - perhaps working my way up through the KWS and OWS shows to AWS, if I feel my work merits the chance. For now, I'm content with my little piece of pie locally. And I thoroughly enjoy the "celebrity" I have from being an on-line blogger. I have people from all over the world following my work and that's a real plus for me.
I've also just become a member of the Woman's Art Club and hope to contribute more to their monthly meetings and participate in their many events.