AFAF Names March Artist of the Month

Bonnielynn Brankey is the featured White Room artist for the month of March at the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation.

Bonnielynn's degree in art spring-boarded her lifelong journey in the art world. She has interpreted the world both above and below water in both watercolor and oil for over 40 years.

She has become well-known primarily for her underwater art which is currently being displayed at "Our World Under Water" in Chicago from February 19th-21st at the Scuba Trade Show in Rosemont, IL.

Bonnielynn's first subject matter was actually landscape and scenery art for which she has gained recognition amongst her peers. One of her recent works can be viewed at CLC Art Gallery in their members' show through February 21st and one was chosen for placement at the Wustum Museum in Racine for the 37th year of Watercolor Wisconsin and may be viewed through April 24th.

Bonnielynn's show this March will include original oil and watercolor landscapes and scenery from a recent trip to Alaska plus a newly-honed skill of silk-dyed paintings with underwater motifs. Giclee prints of her underwater art will also be available for purchase.

Bonnielynn's show will run the entire month of March at The Gallery, located at 983 Main Street, downtown Antioch, Illinois. For more information about the Gallery, call 847-838-2274 during business hours: Th/Fr/Sa 10-4pm, Su 12-4pm.

AFAF Names February Artist of the Month

Meredith Schnell will be the featured White Room Artist of the Month of February at Antioch Fine Arts Foundation. Master gardening and nature photography are Meredith’s fortes. She is website mistress for the Antioch Garden Club and has recently begun work for Native Restoration Services as photographer and webmaster charged with developing their fact sheets and brochures, seed gathering, plant identification, and tagging natives for preservation.

Meredith lives on a ¾ acre lot in Antioch that is almost devoid of lawn and comprised of native plantings. Her photography has been, up to this point, mostly plant life literally from "her own backyard." This show’s theme however is titled Love Bugs.

An artist’s reception will be held on Saturday, February 13th from 1-4pm. Light refreshments may be enjoyed while viewing the gallery and listening to live music provided by the Morman Group. Satisfy your curiosity at this artistically unique look into the world of bugs! For more information call the Gallery at 847-838-2274 during regular business hours: Th/Fr/Sa 10-4pm; Su 12-4pm.

AFAF Announces December 14"x14" Show

Antioch Fine Arts Foundation is proud to present a 14” x 14” show in our White Room for December. Any or all member artists are welcome to show anything 2D or 3D that will fit within this space. This promises a fabulous array of diverse talent and items displayed for your viewing pleasure and purchase. We have watercolorists, oil and acrylic painters, airbrush artists, gourd and jewelry artists, metal and clay sculptors, miniature artists, wood-burners and wood-turners, stained-glass artists, botanical artist, fiber artists, one-of-a-kind greeting cards, and the lists goes on.

This show will run through the entire month of December at The Gallery, located at 983 Main St., downtown Antioch , Illinois . If you still have Christmas shopping to do, come on in and see what original and unique gifts we have to offer! For more information about the gallery, call 847-838-2274 during business hours: Th/Fr/Sa 10-4pm , Su 12-4pm ; or visit us on-line www.antiochfinearts.org

AFAF November Artist of the Month Named

Diane Schroeder is the featured artist for the month of November at the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation. Diane, an accomplished porcelain painter and instructor, who likes to describe her art as "sophisticated whimsy" was one of our featured artists a year ago. A China painter for over 30 years, she's given seminars through the World Organization of China Painters this last year in Louisville KY, Canton and Peoria, IL. She has already been scheduled to instruct in Blue Earth and Minneapolis, MN next year and can currently (NOV) be seen at the Salem Library as well as in our (AFAF) White Room. This month, Diane will be showing her finely decorated china along with porcelain hand-painted pins and pendants and specially decorated art on wooden tins.

An Artist's reception will be held on the 2nd Saturday of the month, Nov. 14th from 1-4pm and, as an added treat, their will be live music by the Morman Group. Come visit our Gallery for an enjoyable afternoon and get a head start on your holiday shopping! Gallery Hours are: Th/Fr/Sa 10-4pm; Su 12-4pm. For more information either visit our website: www.antiochfinearts.org or give us a call at 847-838-2274.

AFAF October Artist of the Month Named

Paul Weber is a new member of the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation (AFAF) and its White Room featured artist for the month of October.

Paul, recently retired from the corporate world where he used his talent performing graphic design and software engineering, is now painting full time in his favorite medium: oils. He began drawing faces, at the age of three, on the blackboard in his kitchen and hasn’t stopped since. He received his BA in art from St. John’s University in Minnesota with an MFA in painting/drawing and Art History from the University of Iowa (home of the Iowa Writer’s Workshop). His high quality work is presented in a straight forward and traditional manner with refined and polished brush strokes using a limited palette. His background in mechanical drawing imparts the attention to detail in his sculptural forms while remaining open and fluid in design. This show will contain numerous composed still life’s, and brushy landscapes capturing the transparent and translucent qualities of the oils – which he enjoys the most.

Paul’s show will run the entire month of October at The Gallery, located at 983 Main Street , downtown Antioch , Illinois . If you’ve ever considered commissioning a professional portrait, come see this show previewing his amazing talent. For more information about the gallery, call 847-838-2274 during business hours: Th/Fr/Sa 10-4pm , Su 12-4pm ; or visit us on-line www.antiochfinearts.org

AFAF August Artists of the Month Named

Kenneth Rebholz and Marilyn Ellinghussen are the featured White Room artists for August at Antioch Fine Arts Foundation (AFAF). AFAF is a not-for-profit organization active in promoting the visual arts in and around Lake County Illinois.

Kenneth Rebholz, a new member of AFAF, captures evocative images of beautiful, and sometimes provocative, women to canvas with intense, contrasting shades of chalk. Although he has no formal training, artistic expression runs in his veins via his grandfather, who originally created the “Birth of a Nation” poster for Hollywood at the age of 14. Ken has and will do commissioned murals in your home or office. In addition to his female subject matter, surreal renditions of princesses, angelic fairies, and in commemoration of those notables recently departed, Ken will have recent chalk drawings of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson on display.

Marilyn Ellinghussen, also a new member of AFAF, creates her illustrations in colored pencil. Marilyn, a precocious child, talked to fairies in bushes and received some advice from Dale Messick, the cartoonist who drew Brenda Star in the Chicago Tribune and as an art major in college, Seymour Rosofsky, an illustrator for Playboy magazine back in the 50’s, gave her tutelage. Classes at the Art Institute aided in her discovery that she enjoyed depicting faces, and eyes in particular, in her drawings. Originally, she wanted to be an anatomical artist and even sold a plate of the eye to a publisher while in nurses training. A blank wall at Mirror Images, screaming for art, inspired the return to her childhood and young adult compulsion to communicate through colored pencil.

Ken and his daughter, Minda, will be playing their original and rock music on their guitars for your enjoyment. If you enjoy the illustrative 20’s, 30’s and 40’s “Art Nouveau” technique, this is a show you cannot miss. This show couples the words “sophisticated fancy.”

For more information about the gallery, call 847-838-2274 during business hours: Th/Fr/Sa 10-4pm, Su 12-4pm; or visit us on-line www.antiochfinearts.org

AFAF July Artists of the Month Named

Barbara Wagner and Laura Rodgers are the featured White Room artists for July at Antioch Fine Arts Foundation (AFAF). AFAF is a not-for-profit organization active in promoting the visual arts in and around Lake County Illinois.

Barbara Wagner is well known for her European folk art from Norway , Russia , Germany and the Netherlands . Barb will be exhibiting this same style, self-taught through books over the years, on wood and metal objects like letter boxes, metal canisters, plates, baskets, and serving trays. Also on display, for the first time at AFAF, will be fine art images embellished on furniture and accessories such as small tables, chests, trunks, cabinets, a 32” window cornice, a 30” square game table and a 28” square folding fireplace screen on legs. Barbara has a working studio “The Wooden Canvas” where she also teaches several classes a week to students ranging from 12 to 82. Along with Folk Art, Barbara also teaches “grisaille” or value painting where the work is done in black and white before finishing it in color. New students are always welcome.

Laura Rodgers became affiliated with AFAF through our Art-on-the-Lawn showcasing her primarily her one-of-a-kind jewelry collection of bracelets, necklaces, earrings and broaches. Laura’s last show in the White Room exposed her artistic talents using mosaics and gourds into whimsical, functional pieces. This July she is uncovering her “found object collection.” This collection of “uniquely Laura jewelry” uses oddly disconnected, found, old items mixed with her signature fossils, and semi-precious stones. The 3D mosaic artworks are on vases, lamps, chairs, finials, mirrors and gourds exhibit her flair in creating a desired image with the inherent color and design of the stained glass as an artist uses paint. Laura will be competing at the Illinois State Gourd Festival at the Chicago Botanical Gourd Show on September 12th and 13th.

This mostly 3D show should have the White Room bursting at the seams with uniquely functional and fun art. For more information about the gallery, call 847-838-2274 during business hours: Th/Fr/Sa 10-4pm , Su 12-4pm ; or visit us on-line www.antiochfinearts.org

6th Annual Art Auction and Wine Tasting

Friday, September 18th
5-9pm

 
Come One Come All! Artist members of Antioch Fine Arts Foundation will join together at the newly renovated Comfort Inn on Rt. 173 in Antioch to host a fun-filled evening of fine art, wine tasting (graciously provided by Antioch Fine Wine and Liquor), and valuable raffle prizes donated by many area businesses.  This ever popular event promises to be the best yet!  Food, wine, art, fun…and it’s FREE! What more could you want?
 
For more information stop in at the Gallery located at 983 Main St. or call 847-838-2274 during regular business hours: Th/Fr/Sa 10-4pm, Su 12-4pm.

AFAF Announces Fall Classes

The Antioch Fine Arts Foundation has released their schedule of Fall Classes starting in September. They are being offered to grade school children through seniors with all levels of proficiency in a variety of mediums. The list is as follows:

Fused Glass Workshops, Painted 11½ inch Teddy Bear Plate, Totally “Green” Paper Making Workshop, Calligraphy: the Art of Beautiful Writing, Drawing with charcoal, Stained Glass, Airbrushing on everything, Skies in Watercolor, Abstract Watercolor, and Drawing Animals.

For more information visit The Gallery, 983 Main Street, Antioch, IL. Our hours are: Th/Fr/Sa: 10-4pm; Su: 12-4pm. Call us at 847-838-2274.

AFAF First Annual Garage Sale

Hey! Have you heard? Antioch Artists are going to empty out their storage closets onto the lawn of the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation for their 1st Annual Garage Sale! When, you ask? Saturday, June 27th from 9 – 3pm!

It’s true! There’ll be art of all sorts of items: big and small, framed and unframed, oil, watercolor, acrylic, pencil and charcoal drawings, photography, 2D and 3D, art books, artist’s supplies such as paint and easels, and even artist’s tools, sculpture and pottery equipment! So, get your donkey cart over here to carry away these discounted treasures!

Where’s here? The Gallery, 983 Main Street, Antioch, IL. If you’ve never been here, come for a preview of the kind of artwork you can expect. Our hours are: Th/Fr/Sa: 10-4pm; Su: 12-4pm. Call us at 847-838-2274.

AFAF June Artist of the Month Named

Gloria Moyano is the featured White Room artists for June at Antioch Fine Arts Foundation.

Gloria, an accomplished oil painter of over 30 years, was last seen in our White Room over two years ago. At that time, she brought us her remastered floral and wildlife photography in one of the most prolific displays our gallery has ever seen.

This June, she is unveiling her "Parade of Hats." Silhouettes of girl’s and women’s faces are adorned with defined hairdos and hats of all types: exquisite, everyday, old fashioned, elegant, country, foreign, etc. All of her ladies evolved through drawing on her computer and were named appropriately after completion. This is a very unique display of 25 matted, framed and reasonably priced art that could easily adorn a bedroom, bath, sunroom, or beauty shop.

An artist’s reception with tea being served will be held at The Gallery on Saturday, June 13th from 1:00 – 4:00pm. The Morman Group, a folk ensemble, will be playing for your enjoyment.

The Gallery is located at 983 Main Street and will be open that day from 10am-4pm. For more information call 847-838-2274.

AFAF May Artist of the Month Named

Patty Rodgers is the White Room featured artist at Antioch Fine Arts Foundation for the entire month of May.

Patty’s well known large, colorful Hopper-like static cityscapes have evolved with the use of ink and acrylic added to her use of oils. White canvases splashed with bold brushstrokes of black ink lend movement to the cityscape structures devoid of confining definitive lines. Her smaller non-objective acrylic color work still retains the flavor of renowned artists such as Matisse, Seurat and Hopper in that color and hatched brushstrokes executed on one plane rather than light and dark values achieve the desired perspective. There is a cohesive approach in both her ink and acrylic work in that Patty is concerned with vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines of movement in this "new works" show. Patty is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and holds a teaching certificate put to good use for over 10 years.

An artist’s reception will be held at The Gallery on Saturday, May 2nd where Patty will be demonstrating her process in conjunction with the Antioch Art Crawl. The Gallery is located at 983 Main Street and will be open that day from 10am-4pm. Light refreshments will be served. For more information call 847-838-2274

AFAF April Artists of the Month Named

The featured White Room artists for the month of April at Antioch Fine Arts Foundation are Roger Shule and Cathe Ladner.

Roger's focus this past year has been on his "Matchbook Series". What began last year as 2 dimensional, 12" x 12", simply framed and expertly rendered art memorabilia has blossomed into sizes ranging from 16" x 20" and 18" x 24". Roger has progressed into life-like, 3 dimensional matchbooks in 10" x 14", and 12" x 15" as well as the original 12" x 12" size. The detail on these will knock your socks off! Roger's vintage matchbooks have been shown locally and at The Art Center in Highland Park. He has completed many newly added designs especially for this White Room show.

"Art is to the Soul what Food is to the Body"

Cathe Ladner, a former muralist and decorative painter, is transferring her attention to oils on canvas and masonite. She has recently added this medium to acrylic and colored pencil which she has taught in her studio for over 10 years. Cathe's show will consist of old and new works "from Traditional to Contemporary" with her canvases dressed with her realistic style in bright, deep and vivid colors of still lifes and pitchers and flowers. A nostalgic flair permeates her artistry which couples well with the reminiscent reminder of Roger's matchbook art. She has incorporated her artistic images onto handmade affordable jewelry.

This is a MUST-SEE show running the entire month of April. These two artists are going all out in their display and it promises to be an easy-on-the-eye reminder of the simpler days-gone-by. There is no admission and all items are very reasonably priced. There is a reception planned for Saturday, April 18th from 1:00 - 4:00pm with artists in attendance. Old fashioned candy and Coca Cola will be served.

The Gallery is located at 983 Main Street, Antioch, IL. Visit us or call for more information at: 847-838-2274 during regular business hours: Th/Fr/Sa: 10-4pm; Su: 12-4pm.

AFAF 2009 Art Crawl Announced

We cordially invite you to donate your time and talents to the 2009 District #34 Art Crawl on Saturday, May 2nd in downtown Antioch.

The Fine Arts teachers have been collaborating with the Village of Antioch, The Chamber of Commerce, and Roger Shule of the Antioch Fine Art Foundation to bring the community and schools together in a day that celebrates the theme, "Arts Build Community." We are hoping to have more than a dozen visual artists and many musical performances from orchestra to Dixieland. There will be arts and crafts, music, and drama activities for children as well.

MUSICIANS: You are performing in one of three areas: The Band Shell, The Coffee House (location still being determined), and The Meeting House. There will be at least one microphone available for introductions, but if your group needs amplification, you will need to bring your own. The rain location for The Band Shell is Antioch Elementary School. We will have a facilitator at each location if you have questions.

• The Band Shell: Melissa Marchman
• The Coffee House and The Meeting House: Linda Johnson

ARTISTS: All artists are welcome to participate free of charge, however, you must demonstrate your art process during the day in this educational and promotional event. Weather permitting, you will be located in the small walkway parks on each side of Main Street. Some of you will be located at the Antioch Fine Arts Art Foundation gallery at 983 Main Street. The misty day location will be at Orchard Plaza. The rain location is the Park Ave. Mall.

Our vision is that this is an opportunity to demonstrate your skills and answer questions as well as show your completed works. Your contact person is Roger Shule. To get your name on the list and secure the location of your choice, call The Gallery at 847-838-2274.

AFAF March Artists of the Month Named

Aruna Sarode and Susan Russell are the White Room Featured Artists for the Month of March at Antioch Fine Arts Foundation.

Aruna Sarode is a self-taught artist working in oil, acrylic and watercolor mediums. She draws inspiration from the beauty of nature. She is attracted by the vivid colors and shapes of flowers and frequently visits the Chicago Botanic Gardens for inspiration. Her work ‘Summer Roses’ is currently being displayed at the Members' Exhibition at Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art at College of Lake County, IL through February 22, 2009. She won 3rd place at members' exhibition, North West Area Arts Council for her work ‘Saint Veronica’, a watercolor of a statue seen in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. This painting will be displayed at the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation along with her recent florals and landscapes. She was juried into the “Inch works” exhibition in December of ’08 at the North Shore Art League and sold 2 of her works at the 12" x 12" exhibition at the Art Center at Highland Park. A detailed resume and art works can be seen on her website www.arunanitin.com

Susan Russell’s landscape inspired imagery, has a dreamlike mystique: Waterfalls seem to fall lyrically out of a misty haze and waves occasionally seem to form independent of the ocean. She invites viewers to engage an impressionistic, trancelike perspective of the world around them. Born in NYC, she graduated from The School of The Art Institute with her BFA and received her Masters from Columbia College in Interdisciplinary Arts. Her work is exhibited in major galleries and exhibition spaces nationally. She has been commissioned for murals locally, and her work is a part of numerous private and corporate collections. Susan Russell's studio is situated on a lake outside of Chicago where she draws much of her inspiration. Her work recently appeared in the Fulton Market Gallery district in Chicago and she had a solo show in the Pilsen district in August 2008 with coverage in the Chicago Reader.

These two artists' works will be in The Gallery located in downtown Antioch at 983 Main Street for the entire month of March. Come and see our world through their eyes during regular business hours: Th/Fr/Sa 10am - 4pm; Su 12 - 4pm. For more information call us at 847-838-2274.

AFAF 2009 Membership Drive

With the Holidays approaching, it's time to start thinking about joining or renewing your membership affiliation with Antioch Fine Arts Foundation.

Please visit our whole website and especially our members' profiles. Our artists come from a variety of backgrounds and abilities and we are always looking to welcome new people. At present, we are looking t;ase don't be shy--inquire!

If you're looking for the best value for your buck, look no further. When you join, here are some of the benefits you can begin to enjoy:

• Display up to 4 pieces of your artwork every two months in our gallery.
• Opportunity to be one of our monthly featured artists in the Gallery's White Room with a personal bio sent out to over 100 galleries and numerous galleries in and around the Chicagoland area.
• Exposure via our annual
• Art Crawl
• Artist's Studio Tour
• Art-on-the-Lawn
• Wine Tasting and Art Auction
• Discounts on all classes held by member artists
• Receive a monthly newsletter informing you of the Foundation's activities, member's accomplishments, and opportunities to be found elsewhere.
• Monthly meetings with member's demo's

Click here to download a membership application!

AFAF Group Tours, Website Changes

The Antioch Fine Arts Foundation (AFAF) Gallery on Tuesday, August 26th was host to a group of thirty-nine seniors from DeKalb Illinois. The Castle Banks Group's visit was arranged by Jan Nordstrom of the Lake County Tourism and Convention Bureau. They shopped locally and toured other popular spots in Antioch while they were here including Pickard China and Infini-tea.

Roger Shule, president of AFAF, was present with other member artists acting as docents to walk them through the various rooms, to answer any questions and take care of the visitor's purchases. Group tours of 20 or more are available by special arrangement.

If you've never been to our gallery located at 983 Main Street, downtown Antioch, come for a visit during our regular operating hours: Th/Fr/Sa: 10-4pm; Su: 12-4pm. Our phone number is 847-838-2274. IMPORTANT: If you have not been to the web site lately www.antiochfinearts.org , you are in for a surprise. Jude Kaider, our webmaster, has created a wonderful appealing format. It is full of real good information about what we are doing and who is doing it. Subscribe to the new AFAF RSS feed to learn of all AFAF events and news as soon as information is released. You NEED to visit it SOON!