Pouring, dripping, scratching, uncovering, bringing forth from my subconscious my own form of abstract minimalist art.
Rhona L. Stern, abstract artist
New Work
Many years ago I met an artist/papermaker, Keiko Hara. She was making amazing, gorgeous, distinctive designs with papers. I was fascinated. Recently, I got to thinking about her work, and how I might be able to develop a new approach to my paintings. I discovered a myriad of ideas from incorporating other exotic papers. And the papers came alive when I combined them with beautiful vibrant Japanese acrylic paints. Use of these new paints were inspired by my friendship with Dr. Etty Indriati, an Indonesian collector and authority on batiks. She introduced me to a new way of seeing color, especially yellow, which she calls a “Divine Color”. On the canvas, I under and overpaint with the papers glued in between. Going through this process has taken me down another unique, exciting, and challenging path.
Digital Works
A few years ago I had an opportunity to visit an exhibit of digital art by David Hockney at the Heard Museum, in Phoenix Arizona. Mr. Hockney had taken his IPad to Yosemite, in California. He put together the most amazing paintings, all using an app called Procreate. I have since created here, my own thoughts of digital art.
The digital works below can be made into large or very large sizes on canvas, vinyl banner, aluminum composite, foamed PVC and various other materials. Custom prints are also available. There are a number of very exciting possibilities.
Public Works
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (2017)
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (2017)
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (2017)
- Williston Northampton School, Easthampton, Massachusetts (2020)
- Isle Azure
- Tucson Medical Center, Tucson, Arizona (2018)
- Of the Creator
Biographical Sketch
Education
- Diploma, Academia di Bella Arte, Bologna, Italy, 1963 (studied with Giorgio Morandi)
- B.A. University of Wisconsin, Parkside, 1977
- M.A. in Art Therapy, Goddard College, 1979
- Course Work, California College of Arts & Crafts, Oakland, California, 1997-98
Studied with Josh Goldberg, Tucson, Arizona abstract painter, for 10 years
Artist Statement
I have been studying art for a very long time, almost from the beginning of my life. As Josh Goldberg, my teacher and mentor calls it, “a Painter’s Path”. It started with crayons, lots of colors and covering them all over in black, and scratching to see what lay beneath. It was a very primitive form of art, indeed. Much of this memory can be seen in my present work.
My”path” led me to Bologna, Italy and the Academia of Belle Arte. For four years, I walked the halls of this ancient school and museum, studying drawing, painting and etching and observing the magnificent collection of 14th and 15th century art. The famous painter, Giorgio Morandi, taught us etching. I only wish I had the foresight to acquire some of his work at the time. My next stop was Japan. I spent two years in Yokohama developing an eye for Asian art, the simplicity of the various forms and the beauty of the landscape. Studies included the art of sumi-e, pen and ink paintings using very specific measured strokes, and obtaining certification in the Ichiyo School of Flower Arranging.
I returned to the United States, and I graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Kenosha with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in terra-cotta sculpture of the human figure and ceramics. This tactile experience carried over to painting. Next, my keen interest in psychology and art led to an MA in Art Therapy from Goddard College in Vermont. My art therapy studies helped me to gain freedom of expression in my painting. I have also taken courses at the California College of Arts and Crafts where I studied working with acrylics and the application of various mediums. I have also studied with Alain Gavin, who has taught at the Art Institute of Chicago. He introduced me to the art of glazing in acrylics and a new way of creating different color structures.
As luck would have it, I came upon the work of Josh Goldberg in Tucson, Arizona, where I live during the winter months. Josh is a renowned abstract painter with whom I studied for ten years. Josh’s theories on painting were new to me. They have opened up a myriad of possibilities for me and are reflected in all of my paintings, particularly as they have encouraged me to innovate and experiment with new forms of minimal abstract expression.