I am Artist

While it seems that I am always in wedding mode, I do have to remind myself that I am first and foremost an artist and need to switch into art mode every once in awhile.  This past weekend I dove head first into being an artist, and not with my brush.  An old under grad friend of mine and I headed over to Navy Pier to experience Expo Chicago, Chicago's newest art fair.  After the three decade old Art Chicago went under earlier this year, Tony Karman decided to swoop in and start his own fabulous fair.  I must say that returning to Navy Pier as a host space was ideal with it's high ceilings and open air feel.  More importantly, the art that was shown wasn't too shabby either.

Photo from ArtInfo in an article by Julia Halperin

I took a few photos of some of my favorite pieces, but alas, I didn't write anyone's name down, so these pieces are lost on me for now.
Enjoy a mini exhibition:

Crazy boat that looked like it was snatched out of an Austin Powers movie.

Aww, even skeletons can love each other in the jungle.  Just in time for Halloween.

Creepy crawly in such a pretty way.

This was impressive to me just because it was all done in watercolors.  I do not do watercolors and find them incredibly challenging, so a piece like this is doubly challenging.

Loved this piece for so many reasons: the circle canvas, the textured paint, the colors and the fact that I have a hat just like this guys.

I wish I had taken more photos, but maybe that was a sign that I was just so into everything there.  I do love having a virtual collection of art that I can visit for inspiration whenever needed.  As a kid I use to collect postcards of famous artists just so I could have a smaller version of the original (I have a lovely postcard booklet of Georgia O'Keefe's work).  Technology is finally catching up with this idea of less clutter and virtual organization.  There's a new site I stumbled upon called the ArtStack that performs similarly to Pinterest.  The concept behind it is that the best way to share and discover art is through other people.  I love this idea and think it will be so fabulous for gallery dealers and interior designers looking  to have a menagerie of artists to look through that they enjoy and would reference to others, both new and old.  The site is still in beta testing, but I'm sure if enough people start to show interest, it could become the Pinterest of art.  I might just have to go on a hunt for the artists above now so I have them ready for my boards once I'm excepted!

Who is your favorite artist?

Twittering Around Town

Who's ready for the weekend?!  (I am jumping up and down with my hand raised in the air shouting "ME, ME".)  It's been a long week, but that hasn't stopped me from packing in an active weekend.  No sir.  For one, I've got this lovely painting to get cranking on:

Saturday I will be working a wedding all day with the oh so lovely Beth Bernstein of SQN Events.  I'll be dashing around the city and helping out between the Palmer House and the W City Center.  Can't wait to see the pretties happening at this affair.

Sunday I am going to tap into my gallery days and head over to the art fair, Expo Chicago, to see what is hot in the art world these days.  This fair is already creating some positive buzz, so if you are looking for something cultural to do around the city this weekend, hit it up!

Sounds like a fun time, right?  To follow my whereabouts, keep up with me on Twitter this weekend.  Yes, I said Twitter.  It's 2012 and everybody's doing it, so jump on the bandwagon and catch me at Reenie_Rose.  

So what are you doing this weekend?  Tweet me!

Back in the Swing of Things

I've been waiting to write this blog post for awhile now, and this weekend it is finally happening.  I have a new bouquet painting to work on!!!!
Back in July of last year, I worked a wedding for friends of mine where I met the ever so lovely Argentina of Argentina Leyva Photography.  We got to talking about our businesses like vendors tend to do while eating their vendor meals at a wedding.  One thing lead to another and Argentina decided that she wanted a Reenie Rose painting!

Before I show you the beautiful composition that is going to be her painting, I want you to see some of the detailed shots of her wedding that she sent my way.
All of the images were taken by her photographer, Ryan Schembri.

Gorgeous bouquet, right?!  It was created by Ashland Addison Florist right here in the city.

Ok, now for the painting composition....

Isn't it stunning!?  This is the perfect 20 x 20 painting to get me back into the groove of things.  It's so fitting for a 75 degree day on the cusp of fall.

I'm getting this painting prepped this weekend....what are you up to? 

Lessons in Painting

We have a family friend that likes to say, "First time I sat down all day", at times when clearly, it is not the first time he's sat down that day.  I kind of want to say that right now, but rather "First time I sat down all week."  Obviously this is another lie, but it is currently 10pm on a Thursday night and I am finally getting to some Reenie Rose work....it's Thursday for heavens sake!  Well, I have good reasoning.  After spending a lovely long weekend up at my cottage, I returned home to a painting marathon.  Maybe it should be called a "sprint" considering it only took me 2 1/4 days to complete it.

2 days is definitely not the Reenie Rose norm for a painting, and well, this was not a normal painting for me.  As an artist, I usually state that I am willing to paint anything someone is willing to pay me for...within reason of course.  This is how I've gotten to do so many other cool projects outside of the flower world.  So, when my friend Shelley came to me about creating a 40th anniversary painting for the non-profit company Aunt Martha's that she works for, I was totally game.  Ok, I was slightly concerned.

I had not painted in a month or so and the subject matter of this piece was going to be way outside my box...people were present in this one, eek!  A bit of Photoshoping was involved too which always makes me nervous because sometimes it can lead to cheesiness.  All apprehensions aside, I put together a composition that featured the first location of Aunt Martha's from the 1970s and a window that showed the future location rendering.  It's pretty neat to see how an amazing organization like Aunt Martha's can come so far and do so much good.  I encourage you to check them out and tap into your philanthropic feelings.

I received the "ok" on the composition over the weekend, returned home on Monday to begin the painting and made plans to complete it for the anniversary event  tonight (Thursday).  Needless to say, I setup an "Auto Reply" for my emails, only stopped painting to do necessary human habits (eat, sleep and use the bathroom), and contracted a cold in the process.  I worked feverishly (literally) through these couple of days to have a painting completed for delivery today (albeit a wet painting).

Finished in time and with some wiggle room to spare, I had to pat myself on the back.
This whole process really put things into prospective me, both in my business and personally:
 
Business Lesson #1:  If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.  I never doubted my abilities to complete this painting in 2 days because I knew that if I focused (and eliminated a few hours of sleep), there would be no way I'd let my friend down.
Personal Lesson #1:  As unconfident as I was about this painting initially, I realized that yes, I am a talented painter and should trust in my abilities (and blurry people are not too scary to paint).

Business Lesson #2:  There are definite priorities that need to be set in a business.  Painting was a top priority this week without a question.  Facebook and Twitter could be put on hold, the blogs in my reader could go unread and the world would not end.
Personal Lesson #2:  Taking care of yourself should be a priority...obviously.  If you eliminate crucial hours of sleep, there are consequences- severe runny nose and lots of kleenex.

Business Lesson #3:  Customer service is king.  By putting up an auto reply to my email, I was letting everyone that tried to contact me know that  their message was important to me and I was not being Miss Rudeness by not getting back to them instantly, but rather was occupied by a priority, time-sensitive project.
Personal Lesson #3:  At first it took everything not to answer my emails, but then I relaxed after awhile.  I was covered and my emails were being answered by a substitute me.  Having the auto reply put both myself and my contacts at ease.  Best decision ever.

Most Important Lesson:  If you printed all these images and put them together you'd have a pretty sweet flipbook.

I'll be working through the weekend and continuing to take care of myself.  I hope you will do the same...take care of yourself that is.  Any super lessons you've learned recently that you'd like to share?

What's in a Name?

Some of you may have noticed the lack of paintings on here recently while others may have forgotten that I actually write a blog post every now and then.  In all honesty, I'm in painting limbo.  I have a couple of clients in the wings that I am waiting to receive images from so I can get the painting party started.  In the meantime, this lack of artistry has given me time to focus more on the business side of things.  You may have heard the rumor going around town that I am updating my website....I declare this one true (the one about me having a unicorn as pet is untrue...only a magical kitty).

Updating a website is hard work, even when you've hired someone to do it for you.  With the lack of mind-reading that goes on in this world, you find yourself really having to use your words carefully to express what you truly want expressed.  From all this expressing comes a lot of self reflection and business reminiscing when you see how far you've come from that first painting your neighbor hired you to do.  Mom and I got to talking about the early days and how this whole Reenie Rose thing came about.  Something I get asked a lot is how I came up with the name Reenie Rose.  Well, I thought Mom would like to do a little explaining on that one since I'm soooo busy being a business woman right now and really, it was her doing naming me Loreen and all.  Plus, I thought it would be nice for y'all to hear from her and not me...though I've already done a fair amount of blabbing in this post.

Well, here's mom:

_______________________________________________________

Oprah, Martha, Reenie Rose....

When you hear the name OPRAH your mind conjures up thoughts of success, favorite things, and riches. Just as the name MARTHA brings entrepreneurial thoughts of crafting, cooking and home decor. 

Reenie Rose is somewhat a combo of the two. She does have her favorite things and is an entrepreneur but her claim to fame is the joy she brings to clients through her art.

Reenie Rose was conceived by my daughter, Loreen Rose Hospodar, a self proclaimed flower child and art enthusiast at a very early age. As an infant she was thought to be nick named Lori after her aunt, for whom she was named. At age 3, however, her cousin, Lauren (Aunt Lori's daughter) couldn't pronounce Loreen so she called her Reenie. That Christmas Loreen declared that the name LORI on her Christmas stocking, was NOT her as she IS REENIE! As her dutiful mom and peacekeeper, I picked glittered letters off of her stocking and re-wrote history for my little girl, REENIE!

My budding young artist made me save her treasures of bags of birch tree bark, rocks, shells, and various non-usable trinkets in my basement because she could transform them into art some day, just like Martha. Who would have guessed that after years of dabbling in various art projects and majoring in art in college that this little artist would have her own business? 

REENIE ROSE was born and has grown to be many a bride's choice for bridal bouquet preservation. To see the joy and elation a Reenie Rose painting brings to the couple is reason enough to feel successful. As her "marketing mom" I feel unmeasurable pride with every blog post, magazine mention (Martha Stewart Summer 2012 page 178), tv appearance (190 North) and finished masterpiece my Reenie accomplishes. 

To look at an exquisite oil painting on canvas of expertly detailed flowers and to have someone recognize that THAT painting IS a REENIE ROSE is this woman's (and her little girl's) dream come true.

Yep, right up there with Oprah and Martha.......Reenie Rose......a girl can dream, right?

Team Reenie Rose

The Gift of a Painting

Last week I had the pleasure of making a special delivery to a client.  It seems like the last few paintings  I completed were either shipped out of town or delivered to the gift giver to present to the couple in which I received lovely emails stating how much everyone loved their painting.  It is not often though that I actually get to play the FedEx lady and see the reaction of my painting owners.

You've seen the progress of Maria and Alex's painting, but here's a little recap:

Beautiful May wedding

Complete Reenie Rose painting

Maria seeing her painting in person for the first time

It was so wonderful to sit and talk with Maria and her mother-in-law (the oh so generous gift giver) for awhile and hear all about the wedding and how Maria came to choosing her bouquet flowers.
My paintings are just paintings of flowers until they are connected to the couple....then they become so much more.  Anyone can paint flowers, but when you connect a couple's story to the final product, that's a Reenie Rose painting.
Thank you Maria and Alex for letting me document your wedding and to the groom's parents for your never-ending generosity.

Reenie Rose + Etsy

The Olympics are over and I am adjusting back to normal everyday life.  I could transition into "Shark Week", but 2 weeks of consistent t.v. watching was enough for me.  I've decided to entertain myself with a different sort of daily offering this week....I call it Etsy Week.  After dragging my feet long enough, I have re-entered the Etsy community (thanks to my interns).  All this week I will be posting a variety of Reenie Rose items to my brand new shop page.

We start out the week by posting a myriad of different sets of note cards, reminding us how important correspondence is these days (the old-fashion kind).  Which one will be your favorite...classic rose bouquets, fall colors or signs of spring?

Visit my page everyday this week for something new.  Purchase a set for yourself or for a friend to show you care.  The first customer to purchase from my new shop page will receive an additional 10 cards added to their order for FREE!  That's right...FREE.  Shark Week isn't going to give you anything free, now is it?