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Informed Collector Recommends:
Connie Kuhnle
The honesty and truth of each subject's essence is revealed in Kuhnle's masterfully painted portraits.
Focal Point: Connie Kuhnle
Visit Connie Kuhnle's Canvoo Focal Point on the web
The honesty and truth of each subject's essence is revealed in Kuhnle's masterfully painted portraits.
- Informed Collector
The Artist Says:
Faces and people fascinate me. There is beauty in everyone and a portrait, whether it is casual or formal, is a wonderful way to honor and recognize that persons beauty and unique character and qualities. I strive to create my portraits with a sense of saying this person is of irreplaceable value. I believe that when I honor someone with a portrait I also honor the God who created them.
Other Web Pages with info about Connie Kuhnle
Connie Kuhnle's Main Artist Website
Overview:
"Backstage" was accepted into the exhibit, Portraits in Michigan at Hillsdale College, Hillsdale Michigan on view September 12 - October 3. It was also chosen to be on the postcard advertising the exhibit. The exhibit was juried by Carl J. Samson, past president of the American Society of Portrait Artists. "Hannah", another of Connie's portraits was also accepted into the exhibit.
Connie's painting "Artful Dodger" placed in FAV top 15% juried by artist Warren Chang.
Biography
Award winning artist Connie Kuhnle creates visual stories of the beauty, character and truth in the life she discovers all around her; in the faces and character of the people she meets, in rural architecture and landscape, and simple objects.
Gallery Paintings
Connie's ability to re-create the flow and feel of sunlight across her subject is what draws buyers to her landscape paintings. Collectors often comment that when they view Connie's paintings they can feel the breeze, the warmth of the sun or the coolness of the shade and how her paintings bring them a sense of peace or stirs an emotional connection to the place. "Strong light and shadow patterns are often what first excite me about a scene. I am intrigued by shapes, subtle value and color changes, and the juxtaposition of architectural elements and organic forms. When I successfully combine those elements I have captured the mood and essence of the subject."
Portraits
Collectors who commission portraits from Connie are always pleased with the results. They are amazed at her ability to paint the likeness and capture the character of the person. Clients often comment that when they look at one of Connie's portraits it seems like the subject may begin to breathe or speak. "Faces and people fascinate me. There is beauty in everyone and a portrait, whether it is casual or formal, is a wonderful way to honor and recognize that persons beauty and unique character and qualities. I strive to create my portraits with a sense of saying this person is of irreplaceable value. I believe that when I honor someone with a portrait I also honor the God who created them." Connie Kuhnle studied fine art at Michigan State University and illustration at Kendall College of Art and Design. She worked as an illustrator, graphic designer and animator before pursuing a career in fine art and portraiture.
NATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Juried Exhibition, Grand Rapids Art Museum, MI 2008, Award of Merit National Plein Air Competition, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey MI 2006. 1st Place Award, 2006 Great Lakes Pastel Society National Exhibition, Midland Center for the Arts, 2006. "Pastel 100", Pastel Journal magazine international competition, 2004. Honorable Mention Great Lakes Pastel Society National Exhibition, Birmingham Art Center, Birmingham MI, 2004 Great Lakes Pastel Society biennial juried members show, Midland Center for the Arts, Midland MI, 2003. Gold Medal Award Pastel 100, Pastel Journal magazine international competition, 2001. Merit Award International Association of Pastel Societies Biennial Exhibition; Sante Fe NM. 2001 Great Lakes Pastel Society biennial members show; Ella Sharpe Museum, Jackson MI. 2001. Douma Art Award Degas Pastel Society Eighth Biennial Exhibition; Entergy Building, New Orleans LA and Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Laurel, MS. 2000 Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod 5th Annual Exhibition; Creative Arts Center, Chatham, MA. 2000 Wallace Corporation Award International Association of Pastel Societies Open Juried Exhibition; Colorado History Museum, Denver Co. 1998 Honorable Mention International Association of Pastel Societies Biennial Exhibition; The America Legacy Gallery, Kansas City, MO.1997 Pastel Society of New Mexico National Pastel Painting Exhibition; Hispanic Arts Center, Albuquerque NM. 1997 Degas Pastel Society Sixth Biennial National Exhibition; World Trade Center, New Orleans, LA. 1996 "The Artists Magazine" Annual Art Competition, Finalist 1996 PASTEL '96 Fourth Biennial national Exhibition; Fort Walton Beach Museum of Art, Fort Walton Beach, FL. 1996 Pastel Society of New Mexico National Exhibition; Albuquerque, NM. 1995 Pastel Society of the West Coast International Exhibition; Sacramento Fine Arts Center CA. 1995 Michigan Pastel Association National Competition; South Haven Arts Center, South Haven, MI. 1994 Honorable Mention Midwest Pastel Society National Exhibition, Chicago, IL. 1994 South Eastern Pastel Society International Exhibition; Stone Mountain, GA. 1993 Honorable Mention Northwest Pastel Society 8th Annual Exhibition; Issaquah Gallery, Issaquah, WA.1993 Dakota Art Award "Renaissance in Pastel", Paul Melon Arts Center, Wallingford, CT. 1993 Pastel Society of the West Coast International Exhibition; Sacramento Fin Arts Center CA.1992 Midwest Pastel Society National Exhibition; Dellora Norris Cultural Arts Center, St. Charles, IL.1992 Judges Award Pastel Society of North Florida Biennial National Exhibition; Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola, FL. 1992 Degas Pastel Society Biennial National Exhibition and Museum Tour; Museum of The Americas, New Orleans LA; Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Laurel. MS; Meadow Museum of Art, Shreveport, LA. 1992 "The Artist's Magazine" Painting Competition, 1992 Finalist
REGIONAL EXHIBITIONS
Great Lakes Pastel Society juried members show, Toledo Museum of Art, 2007 "Celebration" 1st Church, Grand Rapids, MI, 2005 Third Place Award "Celebration" 1st United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, MI 2003 "Celebration" 1st United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, MI 2002 Millennium Exhibition; Franciscan Center, Lowell, MI. 2000 Third Place "Celebration" 1st United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, MI 1999 People' Choice Michigan Botanical Fine Art Competition; Lansing Art Gallery, Lansing MI. 1996 Waterworks Gallery Annual Fine Art Competition; Rockford, MI 1996 Annual All Media Competition; Avenue Gallery, St. Johns, MI 1995 Honorable Mention "Celebration"; 1st United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, MI 1997, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1991, 1990 Annual Michigan Art Competition; Holland Area Arts Council, Holland, MI 1994 All Media Horticultural Competition; Avenue Gallery, St. Johns, MI 1994. 1stPlace "Winter Blossoms" MAAA Competition; Greenville, MI. 1994. 1st Place ICCA Michigan Competition; Ionia, MI. 1993. 3rd Place "All Michigan/All Media"; Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph, MI 1992 "Regional 64" Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI. 1991 "Festival'91" Grand Rapids, MI. 1991 Purchase Award "Illusions" Fine Art Competition; Grand Rapids, MI. 1991 2nd Place Annual Michigan Art Competition; Holland Area Arts Council, Holland, MI. 1990 Purchase Award, and Prins Award
PUBLICATIONS
Pastel Journal magazine, Pastel 100 competition, March/April 2005. Honorable Mention Sketch magazine, June 2004 The Artist magazine, November 2003 Pastel Journal magazine, Pastel 100 competition, March/April 2002 Merit Award. International Artist magazine, June/July 1999 Paintings included in 200 Great Painting Ideas by Carole Katchen, Published by North Light Books, 1998 Work is included in Fresh Flowers: The Best of Flower Painting Published by North Light Books, 1996 Paintings included in the book The Best of Pastel Painting published by Rockport Publishers, 1996
COLLECTIONS
The Greyhound Corporation, Chicago; Meijer Heart Center, Grand Rapids, MI; North Ottawa Community Hospital, Grand Haven MI; Spectrum Health Grand Rapids, MI ; Helen DeVos Women's and Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI; Holland Community Hospital, Holland MI; Greenville Community Hospital, Greenville MI; MI; CAN, IBM, Macatawa Bank, NBD Bank, Egypt Valley Country Club, Ada MI; Boulder Creek Golf Club, Rockford MI; Metal Flow Corporation, Holland MI; Royal Plastics, Zeeland MI; Smith Haughy Rice Roughy, Direction Source, and many private collections.
