Rhonda Watson

Why do I paint? Sometimes I wonder about that. It's very expensive and when you're living on a limited income, it almost feels like insanity. From the time I was a young girl I've had a fetish toward blank sheets of paper. Every year when summer was over and it was time to go back to school and I'd get a new tablet with all of those fresh, white pages to fill I would get excited. And each time I was handed a blank sheet of paper in art class it was as if I were being handed the keys to the world. Ah,....... the challenge!! Ah,...... the colors!! Ah,.......the paints! the crayons!! the pens!!! the pencils!!! It is as exciting to me now as it was back then. When I'm inspired to work on a particular painting, I look at the colors first. The amount and variations of colors found in a typical photograph or scenery never cease to amaze me. If you look hard enough you can find every color of the rainbow in just about every thing you see. They are subtle and you have to look hard to see them but, they are there. I love the challenge of finding them and as I am maturing as an artist, finding them is becoming easier to me. The hues of purple, dark greens, blues, deep reds and browns are found in the shadows. When capturing shadows I try to avoid using straight black or grays because there are so many other colors to use that enhance a painting's richness. In the lights are oranges, yellows, pinks, light blues, lavenders, and all sorts of variations of those hues and it is my quest to find them in the brightness and learn to apply those colors to enhance my work. I try to avoid using only white for highlights when adding hues adds so much interest, brilliance and depth to a painting. These are secrets I've learned through the years. To add bursts of light to landscapes, to use colors one wouldn't think of using in portraits and wildlife, to utilize the space given on the canvas wisely, to stretch my self imposed boundries and limitations. Yes, I'm on a quest to be the very best artist I can be. I study works by other great artists. I study their lines, their techniques, their use of color, their shadows and lights, their subjects and compositions. One can learn a lot by studying the masters and I'm trying to employ their ideas and talents into my work. I paint because I need to. Now more than ever. There is a powerful force in my soul that needs this outlet of self expression. That needs the challenge. That strives to find it's own voice. Hopefully, as I continue to grow as an artist I will find it and eventually master it.

Biography: Rhonda Watson-Biography Born 1958 Aliquippa, Pa. Accomplishments: 1980-Present Private art sales nationally and internationally of more than 200 works in oils, acrylics, watercolors and ceramics. 12/05-12/06 4 Paintings: "Morning in Burano", "The Colors of Burano", "Allegheny Forest" and "Pennsylvania Road Trip" on exhibit at Art Struck Fine Art Gallery, Blue Ridge, Ga. 2003: Judges Award and Judges Mention 2 entries Penn Hills Arts Festival 2001 European Tour! The tour, co-sponsored by was a huge success! Rhonda was heard throughout Germany on several radio station live interviews and received many invitations for a 2002 tour. 2001: Guitar Shop Photographer for the guitar instructional book. Available at Amazon.com 2001 Country Music Messe Rhonda's performance at the 2001 Country Music Messe was so well received that she was invited by the Messe organizers to perform on 3 out of the 4 stages at the Messe! The fair, held in Berlin, Germany, is considered to be Europe's largest country music festival. Organizers have invited her back for the 2002 Messe and have asked her to do MORE! 2001:Release of 2nd Album. All original rockabilly/americana material. Produced by Mickey Dean. 2000:9 Creativity-Required Businesses You Can Start From Home: and How to Make Them Profitable Careers Artistic cover designer and photographer of this book available at Amazon.com. 2000: Earthday 2000 Rhonda has contributed an exclusive song entitled, "Hand in Hand" to the Save the Planet 2000 mp3.com artist compilation CD. All proceeds go directly to helping to keep our planet green and lush for generations to come. 1,000 units have recently been contracted by "Captain Planet" for distribution with interest also from CNN for the distribution of over 2,000 units. 1998-2000Various publications Photographer for various articles published in Income Opportunities, Songwriter's Monthly, Sports Afield, Small Business Opportunities, and other nationally distributed business, sports and music publications. 1999: Congratulations from: Disc Makers In March of 1999, Rhonda was congratulated in the DiscMaker's FastForward quarterly newsletter for having sold over 2,400 units through Internet marketing. 1999: #8 TOP SELLING CD In July of 1999, Rhonda had the Top Selling CD at mp3.com for 3 consecutive weeks. During the last 9 months, Rhonda has had over 15 "featured" songs and 2 more top selling Cds. There are over 100,000 artists and over 600,000 songs housed on MP3.com. 1998: MP3 Jukebox is now available at your local Best Buy or WalMart store!! The compilation consisting of 100 of the best mp3.com songs, complete with the jukebox player features 2 of Rhonda's Songs:"Talkin' on the Telephone" and "That's My Man". The CD is produced and distributed nationally by Destiny Software and features the best independent music available on the Internet! 1997: Release of first Independent Album Produced by Don Garvin published by Gravenhurst Publishing. Featuring 10 original country, blues, and soft rock material. Sales exceeded 3,400 units sold. 1996:Three River's Ribfest Opening act with "Sidewinder" for the nationally known band "Restless Heart". 1986: First single released. Featuring "Two Hearts" and "Precious Child". Received tri-state radio airplay and sales.

Country: United States

E-mail: artbyrhonda@yahoo.com

Site: ART by Rhonda Watson