Power from the people helps local artist Rhonda Hager continue her work and share her works among the local community in special ways. Rhonda’s “Time to Sail” painting just won the “People’s Choice Award” at the 2017 Artfest during St. Mary’s Summerfest. This special work will be on display until Saturday, August 19 at the St. Mary’s library to celebrate this achievement. Rhonda also received the “Ohio Theme Award” for “Time to Sail” at this recent Artfest show.
“My family has been a great support for several exhibits and events,” says Rhonda. “My sister Linda helps me hang up my art. My daughter Andrea designed my Rhondahager.com ‘Artistic Impressions’ website. My son Steven and his wife, Chelsea have performed live music at numerous art show openings. My husband Jay transports me and my painting supplies to various locations and is currently renovating a 1983 Suburban to transport my art. He also purchased an 8×10 paneled trailer so I can exhibit my art at weekend artisan shows! Their love and support has been vital and gives me courage to keep pursuing my dreams.”
It’s an amazing experience to create art. Local artist Rhonda Hager recently increased that challenge by creating an artwork during special events including a Revive Ohio worship service. “Reflections of Life” (24 x 36 acrylic on canvas) was created from the initial inspiration of a canal.
“I had just finished several days of sketching and painting a commissioned piece of the beautiful canal walk behind the library in New Bremen. As I sketched and photograph the area I noticed water bubbling up and realized they were aerating the canal. That Image of the water bubbling up out of the canal surfaced in my mind as I was sharing the meaning behind ‘Reflections of Life.’ It all came together in an instant!”
It was the first time Rhonda worshiped with live music while she painted. “I didn’t even have a preconceived message for my painting. I was just painting and praising God! But when I open my mouth, my mind was flooded with the image of that bubbling water.”
I called it ‘Reflections of Life’ because it reflects the beauty of God beyond the murky waters. We are all swimming in the sin filled murky waters of this earth. Only Jesus can rescue us by breathing His new life into us through His Spirit. Those who’ve received this new life through Jesus must share His life giving forgiveness.
After the music stopped and everyone left the Revive Ohio service, Rhonda continued painting all afternoon. She discussed the composition with our discipleship pastor and music director who suggested a barn. “I loved that idea because I’m a country girl. So I transformed the scene from a village to the countryside where farms populate the horizon.”
Rhonda recently taught a painting class at Hobby Lobby in Lima, Ohio and will teach a class titled “Painting en plein air and Elsewhere” at The Ohio State University, Lima campus for the Lifelong Learning Institute on October 26, 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. Rhonda’s next hands-on painting class is on October 21 at the St. Mary’s Boat club where participants will create a nautical themed painting inspired by her award-winning “Time to Sail” painting. “This work captures the north east corner of the Grand Lake near the Club” says Rhonda.
Rhonda recently won “Honorable Mention” for her “On the Rock” painting at the 2017 Maria Stein Art Show this past June. Rhonda also has her artwork displayed at St. Mary’s Family Eye Care, Green Thumb Farm Fresh Cafe (north of New Bremen on State Route 66) and is currently artist of the month at Brew Nation on 110 S Main St in Celina, Ohio.
Rhonda will be demonstrating her painting techniques at the Mercer County Fair and will be featured in the Junior Fair tent this Thursday, August 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. Rhonda will continue her artist of the month streak in September at CJ HighMarks in Celina, Ohio on 1121 Irmscher Boulevard and be the featured artist for September and October at Cloud Nine in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Look for more of Rhonda’s work at the 2017 Artfest Fine Art Exhibit at the Delphos Public Library activity room from Tuesday, September 5 at 9 a.m. until Saturday, September 16 at noon.
Rhonda has no problem staying busy with her artwork and was recently commissioned to paint a special view of an Apache helicopter in flight…for the first female to fly one!
Rhonda’s original artwork is also available at her website RhondaHager.com, Gallery 2 Ten in Sidney, Ohio on 684 Fair Rd and Griffin Gallery in Gahanna, Ohio on 77 Mill Road.
Mercer County Outlook 