January 12, 2015 by * - 0 comments

The story of The Golden Temple’s Tree Heart fine art photo by Ramona du Houx

Treeheart

For a year starting in 1980, I lived in Japan, spending the majority of my time in Kyoto. Everyday I would pass the Golden Temple, Kinkaku-ji, a Zen Buddhist shrine, on my way home to my home-stay family at the bottom of a mountain, where a stream ran out back through the garden. The same stream that goes through the Golden Temple. For months I had been promising myself that’d I’d spend time in the gardens of Kinkaku-ji, but never seemed to find the time.

Before I knew it New Year’s eve was upon us. My home-stay family adorned me in a traditional family kimono, and side by side with my home-stay sister, Yukika, we marched in a parade to a Shinto Shrine to celebrate our birthdays. You see, we both would turn 21 during the upcoming year, and by shinto tradition that is the year women come of age.

My obachan, home-stay grandmother, helped me put on the kimono. In Japanese she kept saying my breasts and hips were to large for the dress but with determination she’d make sure I could wear it. As she stretched the waist band around me I cringed, and I wondered how women ever tolerated corsets. At first I stumbled trying to maneuver in the sandals for the kimono restricted leg movement. After learning the correct way to walk, we set out on our journey. Yukika looked so graceful as she moved like the river’s flow. On the other hand I waddled like a penguin. Continue reading →

January 11, 2015 by * - 0 comments

Wild lilies are Earth Bound Angels in the story behind Ramona du Houx’s photo

Eathbound Angels

For many photographers telling one’s F-stop, speed and lighting conditions is how they portray their story of an image they managed to record. That, indeed, is the technical side but for me the true story about the atmosphere one’s senses pick up of the day tells much more. The weather also plays the most dramatic of all roles. Inspired by the Impressionistic and Modern artists, when I take a photo I approach it as if I was doing a watercolor on rice paper, for watercolor artists can not redo their paintings. As a photographer I need a level of risk- the risk of never knowing if your timing is in sync with nature’s.

On one of the most wonderful summer days, which are now seeing me through the winter, I ventured to the Kennebec River for a walk and swim. The foliage on the riverbank was full, berries weighed down branches, milkweeds were poised to pop open. I put my toe into the water… not exactly tropical. Still, summer comes but once a year. Slowly, I took the plunge and much to my surprise found it refreshing, the day’s trials and tribulations melted from my mind as I took on the current swimming upstream. Drying off on a rock in the sun I was at peace once more.

The extremes of temperatures from the refreshing river to the baking rock steered my soul as I journeyed home. I was energized. As I rounded a bend I caught sight of a wild lily. I wondered how I managed to miss the exquisite bells on my walk to the water’s edge. The flower’s caught the sun and appeared transparent against the river’s back. So fragile, yet so strong. So vibrant yet so cold, like my swim. The wind gently swirled off the water. I moved my camera with the same direction as the wind’s song and took a series of images.

To read more stories please go here.

January 9, 2015 by * - 0 comments

The story behind the poinsettia art photos Journey and Lift-off by Ramona du Houx

Journey

With the holiday season in full swing, I set my favorite Christmas flower in the window to catch the return of the light on the solstice. I always keep my Poinsettias long after the holidays are over for their internal light continues to amaze me- they simply are a marvel of science. Too often taken for granted around this time of year they are discarded with our majestic pine trees, which have given their all bringing nature inside, and giving us hope. Somehow Poinsettias have become branded with this joyous time of year, full or warmth and good cheer, and then are so easily dismissed, as if they were simply just an ornamental part of the celebrations. Few realize they continue to grow and thrive. My last plant touched the ceiling before I had to trim it down. Of course after two years it did stop flowering and the neighbors thought the leaves resembled something they weren’t… it brought the tropics to us while we had -22 outside. Believe me if you live in Maine, plants help the winter’s go by.

In the spirit of the return of the light I put Vivaldi’s Four Season’s on and admired my Poinsettia. The curvature and sharp angles seemed so perfectly matched. Touching it’s leaves, they were so thin, so delicate and it’s stems just the opposite. The flower’s reminded me of rice-paper and I wondered if an there had ever been an origami Poinsettia. It’s sensual nature energized me and made me think of hotter climates. As I pulled out my camera I felt my heartbeat pound, for no particular reason. Then, within a matter of seconds I took a dozen images hoping I was in tune with the essence of the Poinsettia.

For me still-life images of living flowers can bring an energy to the work that’s decidedly different from still- life of dead flowers. Both are wonderful but the living plants still have the power to transmit their sensuality.

To read more stories please go here.

Lift -off

January 8, 2015 by * - 0 comments

A crop circle discovery by artist Ramona du Houx

Discovery

When England has a good summer it’s a great summer. Such was the year of 1990. After living in London for the past 18 months, with three young children, it was high time to leave the metropolis and Glastonbury drew us in. For a Yank the Somerset village appeared like Hobbiton, and the mystery surrounding King Author and Merlin that came from tales of Glastonbury Tor made my family feel we too were on a quest. It was a time for high adventure of youth and parental wonder.

Midmorning listening to the BBC – a habit I picked up living overseas in Puerto Rico and Japan – a habit I continue to indulge in, a story caught my attention. A crop circle had appeared overnight in a field a few miles from our home on the side of Glastonbury Tor. The adventure had begun. We piled the children into the car, along with their various stuffed animals, and took off. It was hard not to rush as the chance to see nature’s mysterious circles was exciting for us all. For once the English hedge rows, that tower on each side of the road like walls of vines and brambles seemed to be useful. The rows are made from stones cleared in the fields- they keep the sheep from pouring into the roads. Within this tunnel pathway we couldn’t safely move any faster than the speed limit dictated. Finally, we reached the farm. About a dozen other cars, listeners of the BBC, welcomed us.

The farmer was not amused but allowed us all entry into his fields. My fingers began to feel static electricity as my children dashed for the center of the big circle. Continue reading →

January 7, 2015 by * - 0 comments

The magic of ships inspires in the story of the photograph, Sails, by Ramona du Houx

Sails

With Sails I wanted to express how it feels to ride the wind.

On a bright day, last summer, I went to the Rockland Parade of Sails, to attempt to translate, with my art, the magic windjammers under full sail transmit. Walking towards the water’s edge I was immediately struck by that sense of awe as a schooner caught the wind and effortlessly sped by. Even though, on the shore all the ships were over a mile in the the distance a rush went through my being at the sight. Frantically, I switched my lens to a 85 – 200mm zoom, doing so my mind helped to calm me, telling me, “Don’t worry the show has just began, they’ll be doing this for sometime.”

Taking some deep breaths I noticed I wasn’t the only one under the mystic spell of the ships. A girl with a dragon tattoo just stared at them with her mouth open. Finally, she uttered,”radical.” An elderly couple squeezed their hands tighter as they both gazed out to sea and I wondered what timeless connection with these great vessels they both might be thinking about. A boy around ten years old tugged at this mother’s sleeve exploring her to get closer. She too was transfixed on the ships. I took my cue from the excited youth and started my trek on the stone causeway that led to a lighthouse a mile out in the harbor, where we all could get a better view. Continue reading →

January 6, 2015 by * - 0 comments

The story behind du Houx’s art photo: Oak Maine

Oak Maine

On a brilliant summer’s day in the late afternoon I went for a walk along the banks of the Kennebec River. The crystal waters beckoned me in and soon I found myself swimming upstream. Drying off on a rock I petted a vein that had quartz running through it. As I closed my eyes I let the sun bathe me, knowing one day six months from now I’d sit in the window and close my eyes letting the sun warm me when the temperatures outside would turn me into an ice sculpture.

Nature has a tremendous power to heal, to put our minds at ease and transform the mundane into the magical.

Picking up my camera I ambled up the ole railroad trail, content. Continue reading →

December 15, 2014 by * - 0 comments

Ramona du Houx exhibits lightgraphs at Berry’s in Waterville, Maine

By Morgan Rogers in Maine Insights

The inside gallery at Berry’s, 153 Main St, downtown Waterville, features the artwork, Ramona du Houx, until December 30, 2014.

Ramona du Houx creates fine art photography that looks like watercolor paintings evoking mystery and a sense of wonder. Many find them nostalgic and some mystical.

Ramona is currently represented by Gallery Storks of Tokyo, Japan and is also a member of the Maine Artist Collaborative where she exhibits regularly at the Constellation Gallery in Portland, Maine.

Kennebec Eagle

“For me art reflects where we live in our communities, as well as where an artist is in their heart, mind and soul,” said Ramona. “In 1979 I began to paint with my camera to depict the interconnectedness of nature. I took the initial results to the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where they recorded them long ago. The continuing results have been unpredictable, intriguing, and thought provoking.”

The watercolor technique is always a challenge.

“I never know exactly what the results will be, that’s the exciting part of the creation,” said du Houx. “I believe every photograph has an audience, someone the work will speak to personally.”

Dream Sail

Berry’s show space offers local artists a friendly venue to exhibit their work and a way to continue to grow Waterville’s creative economy. With Colby College’s new museum, and Common Street Arts, Waterville is gaining attention as a place to visit for art.

Berry’s is open Monday thru Friday from 9:00am – 5:00pm. And Saturday from 9:00-3.00pm. And until Christmas they are open on Sundays. For the full article please go here.

December 11, 2014 by * - 0 comments

Ramona du Houx illustrates ABC book in four languages

The article in Maine Insights: A Maine vibrant watercolor ABC book in four languages under one cover

By Morgan Rogers

Vibrant watercolor illustrations of a Maine island Labrador puppy bring smiles to kids learning new words

Finally, there is a children’s ABC book with watercolors of Maine in four languages!

Clipper, the adorable Maine Island Labrador puppy, takes children into his world, while teaching them their ABC’s, and new words in English, French, Spanish, and Japanese. One painting leads into the next, as children follow bubbles throughout the book. This unique concept gives children continuity, as they discover other languages. Continue reading →

December 6, 2014 by * - 0 comments

Portland Gallery exhibits du Houx photos through Jan 27th

Lilly Bells

“Lilly Bells” by Ramona du Houx

This article, Miniatures exhibit at Portland gallery through Jan. 27, appeared in the Sun Journal
Encore | Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Constellation Gallery’s call for art a success; leads to biggest exhibit ever—meet the artists during this Friday Art Walk with art from all across Maine

PORTLAND — The Constellation Gallery’s, home of the Maine Artist Collective, call for art received entrees from all over Maine. As a result, MAC’s Miniatures exhibit is the collective’s largest exhibit ever, with over 110 original works. The show runs until Jan. 27. All the work measures 11 x 14 inches or smaller, including the frames used.

With art from all across Maine in the “Miniatures” exhibit, MAC will celebrate in conjunction with Portland’s Thursday, Dec. 11, Merry Madness, and a special Saturday opening, Saturday, Dec. 20. Continue reading →

December 3, 2014 by * - 0 comments

Holiday Hodgepodge, Maine art at the Harlow Gallery

Garden

In December, the Harlow Gallery at 160 Water Street in Hallowell presents a NEW fundraiser, “Holiday Hodgepodge”, a showcase of fine art and craft, including contemporary and vintage original art. Artwork can be purchased off the wall and taken home the same day; 50% of any sold work will benefit programming at the Harlow Gallery while 50% will go to the artist.

The show will run December 3-13, 2014 with an opening reception on Wednesday, December 3, 5-8 p.m. The exhibition and opening reception are free and open to the public. On Tuesday, December 2, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. the Harlow Gallery board of directors will host a Gala Preview & Presale event with a $10 entry fee per person, with refreshments and live music. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 12-6 p.m.

November 16, 2014 by * - 0 comments

Holiday time to share art

Tis the season for …… Thanksgiving!!!
From now until Thanksgiving, mention to your cashier what you are thankful for and receive 20% off your purchases. Let’s generate some buzz about gratitude…share with your friends. No coupon necessary.

November 3, 2014 by * - 0 comments

du Houx limited edition signed prints

I try to bring the beauty, magic and mystery of nature to viewers by amplifying nature’s essence.

Scientists, innovators, and inventors throughout history took the time to observe nature and her connective rhythms. But now society plugs us into the Internet, and while that can open doors, sometimes too much of being Internet-connected disconnects us from the mysteries of the natural world that are transformational. I want to help show how nature’s interconnectedness can lead us to discoveries about our world and ourselves.

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Sometimes when people look deeply into these images, they relax and find a tranquil place in the soul, as one would by taking time to be at peace in nature. At other times, the photographs can refresh, excite, and energize one’s soul, as if one were standing by a waterfall. The images have been said to be dreamlike, healing, Zen meditative, inspiring and thought provoking.

My technique uses movement to create a sense of wonder through colors, textures, memories, and the seasons. Everything within the viewfinder becomes visibly interconnected when objects merge with the motion of the camera as the image, the “lightgraph,” is taken.

Putting the images into categories was extremely challenging as everything is interconnected. Please enjoy the work and check back for more additions regularly added. All images are limited editions for sale and represent over 35 years of work.

TO VIEW: Please click on the thumbnail below to see a larger version of the art work.

Nature reveals herself

There are no boundaries in nature, with everyone and everything interconnected. Where a river stops cannot be defined, nor can the end of the sky. In my lightgraphs no objects have clearly defined borders as they merge their core essences together creating visual abstracts of light.