Tag Archives: Maine artist Ramona du Houx

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In one’s own backyard “Spirits” can dance as they do in Ramona du Houx’s art

Spirit Dance

Spirit Dance

Long summer days give way to evenings with golden hues coating wheat, grass or grains blowing in the wind. Long shadows stretch thirty times one’s height across the land. This is the magic of Maine, just before the sun says goodnight. Tree frogs chirp serenades welcoming the night, while birds dart back and forth scooping up insects with delight.

Such was the evening I took a walk through the fields out back. Something scampered in the bushes and I felt my adrenaline rush, just Mr. Beaver collecting his dinner. We starred at each other, neither blinked. Not wanting to disturb his ambitious gnawing on the birch tree I slowly backed away. A humming bird stopped just feet away and hovered in the air, turned and sped off. I followed not knowing where she’s take me.

After racing over two hills the sun was sinking faster. The bird stopped and danced amongst the wheat. A first I tried to take images of the humming bird. I should have known better. After all, she was just leading me to my destination.

The sun coated the wheat with such golden hues I was awe struck. Then purple hues, with a twinge of green could be seen. The wind whispered across the field like waves on the ocean. Slowly, peacefully I clicked the shutter. I was running out of film so I only managed a few shots.

Once I developed them I was taken by the depth of the wheat and the grass behind. The textures and colors reminded me of the hummingbird. These images were, to me, her spirit.

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Trees painted with a camera by Ramona du Houx

Every month Ramona hosts an exhibit in Solon and here on line. For February the exhibit is The Magic of Trees.

Stability, strength, integrity: words we use to describe trees. From our most ancient texts trees have become symbols for people to find strength in.

How they reflect human nature, throughout the seasons, inspires me. Painting with the camera depicts their resiliency while commotion surrounds them. They remain more defined in the photographs while their surroundings have a swept away look. For me that reflects the strength of the human spirit.

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Landscapes by artist Ramona du Houx

Landscapes

Please click on the image to see a larger version, thanks.

Painting with the camera can create the sense of being personally close to an object through colors, textures, memories, and the seasons. With a landscape that’s exemplified because of their never-ending vastness that somehow surrounds us in an embrace. For me landscapes inspire contemplation, and patience. That and the sensation of being at home, welcomed by nature’s warmth.

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Nature Reveals herself in Ramona du Houx’s abstract lightgraphs

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



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

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.

In some cases the images resemble microscopic images, as if the core elements of what is being photographed has emerged to be recorded. It’s my hope that with these elements revealed the viewer has an opportunity to discover something about the natural world representational photographs cannot convey as nature reveals herself.

I’m represented by Gallery Storks in Tokyo, Japan and Gallery Insights of Solon, Maine. And a member of the Maine Artist Collective which exhibits regularly.

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The Zen peace of Maine’s Western Mountains depicted in Ramona du Houx’s images

Western Mts.

Western Mts.

If you haven’t been to Central Maine, you are missing out on some of the most majestic and peaceful mountains anywhere. They remind me of the mythologies about giant dragons sleeping in fields thus transforming them into hills and mountain ranges. Their backs form the mountains. The long tails of these majestic beasts stretch throughout Maine up into Canada. They are, of course, part of the Appalachian Trail system. As their bodies sleep in mountain ranges, their spirits roam the night sky in constellations. Continue reading →

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“Sunflower Rays” story of life by Ramona du Houx has a story

Sunflower Rays

Sunflower Rays

Every image has story of their own, a life of their own. I love sunflowers, so much I planted last years garden with them firmly in my thoughts. Of course Van Gough’s sunflowers revolve in my mind, along with the gardens Monet planted, cared for, and painted. And then there are my Chickadee’s whom, somehow make it through Maine winters, as well as the honey bees who need more safe havens to pollinate. To ease their plight, and satisfy my passion, I planted dozens of sunflowers. It turned out to be a wonderful year for their growth, and as they began to blossom I waited for the right time to dance with my camera amongst them. Alas, that time never came. I broke my wrist instead. There have been so many times, in my life, I have tried to “set” up photos only to have something else occur. It wasn’t a bad thing as it gave me time to think, and work on images already taken. Continue reading →

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

Treeheart

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 →

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

Eathbound Angels

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.

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

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 →

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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

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

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.

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du Houx limited edition signed prints

arrow222I 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.

Continue reading →

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Investing in the next big name artist: Ramona du Houx

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By Lisa Crothers, July, 28th, 2014

How do we spend wisely considering factors like: a still unstable economy, sky-high gas prices, droughts causing food supplies to increase – only to name a few things here. We still want to make investments and decorate our homes, so what can we do if we cannot head to Christies and bid on that Monet? As patrons of the Arts and Humanities commitment and investment are the grounding principles. A few years ago when I became invested in the arts community, I took down all of the “reproduced art” in my living space, recommitting myself to original art. My walls are still pretty bare, but the satisfaction is in knowing that over the years, piece by piece, careful selection by selection, I will have invested in the arts and the economy.

What does that have to do with Investing?

Invest in local art!

It goes back to spending wisely. Investments in original art can often bring in a nice return. I am pasting a link here for a great article written in The Telegraph – “Investing in art: how to make money by discovering the next Monet”

Where do I find artist to Invest in?

Finding artists can be easy if you know where to look. Finding art you love and can see sustaining itself in the future takes more time – but you can do it. A great place to start meeting artists is local art shows and festivals. Artists love to talk about their work and want to sell to people who care about their pieces; they want to know their work is going to a good home. You also want to invest in artists who care about their work and who you know will be making art for a long time.

One one my favorite places to meet artists is the famous Art Walks. Cities large and small across the country have established calendars and galleries who participate in such events. Many times the displaying artists can be found enjoying the positive energy.

A great Art Walk I have mentioned on this site before is the First Friday Art Walk in Portland, Maine. This Art Walk tends to be more like a festival with different types of music on street corners, sidewalk art sales and refreshments in many of the participating galleries. What you will also find at the August 1st Portland Art Walk is Art at The Constellation Gallery, 511 Congress Street Portland, Maine – by a spectacular artist worth investing in:Ramona du Houx

RAMONA DU HOUX takes photographs with a painter’s eye. The technique she discovered in 1979 uses the camera’s motion to create a sense of being personally closer to an object through colors, textures, memories, and the seasons by capturing the energy of nature. People, animals, building, landscapes … literally everything becomes visibly interconnected as they merge in, what she calls, a Lightgraph. Gallery Storks of Tokyo, Japan, represents Ramona’s work. She’s exhibited her fine art photography internationally and in cities along the US Eastern seaboard, including New York.

“The Greek philosopher Heraclitus wrote, ‘You can’t step into the same river, twice.’ Today, most of us are too busy to contemplate how much nature’s motion surrounds us, or is within us. We don’t normally see how interconnected rhythms of nature are apart of us. Modern society plugs us into the Internet, and that can open doors, but sometimes too much of being Internet connected disconnects us from the mysteries of the natural world that can be transformational. Scientists, innovators and inventors throughout history took the time to observe nature and her interconnected rhythms,” said Ramona. “I would like to show how nature’s interconnectedness can lead us to discoveries about our world and ourselves.”

Lisa Crothers is an independent community educator, passionately advocating for the arts & humanities. She teaches courses in both English and the Humanities at the higher education level. Her ongoing insights about Maine art can be found here.