St. Sebastian

 

St. Sebastian, Egg Tempera, 23 c. gold on panel, 24 x 24"

By MF Dondelinger

This commission travels to Rhode Island.

St. Sebastian was persecuted by Roman soldiers by being pierced with arrows. He was left for dead but was found by a woman who nursed him back to health.  He was later beaten to death for his convictions. 

 

St. Sebastian is typically shown tied to a tree, hands behind his back, arrows in his torso.  I wanted to do something different...something that showed positive human connections even in times of distress.  One person caring for another if only for one fleeting moment.

 

The models are the son and niece of friends. For them, I am grateful for their willingness to pose for this painting.

Rare Rabbit

Pregnant with Thought-in progress. 

Egg Tempera on panel.

24 x 30"

 

I've always wanted to paint a jack rabbit and finally got a moment to play around. The sides are a barrel cactus stencil I made to create a fun desert pattern.

 

 

New Commission-St. Francis

 St. Francis of Yorkville...ahem...Assisi
This commission was done for a patron in Illinois who created a beautiful environment in his yard and helped form a lively eco system that drew in chipmunks, squirrels, worms, frogs, ladybugs, cardinals, finches, orioles, woodpeckers, snakes, cats, and dogs which are all included in the icon.

The plants and animals come together to create a perfect location for St. Francis. This icon blends a traditionally stylized St. Francis in a contemporary and personalized environment. To see an enlarged version, click on the image.

Icon Workshops

Leavenworth, Washington March 29-31

First and Second Level,

Students will be writing the icon Archangel Gabriel

For more information contact Dan at office@grunewaldguild.com or call

(509) 763-3693

  

Silver City, New Mexico April 26-28

First Level

Students will learn the basics of iconography and leave with their own icon.

For more information contact Diana at leybaingallsarts@qwestoffice.net or call (575) 519-0548

 

Feel free to contact me with questions at

info@themaryfrances.com

 

What the HECK is a BOOK TRAILER?

Ever wanted to know more about a book before ordering...not wanting to judge a book by it's cover? Well, now there are book trailers done in the same vein as a movie trailer. It gives you a visual idea of the book's content. With that in mind, and the talented director/film maker Guy Guillet on board, we created this book trailer. If you like it, please forward it on to everyone you know because the message goes beyond just promoting a book. It does what the book also intends to do - encourage a connection with nature.

Book Signing in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

The next booksigning also includes a reading!  

Thursday, October 18
 
STUDIO 107
503 E. Sherman Aveune
4-6 pm  

Get your own signed copy of Modern Icons.  
 

Black-Footed Ferret, Egg tempera, 23 c. gold on paper plate

MF Dondelinger

  Hors d'ouvres by Scratch
No-host wine bar, Studio 107 208.664.3564  

RSVP to Mary Lou Reed

mloucd@aol.com

Fall Workshops 2012

Beginning Iconography

No pre-requisites required

Student completing an icon in a Beginning Iconography workshop

Learn the basic techniques and useage of egg tempera and gold leaf in traditional iconography. Students will leave with their own icon.

Grunewald Guild

in a lovely retreat setting and catered meals.

Leavenworth, Washington

September 21-23

To register and learn more go to: Grunewald Guild

Gallery One

held in upper Badger Pocket and catered by the fabulous Becky Craig

Ellensburg, Washington

October 5-7

To register and learn more contact: Renee

Intermediate Iconography

Must have previous iconography experience

Students select and create a historical icon of their choosing and receive additional 'cartoon's' from which to create icons in the future.

Gallery One

held on a ranch in upper Badger Pocket and catered by the fabulous Becky Craig

Ellensburg, Washington

September 28-30

To register and learn more, contact Mary Frances

Egg Tempera Workshop

No pre-requisites

Students think outside of the box and learn modern techniques for egg tempera useage to create numerous paintings in a 3 day period.

Allen and Mary Dee Dodge Studio

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

October 19-21

To register and learn more contact: Mary Frances

COMING THIS OCTOBER!

MF Dondelinger's jewel of a book features images of once-familiar Southwest species rendered in exquisite detail. Short entries accompany each painting, describing the plant or animal, its habitat, and the cause of its endangerment.

Dondelinger's work always surprises. She juxtaposes the ancient art of egg tempera iconography onto the most disposable of backdrops, the humble paper plate. The plate-as-canvas serves as a symbol of twenty-first century throwaway culture, just as the creatures she so painstakingly depicts (using precious materials like 23 carat gold, egg tempera and rabbit skin glue) have become expendable in our fast moving culture. In Modern Icons, readers will gain a new view of what is - or is no longer - to be found in their own back yards.

MF Dondelinger apprenticed in Italy with an orthodox iconographer. She applies the traditional materials and theories of this sacred art form to contemporary themes. She divides her time between Arizona and New Mexico.

SPONSORSHIP

This book is sponsored by ARTSPIRE, a program of New York Foundation for the Arts, Gallery One Visual Arts Center, Margaret W. Reed Foundation and amazing individual supporters

You can support the
Modern Icons Book
Project too!

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS:

A complimentary copy of Modern Icons will be given to every public library in Arizona and New Mexico. Proceeds from the sale of this book will go towards the publication of a second edition focusing on endangered species of the American Northwest.  Donations to the Modern Icons Book Project  are tax-deductible.

 Please contact Mary Frances for more information.

Order your very own MODERN ICONS at the

SPECIAL PRE-PUBLICATION PRICE of $15.95  (Retail $19.95)

see upper right column.

Good until August 31. 2012

Going for the GOLD

Vienna, Austria. The GOLD exhibition at the Belvedere Palace Museum.

The exhibit. These two pieces were stops on the audio tour.

Another piece. Also a stop on the audio tour.

More of the exhibit.

No photos were allowed at this show and special permission was required to take these quick photos with a phone.

The Lower Belvedere



A large book about the exhibition and images of each artists work. Additionally, a postcard of the Kangaroo Ords Rat available at the Belvedere Palace Museum Gift Store. To see more about this exhibit click here

Back home and in the studio, I work to finish up text for the upcoming book MODERN ICONS:The Sacrifice of Endangered Species in the American Southwest. More about this later....

Cartooning

Yes, cartooning is an important part of traditional iconography. Students learn the structure of icons and create their own cartoon to be used to transfer onto a panel in this one day workshop.

Martha learns the formula and proportions.

And then she creates a cartoon in the April class.

April students strike a pose.

GOLD in Vienna, Austria

Belvedere Palace Museum in Vienna, Austria

I am pleased to announce four works have been accepted into the Belvedere Palace Museum in Vienna, Austria. The exhibit titled GOLD curated by Thomas Zaunschirm is open from March 16 - June 17, 2012.

Additionally, the musuem has requested permission to print the image Ords Kangaroo Rat as a post card to sell in their museum store.                                                                                               

Click here for more information about this exhibit and the Belvedere Palace Museum.



Speaking of money....

The Almight Dollar Series continues...

Asian Elephant, Egg tempera. 23 c. gold on Federal Reserve Note.
MF Dondelinger

Sold

 Polar Bear, Egg Tempera, 23 c. gold on Federal Reserve Note
MF Dondelinger

Buffalo, Egg tempera, 23 c. gold on Federal Reserve Note
MF Dondelinger

 Mountain Lion, Egg tempera, 23 c. gold on Federal Reserve Note
MF Dondelinger

 Gray Wolf, Egg Tempera, 23 c. gold on Federal Reserve Note
MF Dondelinger
SOLD

 Grizzly Bear, Egg tempera, 23 c. gold on Federal Reserve Note
MF Dondelinger
SOLD

Poultry, Egg tempera, 23 c. gold on Federal Reserve Note
MF Dondelinger

Brush Creek Art Foundation Residency Program

MF Dondelinger finishing up her residency at Brush Creek Art Foundation in Wyoming.

Artists, writiers and musicians who are interested in doing a residency at this lovely location click here.

Gallery One: The Writing's on the Wall

 Gallery One Director Carol Hassen gives introductions for the lecture on What is Sacred? What is Sacrificed?

 The lecture.

Dodo Bird, Egg tempera, 24 c. gold on wood panel

Wrestling Boys, Egg tempera on panel, 4' x 8'

Detail of Illuminated Manuscript of original musical score of song sung when planting corn.

Egg tempera and 23 c. gold on paper

Detail of Illuminated manuscript regarding rain water catchment and water consumption.
Egg tempera and 23 c. gold on paper

Almighty Dollar Series: Giraffe, Egg tempera, 23 c. gold on Federal Reserve note.
SOLD

Almighty Dollar Series: Gray Wolf, Egg tempera, 23 c. gold on Federal Reserve note.

SOLD



Iconography Workshops Complete

Thank you to all the students in New Mexico, Washington and Montana.

What a wonderful experience it was to share time with you!

Punkie puts finishing touches on her icon.

A special thanks to our hosts...

Leyba and Ingalls Art Supplies and Gallery in Silver City, New Mexico

Artist Brittany Faulkner in Seattle, Washington

Gallery One in Ellensburg, Washington for Level 1 Workshop

Becky Craig and Gary Todd in Ellensburg, Washington for Level 2 Workshop ...Catering Included!

Artist Louise Lamontagne in St. Ignatius, Montana at the Art Ranch

The Montana Iconographers sit for a 'Bob Ross' moment.

Mary and Marti take notes on making egg tempera.

Barbara removes the egg white with easy.

 Marti works on her icon in at the Art Ranch in St. Ignatius, Montana.

Mark adds highlights to his icon in Silver City, New Mexico

Linda applies the first layers in Ellensburg, Washington.

The concentration is intense in Seattle!


Sam attends to details.

Mary puts a nourishing wash on her icon.

Charlene touches up her icon in Seattle.

Donna applies gold leaf on her icon in the Level 2 workshop in Seattle.

 Andrea completes Archangel Gabriel in the Level 2 workshop in Ellensburg.

And I get reunited with Chop Suey, the studio cat in Montana at the Art Ranch.