Author Archives: Nona

Portrait of Jessica Hanson

Oil Portrait of Jessica Hanson

Jessica Hanson

The daughter of my close friends, Josephine and Steve Ristau Hanson, graduated from high school in the spring of 2011.  Jessica is an accomplished young woman, who plays both piano and viola, writes creatively, knits, rows, and is addicted to reading.  She is now attending my (as well as Josie’s and Steve’s) Alma Mater, St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.  I did this portrait of her as a surprise gift before her Graduation Recital and Dinner on June 18.  It gratified me enormously how much they all liked it.

Here are some actual photos of the occasion

Steve Hanson, Jessica Hanson, Josephine Ristau

Jessica and her proud parents

 

Jessica Hanson with her mother's family

The Ristau Clan, Jess Slaek and Marie Pauls

 

Rosewind Studio North: Artemis

Nona Hyytinen painting Artemis in Eagle River

Painting Artemis in Eagle River

 

I haven’t been blogging in a while, so I’m making posts for this past summer.  In July, I spent a week in Eagle River, WI at My Brother’s Cabin.  It has that name because that’s the way it was always referred to by Matt and his brother, Mike, who co-owned the house and hunting acreage.  I always called it Borusa Stan, which means “‘Possum Lodge” in Croatian.  Fans of Red Green will recognize that name.  On rainy mornings, when the weather wasn’t good for boating or swimming, I set up in the overhang of our garage and began this painting.  I had taken photographs of a trainee of mine at Lands’ End during the past winter, who had that long-legged, gamin beauty I’ve always imagined in Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, or Diana, as the Romans called her.  My “Artemis” is in a northern clime, hunting on skis, with wolves as her hounds.

Faux Bois Bench

Armature with diamond lathe for Faux Bois Bench

Armature with diamond lathe for Faux Bois Bench

I have been planning to make a Faux Bois Bench for my husband Matt’s gravesite since he died in April of 2010.  Last autumn, when I made the Faux Bois Table Base or Stool — it could be used for either purpose — it was a practice effort.  I wanted especially to practice making believable bark with acid stains on sculpted concrete.  This summer I designed a sturdy bench and my welder friend, Gerald, made the armature with rebar.  I then, cut the diamond lathe and wired it on using picture-hanging wire.

 

Rebar Armature for Faux Bois Bench

Rebar Armature for Faux Bois Bench

This is the armature of rebar that Gerald welded.  It was modified somewhat after this.  The seat was made deeper; a crossbar was inserted in back as in front; and several more diagonal supports were added.