Raenell began painting in oil after working in water color for 11 years.  A great influence has been 17th century Dutch Masters.  "I love still life and all the challenges of portraying beautiful and interesting objects with paint".  She finds other forms of art and craft attractive and interesting such as fine china, pottery, silver , crystal and tapestries which she uses in paintings.  Always on the look out, Raenell finds treasures at antique stores and the homes of  friends and family.  "When I go to someone's house they probably think I'm casing the joint" she says with a smile.  Maintaining large flower gardens is another passion.  She grows most of the flowers used in her still lives.  Her move to Washington State also gives her access to a large variety of fresh fruits from local orchards.

     In August 1995, Raenell began making (intaglio) etchings for Island International Artists.  With no previous printmaking experience she started attending printmaking workshops with Richard Staffacher at Black Raven Atelier.  She believes that a strong foundation in drawing is important in creating etchings.   " I begin an etching with a detailed value drawing to guide me during plate making."  Working on zinc plates with an aquatint, step biting each image and finishing the plate with burnishing and scraping to create dramatic contrasts or soft edged details are trademarks in Raenells work.

     Her paintings and prints are beautifully composed using light, values, color and form.  Using knowledge acquired from self study and workshops, she begins the creative process by finding an object to work from.   Compositions can take days or even weeks of looking and thinking about how to arrange the objects collected for a still life.  "When I want to paint a beautiful fresh flower or fruit I must decide quickly."  By the time she sets them up, compositions are well worked out and photographed for later use.  Recently, she has enjoyed working from life.  "I love having the real objects to look at and the inspiration of the moment that is not interrupted."

     The focus of her career is to create the reality of beautiful and interesting objects.  Not just to copy, but to capture the essence of what drew her to the subject in the first place.  Beautiful brush work or hand work on etchings accentuates a realistic style.

     In Raenell's painting she begins on a toned art board or canvas, composing abstractly to determine the size and shapes.  Continuing, she works at maintaining life in a beautifully painted image without turning the painting into a highly refined rendering.    She feels driven to improve through self study, practice and workshops with great contemporary artists.  "Developing a higher level of understanding doesn't mean a major change in subject but a greater knowledge of all the components of creating art."

     Living now in Yelm, Washington Raenell works daily in a studio she maintains at her home.

2000 - Women Painters of Washington juried members show, Washington State Trade and Convention Center, Seattle, Washington.

1996 - Soundings South: An Exploration of Watermedia on Paper, Arts Olympia Invitational Show, Washington Performing Arts Center, Olympia, Washington.

1996 - American Artist Magazine, Featured Artist, August issue.

1995 - Two person show, Howard / Mandeville Gallery, Kirkland, Washington.

1994 - North Light's first cover contest, Honorable Mention.

1993 - Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge, New York. (included in traveling show)

1993 - Watercolor West XXV Exhibition, Riverside, California.

1993 - Washington State Fair Art Exhibition, Fourth Place Watercolor Division.

1992 - Northwest Watercolor Society Waterworks `92, Washington State Trade and Convention Center, Seattle, Washington.

1992 - Art Splash, Redmond, Washington.

1991 & 92 - 51st & 52nd Annual Northwest Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition, Howard / Mandeville Gallery, Kirkland, Washington.

1991 - National Women's Exhibition of Works on Paper, Shoestring Gallery, Rochester, New York.

1991 - Women Artists of the West, Chinese Cultural Center, Visalia, California.

1989, 90 & 91 - 15th, 16th & 17th Annual Alaska Juried Watercolor Exhibition, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, Alaska.

1991 - Eastern Washington Watercolor Society Juried Competition, Allied Arts Gallery, Richland, Washington.

Education and Affiliations
Etching workshops with Master Printmaker Richard Staffacher.
Watercolor workshops with Jeanne Dobie, Master Watercolorists Sondra Frecklton and Jan Kunz.
Oil painting workshops with John Morra and David Leffel.
Signature Member, Northwest Watercolor Society.
Member of Women Painters of Washington.

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