Naomi Aho
Naomi (Fiehler) Aho was born in Schenectady, NY in 1956. A "pastor's kid", she lived in many locations growing up, including Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. She moved to Warren, Maine in 1986 with her husband and children, which they still happily consider home.
Naomi returned to drawing after a 23 year career in elementary education. She is represented by Landing Gallery of Rockland, ME. Her work has been selected for juried shows in Maine, Vermont, New York, Illinois, New Mexico, and Connecticut. She has been published in International Artist's Magazine, and in two colored-pencil webmagazines.
One of my earliest drawings, from 1965, of our family's camper... the love affair with pencils begins!
Why I do it: I am constantly amazed at all that can be discovered through the close observation of nature. While I am awed by and appreciate majestic vistas on a grand scale, my utmost delight is found in the smallest details-more intimate landscapes, as it were. I consider it a privilege to faithfully render the exquisite minutiae of my favorite subjects in order to convey the remarkable variety and incomparable splendor of God's creation. Soli Deo Gloria!
I am like a little pencil in God's hand.
He does the thinking. He does the writing.
The pencil has nothing to do with it.
~Mother Theresa
What I do: I love the line. Sometimes I am stopped in my tracks by the beauty, elegance, or confidence of a line or contour of an object. After years of experimenting with other mediums, I returned to drawing and found it a perfect fit. Working with pencil, whether colored or graphite, allows me to render those lines and contours which become drawings rich with layered color, value, and the dramatic interplay of light and shadow.
God's eternal character and power cannot be seen. But, from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all He has made.
~Romans 1:20 (CEV)
Shows and Exhibitions:
2013: The Magic of Colored Pencil, CPSA New England Chapter juried show; Spring Bull Gallery, Newport RI. 3rd Place.
2012: Defining and Essential Lines: Landing Gallery, Rockland, ME
2008: 31st Annual Juried Exhibition for Non-Members, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
3rd Place, Still Life competition, International Artist magazine
Exhibition at Grafton (juried), Grafton, VT
2007: Up Close, juried show, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME
Finalist, Favorite Subjects competition, International Artist magazine
Exhibition at Grafton (juried), Grafton, VT
Bird Sightings, invitational show at Atrium Gallery, USM-Lewiston/Auburn
2006: 14th Annual International Competition of the Colored Pencil Society of America
(juried): Albuquerque, NM
2005: 13th Annual International Competition of the Colored Pencil Society of America
(juried); Chicago, IL
2004: Annual Juried Show, Maine Art Gallery, Wiscasset, ME
Annual Members Show, Maine Art Gallery, Wiscasset, ME
2003: Warren Free Public Library, Warren, ME, for the month of April
1981: solo show, Mixed Values, Scheele Memorial Library gallery, Concordia College,
Bronxville, NY
Gallery Affiliations:
2006-present: Landing Gallery, Rockland, ME email: landinggallery@aol.com
2011-2012 Camilla Richman Fine Arts, Osterville, <A
2007-2009: Hunter Gallery of Fine Art, Grafton, VT
2005-2006: Nan Mulford Gallery, Rockland, ME
2004-2005: Elan Fine Arts, Rockland, ME
2002-2004: Saltwater Artists Gallery, New Harbor, ME
Awards and Publications:
2014: Maine Home+Design (October 2014); Avian Aesthetics article
2013: Practique des Arts magazine (Issue 110, May/June), article
2010: International Artist magazine (Issue 75, Oct/Nov), Nesting Instincts article
2008: International Artist magazine (Issue 63, Oct/Nov), Still Life competition
2007: International Artist magazine (Issue 56, Aug/Sept), Favorite Subjects competition
featured artist, From My Perspective colored pencil webmagazine; July
2006: Artist of the Month, CPSA website, July
2005: Grand Prize and CIPPY trophy winner at 13th Annual CPSA competition;
published in To The Point (CPSA magazine)
Memberships:
2003-present: CPSA (Colored Pencil Society of America)