Fresh Paint

By Mecca Rutherford

March 2025

AT LONG LAST, MY FIRST ISSUE!

Hello, from my Studio!

WATCH ME CONTINUE THE TEXTURING PROCESS ON THIS HUGE PAINTING LIVE!!!

Coming up THIS NEXT THURSDAY, March 27th from 6-8PM, I'll be demoing BOTH my texturing techniques AND painting! I'm planning to texture part of my new 4 x 8 Ft. painting - "The Falls" (SEE ABOVE!) LIVE at the Center for Western Studies on Augustana University campus, followed by a painting demonstration of a SKY on another painting!!

Free and open to the public. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. Feel free to reach out with any questions and I hope to see you there!

SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE LIVE DEMO & SHOW!

Painters Process Postcard invite (Front) 3.27.25

Painters Process Postcard invite (Back) 3.27.25

BIG NEWS FOR ME...I HAVE JUST BUILT A COMPLETELY NEW WEBSITE!! After 3 years on a different platform, I realized it was time to move to a paid site that is specifically designed to support artists. The investment has been SO WORTH IT!!

EVERY PAINTING THAT IS FOR SALE - IN MY SOLO SHOW OR AT ANOTHER SHOW OR GALLERY, IS NOW ON MY NEW SITE. All paintings that have prints available are also listed under prints.

HERE'S A LINK TO SEE MY NEW SITE: Mecca Fine Art

For FUNZIES:

Julia From Keloland interviewing Mecca

My Solo show, Dazzling Dakota, at Center for Western Studies, was featured on our local news! It aired February 13, 2025 (It's 5 mins).

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW:

Eye on Keloland: Dazzling Dakota with Artist Mecca Rutherford

In the Moment with Lori Walsh

I had a wonderful interview about my inspiration with Lori Walsh on South Dakota Public Broadcasting,

which aired January 31, 2025

(My segment is 20 mins):

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO LISTEN:

SDPB interview on In the Moment with Lori Walsh

South Dakota Magazine

Nov 2024-April 2025

My paintings have been featured in each of the last 3 South Dakota magazines!

It was a dream of mine for many years to be featured in this lovely magazine devoted to our state! Dreams do come true :)!!

Dazzling Dakota: Solo exhibit at Center for Western Studies - 3 galleries & 2 hallways

Dazzling Dakota Invitation 2025

Still showing through April 25th!

I was told my artist reception had RECORD ATTENDANCE!!! HOW WONDERFUL! Maybe you see yourself there in the room with me :)? Thank you to everyone who came out and made it so special!!

Dazzling Dakota Solo Show-Artist Reception Jan 17 2025 (4)

Dazzling Dakota - Artist Reception - Jan 17th, 2025

Minnehaha Country Club Art Masters Show June 24-June 25

"Magnificent"

My family with me on my birthday in early March, visiting Minnehaha Country Club where the year-long Art Masters Exhibition is held. At the end of May, Jim (my wonderful husband) and I will attend the gala and private auction of the works in the show. This is an extraordinary piece called "Magnificent." It is a magnolia and one of my rare high relief "Sculpted" paintings. It comes off the canvas about 2" in places!

My wonderful son, Devan, assisting me with stretching "The Falls" canvas.

Special thanks to my wonderful son, Devan :)!

Just back from Egypt (Youth with a Mission (YWAM) - Serving and loving people in Cairo in the name of Jesus...and he was joyfully willing to jump right back in and help me! Such a PRINCE!

I hope to paint for the rest of my life, so I have to take good care of my hands. Going for Grandma Moses!

Stapling stretched canvases is especially taxing on my hands. Usually, I wrangle in my dear husband, Jim. But this time, Devan was available and willing! I am so thankful to you, Devan :)!! You did AWESOME assisting me with this 8 footer!!!

Boe Forum Presidents Reception with Jon Meacham

Boe Forum: Augustana U. President's Reception with presidential biographer, Jon Meacham

Center for Western Studies puts on an epic civic forum called the Boe Forum, every year. The esteemed speaker gets a private reception in the gallery spaces at CWS before their address. Since I am the artist showing currently in those gallery spaces, our family was invited!

Jim and I had the pleasure of meeting Presidential Biographer, Jon Meacham! What a neat gift to be able to talk with him briefly, and listen to his eloquent and timely speech afterward. I also had the pleasure of meeting Augustana President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (delightful!), Provost Joel Johnson (super encouraging!), former A.U. President, Bill Nelson (a real Inspiration!) and our new Lt Governor of South Dakota, Tony Venhuizen and his wife, Sara (delightful couple!). A real honor.

A little insight into my greatest inspiration:

I open most of my painting sessions on my knees with a prayer that reminds me that it is through my heavenly Father that I have received not only my artistic gifting but also all inspiration and energy I have to express it.

Without Him, I can paint nothing. I paint through Him, for Him, and for His glory, always. And He, in turn, blesses me with His Joy as I paint. And it is that JOY from Him, that I have the privilege of sharing with you and with the world. I cannot wait to see how far the Lord will share His gift through me.

"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

Romans 11:36 NIV