2022 Barrels
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Barrel #1 - Water Under the Bridge
Artist: Guerin High School -Mia Chang, Bailey Freese and Sophie Adolay # of years participating in Rain on Main: 8 Artist Background: We all take part in art classes and plan on taking IB art in the upcoming school year. We are also part of the GC Art Club but serve as the officers of the club as well. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? Our barrel was inspired by the many bridges found in Indiana. We also wanted to showcase the water as the main piece of our artwork to emphasize water conservation. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? We really enjoyed how we were able to combine our different artistic styles and witness it all come together as one. It was a unique experience to see diverse styles and elements of art and color work seamlessly. |
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Barrel #2 - Taking Flight
Artist: Carmel High School National Art Honor Society # of years participating in Rain on Main: 8 Artist Background: I have been an art teacher at CHS for the past 15 years. The students are so talented and inspiring and we grow collectively on our art journeys when we work together. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? Peacocks are symbolic for the eternal, ethereal journey. Their feathers are beautiful and inspiring in terms of patterns and colors. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? Working together with the NAHS students and discussing themes. |
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Barrel #3 - Sunflowers in the Starry Garden
Artist: Carolyn Martens # of years participating in Rain on Main: 6 Artist Background: I was a studio art major at UNC Chapel Hill and went on to work in graphic design and corporate advertising. I've been an oil painter for many years. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? My grandmother always loved the resilience and cheerfulness of sunflowers as she was growing up on the semi-arid high plains during the worst of the Dust Bowl/Great Depression years. She taught us the value of saving water as a precious resource. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? I always like viewing it from different angles. It's also fun working with fast-drying acrylics instead of my usual slower-going oil paints. |
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Barrel #4 - Pride
Artist: Liz Hamstra # of years participating in Rain on Main: 2 Artist Background: My formal background is completing my BFA in ceramics at Herron School of Art and Design. I have been a teacher in the Indianapolis community bringing art to underserved students. I dive into all mediums and constantly grow as an artist. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? When designing the barrel I was inspired by the beauty of Pride Month. Commemorating the LGBTQ+ Community and fully embracing equality and civil rights is something I feel deeply in my soul. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? My favorite part is that rush of the first brush stroke and the calming of the last. |
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Barrel #5 - Humming Over Cactus
Artist: Krista Darrow # of years participating in Rain on Main: 2 Artist Background: I am a self taught artist with unique visions and style. I have participated in various community events , art shows and contests. I will be back to Penrod arts fair at Newfield this year! 2019, Nickel Plate Arts Emerging Artist Award. 2021, White River Alliance Art Canoe artist. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? I have seen hummingbirds around here and I love them. Last year I saw them in Arizona, too. It was quiet different impressions when I saw them humming over cactus and unusual trees. I want painted to paint my barrel in bright colors and images of these hummingbirds was perfect to me! What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? I spent lots of time on two birds and really love them. |
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Barrel #6 - Cacti like it hot!
Artist: Linda Gilmore # of years participating in Rain on Main: 7 Artist Background: I am an amateur artist. I enjoy all art mediums, but the rain barrels are such fun to tell a story all the way around. Each year I try to paint a totally different “story” from nature. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? Appreciation of water. It has been a hot dry summer!Cactus can survive the hot, dry weather we have had this summer. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? I enjoyed using such a colorful color palette. I love painting all the way around the barrel. |
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Barrel #7 - Expansive Aerial
Artist: Jenna Mishelow # of years participating in Rain on Main: 4 Artist Background: I went to Herron School of Art and Design for Art Education and Painting. I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. I love creating commission paintings. I enjoy the ability to collaborate with the customer to create fine art that can be cherished for a long time. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? My inspiration for this barrel is a compilation of previous paintings I have completed: an abstract view of farmlands from an airplane window and an expansive bright morning sunrise. I love the juxtaposition of views. The scenes do not always seem to match up but it feels versatile and airy. I love the angular land mixed with the bright kinetic sky. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? My favorite part of painting rain barrels is being barefoot in the backyard with sunshine, a cold drink, tons of paint, and endless possibilities. |
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Barrel #8 - Rain Drops
Artist: Holly Nelsen # of years participating in Rain on Main: 1 Artist Background: I have my BFA in painting from Ball State University. I have shown my work at a few retail stores in the past and also at the Carmel Library. My dream would to be a professional artist, maybe someday! As a mom of three, I fit in art whenever I can and my family knows I am happiest when I am creating art. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? I am an abstract artist that uses stencils a lot in my work. I immediately thought of rain drops and designed different sizes and styles of water drops. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? My favorite part was working on the unique surface. I am always up for a new experience with backgrounds and paint application. |
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Barrel #9 - Sunset Palms
Artist: Christina Wells # of years participating in Rain on Main: 4 Artist Background: I am a local artist who works mostly in acrylic and digital art. I love painting landscapes and animals and exploring how light appears in images. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? My daughter inspired this year's rain barrel. Knowing I love palm trees that sadly can't grow in our climate, she suggested capturing them on the rain barrel to enjoy all year round. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? My favorite part of painting this year's barrel was adding the finishing touches, especially the texture on the palm leaves and small accents in gold paint. |
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Barrel #10 - Abstract Vacation
Artist: Aimee Bruno # of years participating in Rain on Main: 6 Artist Background: I've studied art all my life and graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington having majored in Studio Art. I've always been creative however the realities of life kept art as a hobby for a long time. It's a true passion of mine to create and to share my gift with others via art fairs, teaching classes and children's camps . In the summer of 2021, I rented studio space at the Circle City Industrial Complex downtown Indianapolis. This is a converted manufacturing facility that now houses studios for artists of all mediums. I am now able to create more and larger pieces in my studio and share it all with a broader audience one night a month during First Friday's. This once a month experience is where the art community across the Indianapolis and surrounding areas opens up for the public for a night of great art. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? I love creating artwork that gives the viewer something to relate to, something to feel. Most of my work is vibrant and colorful abstract work. So, I thought about my favorite vacation spot. A place that always makes me feel at peace, and I'm sure others can relate. By the water on the beach with the sun shining on me. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? I knew I wanted to use warm colors and to create the beach scene. However I wanted there to be movement and an abstract element that was also recognizable. My favorite part of this process was outlining and creating the movement with white paint. It all just came together as I envisioned. |
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Barrel #11 - Let Your Umbrella Be Your Smile
Artist: Carolyn Willard # of years participating in Rain on Main: 1 Artist Background: I have been painting all my life and sold my very first, official painting when I was 16. There are so many ways to “paint” and so many “canvases". Exploring and sharing the process is the best! What was your inspiration for your barrel art? What is better than getting out in the rain? Rain boots are nice, but umbrellas capture the imagination and express style, humor, and keep hairstyles looking good. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? The best part of this project was the Easter Eggs! While painting, songs, poems, rhymes, art, businesses, and stories begged for a place. While this is exclusively an Umbrella Rain Barrel, it would not be complete without the itsy bitsy spider. |
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Barrel #12 - Simurgh (Phoenix)
Artist: Sepideh Motevasel # of years participating in Rain on Main: 3 Artist Background: I am a graphic designer and illustrator. I received my Master of Arts degree in Graphic Design from Tehran Art University and worked as a graphic design intern at Eli Lilly. These days, I am working as a graphic designer at Gannett USA Today Network, working on print and digital advertisements. In my free time, I paint custom pet portraits and design colorful illustrations on shoes, scarves, bags, etc. You can find some of my latest artworks at my Instagram: @SpidoArt What was your inspiration for your barrel art? My inspiration comes from an old Persian Poem by Attar of Nishapur, called "the Conference of the birds". It's the story of Simurgh (Phoenix), a mythical bird in Persian literature. In Persian language, “Si” means “thirty”, and “Murgh” means “bird”. Therefore, Simurgh means "thirty birds". The story is about the birds of the world searching for their king (God), the legendary “Simurgh”. On their way, the birds faced a difficult journey. Many died of heat, thirst, illness, etc. Finally, only "Thirty Birds" survived. When they finally reached the dwelling place of the Simorgh, all they found was a lake in which they saw their own reflection in it and they learned that they themselves were the Simurgh (30 birds). Ultimately, they understood the Sufi lesson that the majesty of life is us, like a reflection in a mirror. We are what we seek. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? My favorite part was when I was trying to bring an old poem to life, by letting the colors and birds be the sound of music. |
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Barrel #13 - It's Raining Cats and Dogs
Artist: Peggy Hogan # of years participating in Rain on Main: 1 Artist Background: I always have been creatively inclined and found a love for painting when I took art classes at the Indianapolis Art Center. It is an amazing place! I love the ideation behind the art but have never considered myself a true artist but more of a hobbyist. With a full-time career in Human Resources, my time for artistic expression is limited but this was a fun project to take on for a great cause. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? I felt inspired by the theme of water and rain and since a good deal of my artwork has been centered around pet portraits, it seemed a no-brainer theme! The flowers add interest and relate to the garden theme. Dogs, cats, flowers, and umbrellas raining down from the clouds brings a little whimsy to the barrel and seems universally appealing. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? I wanted to include my dogs, Lainey and Max, and some friends' pets to make it a little more fun. I thought we'd all get a kick out of knowing that some of them are real and rendered in their silhouette form. |
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Barrel #14 - Cotton Candy Clouds
Artist: Valerie Bielski # of years participating in Rain on Main: 5 Artist Background: I've been painting vibrant abstracts for about 8 years and actively participating in local art fairs in central Indiana for the past 6 years. I have a small studio in the arts and design district here in Carmel off of Rangeline road. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? This year's barrel was inspired by colors cast in the clouds at sunset when I was out for a walk in the Monon. It has just finished raining and the lower evening sun burst through the clouds in bright pinks and yellows. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? Playing with color and depth on a round surface makes for a fun and challenging surface. |
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Barrel #15 - Vibration of Life
Artist: Kim Dax # of years participating in Rain on Main: 1 Artist Background: I am an art teacher and have been teaching art for 18 years in the Public School system. I graduated from Herron School of Art with an Art Education degree in 2004 and began teaching the same year. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? The tree in the center is loosely based on a dogwood tree that I grew from a very small tree. For the last 16 years the tree bloomed so beautifully every year and this year it became diseased and most of it died. It is also inspired by my love for the meditation of creating a zentangle as well as all the beauty and growth of spring/summer in my backyard with all of the vegetation/flowers that come back year after year. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? My favorite part was coming up with new patterns and figuring out where they would work into the overall design. Also, just watching it come to life once I started adding color after laying down the black outline. |
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Barrel #16 - Floral in Florida
Artist: Chelsea Primason # of years participating in Rain on Main: 4 Artist Background: I am an amateur artist living in Carmel, Indiana. My favorite ways to create include painting and drawing with my children, refinishing furniture, and painting rain barrels. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? This year's barrel is floral-themed, the fourth in my Barrels in Bloom series. It was specifically inspired by the vibrant flowers and eye-catching patterns found during my family's vacation to Florida this summer. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? Painting a rain barrel has become one of my favorite parts of the spring/summer! My family is so encouraging and I really enjoy working through all of my ideas with them. Each barrel has unique traits and variations in surface texture, so it's a fun challenge exploring designs and painting techniques to create something special for Rain on Main. |
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Barrel #17 - Lantern Festival
Artist: Saritha Krishna Kumar # of years participating in Rain on Main: 1 Artist Background: I am an engineer but I have always loved to paint since childhood. However, this is my first time creating a piece of this scale. I had taken up this project to challenge myself while contributing to the community. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? I wanted to go with concept of lantern festival. In fact, in a lot of places during this festival people tend to write to their wishes on the lantern before releasing them into the sky. I love how each lantern on the painting could be someone's secret wish that they are sharing with the universe. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? I loved creating the different view of the lantern festival (from a castle window) on the flat surface of the barrel. |
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Barrel #18 - Hatteras and Horses
Artist: Walt Thacker # of years participating in Rain on Main: 2 Artist Background: My history as an artist would be pretty boring. I got serious about my art at age 36. I've been honing my skills for the last 31 years and I'm at my best. I do sell my paintings but it isn't a real job or business. I paint for the enjoyment it brings. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? I wanted to paint a seaside piece of art. Cape Hatteras and Thunder Island came to mind. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? Painting and creating the artwork is what turns me on! |
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Barrel #19 - Garden
Artist: Ranj Puthran # of years participating in Rain on Main: 1 Artist Background: Started painting in Elementary school doodling on my notepads at school, then silk screening in middle school, then took a long break, and started painting again 5 years ago. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? Wanted to paint an old rustic garden with lots of flowers and vines. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? Painting the flowers on the ground, windows, and the from the rafters. |
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Barrel #20 - Lady Bug
Artist: Janus Developmental Services, Inc. Heather, Dustin, Kayla, Bill and John # of years participating in Rain on Main: 1 Artist Background: We have all participated in the Hidden Talents Program and the Commission Arts Program at Janus Developmental Services, Inc. We have so enjoyed learning new things and being able to see how our artwork has improved over the years. What was your inspiration for your barrel art? All the artists have been participating for years in our Hidden Talents Program & Commission Art Program. The Lady Bug Gourd Birdhouse is a big seller. They felt the rain barrel was very similar to the shape of our gourds. So that is what they decided to make in BIG fashion. What was your favorite part of painting your barrel? Talking with all the artists, they said they all liked working as a Team to create the rain barrel. Seeing how well it turned out in the end was really fun. Each one of us could see the part we did. Then in the end all those pieces made a great rain barrel. |
