icki Penney-Rohner visited Hawaii twenty-five years ago on her return from a six-month stay in the Philippines, where she was conducting a series of management seminars for the government, and in 1990, she married Randy Rohner and became a permanent resident of the Big Island, where they reside with their son.

The inspiration in the Islands rekindled her childhood desire to be an artist. She entered her first show and when her piece was accepted and then purchased by the juror, Vicki was reminded that the gift and dream were still there.

During her lifetime, Vicki has explored a variety of media, including ceramics, fiber, drawing and painting. Ms. Penney-Rohner has studied art in Hawaii, on the U.S. mainland, and in Europe. Vicki has been influenced by the many places she has visited in her travels and the art education she has received over the past 35 years. While her body of work has grown to encompass landscapes, cultures and people world wide, when Vicki focuses on the various aspects of the Hawaiian Islands, her breath-taking work reveals the unusual light and character of the Hawai’ian Islands.

  “With my pastels and oils I always strive to create a sense of mood, using light, composition, and a layering of color to not just render an image, but express the mood of my subject. Most notable in the majority of my Hawaiian works is a sense of the beauty and clarity of light that is unique to the Islands. I love to see the connection in the viewer’s eyes as they experience the “feel” of the subjects in my work.”

 Awards and Recognition

Vicki’s work has garnered many awards and accolades both in Hawaii and on the International scene and she continues to show her work in shows both in Hawaii and on the mainland. Her very first show entry was accepted and purchased by the juror. In March of 1996, The Pastel Journal, published the picture of her “Baby Honu,” which was awarded third place in the wildlife category of their International Competition.

In 1999, the prestigious Newington-Cropsy Foundation in New York, home of the Hudson River Valley Artists Collection, selected three of her original oil pastels for inclusion in an invitational show. One of those pieces now resides in the home of the museum’s curator. The previous year, she was awarded “Best of Show” by the St. Louis Art Guild for her pastel of Cattleya Orchids. Of her work, juror Harley Brown declared, ”This artist has a keen eye and renders the nuances of light with great skill.”

In 2004, from a field of over 450 entries, 15 pieces were chosen to add to the State’s collection of local artists. Vicki’s painting, Upcountry Fence Line, was purchased by the Hawaii State Foundation for Culture and the Arts for inclusion in their juried exhibit entitled, Reflecting Hawaii. Vicki’s painting became the centerpiece of their show at the Hawaii State Art Museum and will remain in their collection, which is displayed in public spaces throughout the Islands.

 Organizations and Service

Ms. Penney-Rohner volunteers her times as a businesswoman and artist in her community’s non-profit organizations, schools and arts organizations and loves to teach. She has been an instructor at the Volcano Art Center in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the University of the Nations and the Waimea Community Association as well as offering classes at her studio.

As a member of the State-sponsored Artist in the Schools program, which provides trained artists funded by grants, she has been teaching art at Innovations Public Charter School for three years.

As a past Chairman of the East Hawaii Cultural Council, and the founder of the Pacific International Pastel Society, she continually works to provide opportunities for artists and the public to explore an appreciation for the one thing that makes humanity so unique—the ability to create art.

Organizations:
Degas Pastel Society, Louisiana
Pacific International Pastel Society
Hawaii Pastel Society

Viewing, Purchases, Commissions

Vicki’s art appears in private collections world-wide and is available in several galleries. Purchases can be made through this web site or by contacting Vicki by email or phone. She also offers interior decorating services and commission artwork.