Mom's Watercolors - Fox River Yoga

Recently I donated two watercolors by my mother, Marie Von Ohlen, to Waubonsee Community College.

Both paintings are displayed in Von Ohlen Hall, the college’s art and music building. My father, Dale Von Ohlen, helped found the college back in the 1960s – and my mother provided design services that helped get the college going.

At the donation ceremony, I was joined by the Waubonsee Community College team, including (left to right): Tonya Whitlock, CHA Lab Coordinator; Ellen Von Ohlen; Janice Rodriguez, CHA Lab Technician; Sharon Garcia, Dean of Communications, Humanities and Arts; and Robert Barto, Chief Advancement Officer.

My Mom’s paintings at Waubonsee are:

The Antique Shop

This watercolor offers a unique viewpoint, looking from the inside of an antique shop out towards the street and customers. This work was originally offered for sale in the early 1960’s at an Aurora Art League event at The Old Second National Bank in downtown Aurora.

Farmhouse with Windmill

A chance meeting on a nature trail at Waubonsee brought this watercolor back into the Von Ohlen family.

While listening to frogs’ song along the trail, by chance I met Laura Hunger. It turned out that Laura owned this watercolor, which she later presented as a gift to me, sparking our lifelong friendship.

Many of my yoga students recognize these paintings, since I use them sometimes as a background in my Zoom yoga classes.