Port Washington -- A new favorite

The nearby city of Port Washington has lots of positive things happening and one of them is their vision for accessibility to Lake Michigan.  South Shore Beach continues to be one of my favorite hikes along the lakeshore, but now the newest addition to the city parks is Coal Dock Park.  It has a 1,500' promenade and an 80' pedestrian bridge with access to South Shore Beach.  The views are beautiful and I am currently smitten with this particular view of the marina.  I've met wonderful people who are out for an evening walk, many curious dogs and watched the charter boats come in after successful cruises with happy fishermen.  It's like a new experience every time you paint there with God's ever changing canvas of clouds, sun, rain, birds and more.  Thankful and grateful for this beauty so close to home. 

Port Washington July Afterglow, 6 x 8

Sail Across the Sun, 11 x 14

Thankful it didn't pour

The set up

"Passing Storm", 11 x 14

"July 7 Port Washington Sunset", 11 x 14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mosquitos not included

It's been a very wet spring and early summer here....so that means an onslaught of mosquitos, especially around dusk.  Thought I might be safe setting up far from the wood's edge, but no luck.  These were two very quick paintings on my favorite hilltop in Blanchardville.  Sunset on one side, turn the easel and capture moonrise. 
Both paintings included lots of mosquitos embedded deep in the paint that have now been carefully removed thanks to a trusted palette knife.

 

 

Painting animals for Cedarburg Plein Air

We just wrapped up a wonderful week of painting in Cedarburg for the Plein Air event.  Many people in the community say it's "their favorite week of the year" and I can see why.  How wonderful to have 160 artists from all over the country come and see their city and countryside through their eyes. 
Unlike other artists who love painting the historic buildings of Cedarburg, I am drawn to the countryside.  Always in search of cattle, chicken or in this case, a donkey.  Here are some of my animal adventures en Plein Air!

Here's my block in and quick outline of the donkey placement, now I'm just waiting for her to return....waiting!

Finally, she returns and shares a good belly laugh with me. 

"Deanie's Darla" Oil, 10 x 12

 

Then, I let Darla the Donkey nap from her modeling gig and moved on to the chickens.  Wow, such a challenge with constantly moving feathered friends. 

Painting plein air at the coop, beginning with the block in and will paint in chickens on the fly!  Having painted chickens many time in my studio, that knowledge comes in handy with the various shapes, colors and sizes.

"Red Zeplins" Oil 10 x 12

This title was inspired by rock music that was played in the barn while I was painting. 

 

A few days later I was off to another property to paint chickens again.  I loved the simplicity of this composition and the little touch of light peeking through the flower box window.  I quickly sketched in chickens as they passed through the scene and turned around quite often to get a closer look as they scattered about. Yes, very sore neck the following day.  Fellow painters can relate!

 

"Gaylyn's Girls" Oil, 14 x 11

My "happy" place!

The chickens and roosters are in their resting spot for the evening, getting settled in for the night.

"Sweet Dreams" Oil, 12 x 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Pleasant Valley

There's a road outside Cedarburg that is filled with old farmsteads and magical canopies created by old stands of trees, Pleasant Valley Road.  Here are a few of my paintings from the recent Cedarburg Plein Air event that capture a few nights spent there.

"Ed's Shed" Oil, 11 x 14

Also did a few sunset paintings those evenings and it's always fun how you can have your feet planted in exactly the same spot and the light is always different, even in just one day.  The sunsets are always filled with wonder for me.  Thank you for this beautiful gift God!

"Pleasant Valley Dusk" 11 x 14, oil

"Pleasant Valley Sunset" 10 x 12, oil