Wonder

Sunday, July 13, 2014

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.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

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

Friday, June 27, 2014

Port Washington Plein Air

As part of the Cedarburg Plein Air event, artists from all over descended on Port Washington on a stormy, foggy morning. Fog, mist, sun and rain rolled in and out over the two day period making painting a challenge. My first set up was at South Shore beach where I hiked down the shoreline, thinking I would avoid the alewives. No luck there. So, I plunked down right in the middle of them and began painting. Loved the variation of light on these beach paintings.

The alewives were everyone on the beach

"Storm Watch at South Shore Beach" 11 x 14, Oil

Then took a break and waited for some sun. The My Radar app on the phone is such a great tool for Plein Air painters. Later that afternoon I set up on the sidewalk and painted the marina. Good thing I finished quickly because the fog enveloped us again.

"Waiting for Wind" 8 x 10, oil

Went back very early the next morning to catch a sunrise, there was a tiny glimmer until the fog rolled in once again.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Plein air at Lion's Den Gorge

Spent an afternoon in Port Washington recently and it's such a wonderful place to explore. I painted on main street with a friend and enjoyed talking to some of the residents about our upcoming Plein Air event when many artists will be painting in Port on June 18 & 19. On our way home, we stopped at Lions Den Gorge and did a quick sunset. It was amazing that there were no mosquitos yet and the colors were just beautiful. Painting a sunset was the perfect way to end the day!

Plein air sketch, 6 x 8

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Painting in Utah

We recently had a wonderful family vacation in Utah visiting my husband's parents. I was able to squeeze in a little painting time for some quick sketches. My goal is to use these studies to create larger pieces for the Studio Tour this fall.

Our son Michael purchased an art book for me while we were on the trip....the forward written by Robert Redford regarding the Zion National Park experience. "I was dumbstruck by the towering power of it's geology...multicolored features sculpted into the most magical rock kingdom I had ever seen...a place drawn by God's own hand." That is exactly my feeling. Painting there was overwhelming as the colors were so foreign to me, yet I was in AWE of God's creation. I met some great families who were interested in the painting process and had the opportunity to visit the galleries in St. George, Utah. Reconnected with the dynamic owner of The Mission Gallery, Jane Meyer and met one of the artists whose work I admire very much, Marc Hanson.

Plein Air sketch in Snow Canyon, St. George, UT

8 x 10, oil

I met some great kids while painting here....HI!

Painting at Zion, truly full of "Wonder"

Zion Plein Air, 8 x 10

Zion Stream