Dozing Dames

Living in Wisconsin, it's hard to avoid these beautiful bovines.  Can't you just hear them chewing their cud on a beautiful summer day?

Melting before our eyes!

On Tuesday, my friend Lynn and I found a few patches of remaining snow and began painting.  At the end of our two hours, our subject changed dramatically.  Where once we had a hillside of snow, it was all gone!  The temps reached the 60s that afternoon making it a great day to paint.  We hiked about a mile back to our cars in mud and slush making it a great workout too.

More Schlitz Audubon plein air

Since there is no ice or snow along the lakeshore this year, I am focusing on painting trees in the winter.  I sometimes feel like my brain is "mush" after these paintings of all the complicated branches and patterns.  So I try to simplify the subject as much as possible.  Every brushstroke is a learning experience!

Petite Perch

I have a certain fondness for Chickadees now that my son has spent two years in the wonderful "Chickadee" classroom at Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool.  So when this little bird landed on top of a cattail, it was a perfect combo for a painting.  And, it is now uplifting to hear them singing their spring song as we look forward to the next season.

Foul weather friends

Foul weather?  Yes, for snow lovers like me it's been a rough season.  Think I've painted out twice this winter, despite the fact that I bought TWO boxes of foot warmers back in October, thinking I'd be fully prepared for another exciting season of snow and ice.  So, I'm in my little, cozy studio painting chickens and cows and lots of fun stuff!  Thanks to the chickens of Monches Farm for always providing such amazing inspiration!!!

Icecanos at Schlitz Audubon

This is a new 16 x 20 studio painting completed from plein air work at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Fox Point.   These "icecanos" occur when high, cold waves crash on the shore and freeze quickly.  After a few days, formations occur that look like volcanos of ice.  If you're lucky and the wind is blowing, water will spurt up out of the holes too.  It's pretty exciting!

This painting and other icy subjects were on exhibit at the Pfister Hotel's Snow Show on Gallery Night.  Thanks Shelby and Richard for a great evening.

My first snow painting of the season

For snow lovers like me, it's been a long wait for our first real snowfall.  By this time last year, I had already painted outside in the snow more than 10 times.  So I packed up everything and headed literally around the corner to a new nature preserve area.  Lots of views of Lake Michigan and untouched forest areas.  Now I'm just waiting for the ice to form along Lake Michigan!