Snow Globe

Posting this painting that I completed back in August, as much of Wisconsin has been hit with a blizzard.  Thinking especially this morning of my brother and Dad as they dig out from the storm and get food to all the animals.  My brother and his wife have cows to milk as well.  Hoping all the equipment is in good working condition this morning to get the job done.
In the meantime, enjoy my interpretation of "Snow Globe."

Beans and Barley Exhibit

The walls at Beans and Barley are decked out in bold colors for the Christmas season.  Former Pfister artist in residence Shelby Keefe has more than 10 paintings in the main dining room area that include both her performance paintings and studio/plein air work.  My work runs along the wall where restaurants guests gather before they are seated.  It includes many of my feathered and furry subjects.  Beans and Barley is located at the corner of Farwell and North Avenue in downtown Milwaukee.  Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a wonderful place to shop for Christmas gifts!

ArtBar Mini Show

It's November and that means the MINI show at the Artbar in Milwaukee's Riverwest area.  The opening is Friday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., that's when sales begin.

The owner, Don, exhibits more than 400 miniature paintings on opening night, then continues to refresh the walls as sales proceed through end of December.  It's a fun, fun time.  I'll have about 20 pieces in this exhibit, hope you can support local art!

Overcast October

I recently enjoyed a quick (but fun) 24-hour trip up to Pembine Wisconsin for a little Plein Air painting.  We spent the first afternoon at Dave's Falls, one of those beautiful places where you feel like you're in Colorado.  The next morning was spent at Beecher Lake.  The challenge of both these sessions was the constant mist and even rain.  Putting up an umbrella would of made my palette/canvas even darker, so that wasn't an option.  I tried to position myself under a tree, but that natural cover only provided temporary shelter.  In plein air painting, there is always a learning.  What I enjoyed the most was the fellowship of special friends, a little time away from the normal routine and the plip-plop of acorns falling into nearby water.....plein air is always a full-on sensory experience....THANK YOU!

Plein Air in the Pumpkin Patch

I'm in an orange phase.....these pumpkins just seem to radiate happiness.  There are plenty of pumpkin farms in the neighborhood, this one happens to be at Barthels.  The early spring frost was devastating to these apple growers, the fields are usually filled with families picking apples.

On this morning, the slate blue clouds were forming which I felt created a nice contrast to the orange pumpkins.  I will do a larger painting from this study.

The Pumpkin Patch

Fall is in the air and this is my favorite time of year.  Great sleeping weather and calmer colors to paint.  The greens aren't "screaming" anymore and the fields are filled with fun shapes.  Since I'm in the orange mode -- next up is bittersweet. 

Painting in MAINE!

We recently had an opportunity to travel to Maine and stay on a little island outside of Portland (Peaks Island), thanks to a good friend of my husband.  It was truly an artist's dream!  Painting, observing, listening, enjoying and did I mention....eating?  We stayed in a cottage right along the Atlantic.  When we first arrived, it was pouring rain and I really couldn't see too much out of our windows.  On the next morning, fog was rolling in and the waves were crashing.  I just had to get out to paint....in my pjs!  I won't post those pictures....but I was anxious to get out to paint those waves and the fog.

Even with little Alex, I was able to paint six canvases and will use these studies for larger works.  We ventured off the island one day and drove up to the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland to see a large collection of Wyeth paintings.  Another amazing experience.  Seeing three generations of work under one roof is well worth the trip.  Our trip south took us down to Cushing to experience the Olson House, where Andrew Wyeth painted his iconic "Christina's World."  Seeing the windows, the turquoise door, the fields, the chairs....all known pieces in his symbolic paintings were very touching.  A cemetery is just a stones throw from the Olson house, where the Olson family is laid to rest, along with Andrew Wyeth.  The Olson house was his Maine....he said, "I couldn't stay away from there.  I did other pictures, but I'd always seem to gravitate back to the house."  It's a good reminder to paint what you know, what you love, what appeals to YOU! 

 

 

 

 

On our last day in Portland, we also visited the museum to see the Winslow Homer collection.  So inspiring.  Unfortunately, we just missed the big Homer exhibit....but did get to see the staff working on the exhibition lettering and placement of the paintings in the gallery space, also neat. 

 

 

Again, our thanks to our great hosts for offering us this wonderful window to Maine!