Lighthouse View

I started this one last week when my granddaughter, Kari, was visiting with us.  She wanted to paint a picture for her mom's birthday.  Her first attempt did not please her but instead of just letting it dry and painting over it she insisted on a fresh canvas. I think she was more satisfied with the second one.  I did not finish my painting and we were pretty busy so I did not get back to this until today.  I tried a couple of different things here, blurring the faraway hills with more blue, patches of plants instead of a uniform texture, adding a faraway lighthouse.  The sky is blue and yet does not appear clear.  Summer skies are often hazy over the lake.  This is a lonely spot, no figures walking on the beach. 

Two Paths into One 05012016

A painting with no lake, no river, no pond is not what you were expecting from me. Two paths merge into one that leads into the valley between these hills.  A warm day in late Spring invites you further into the countryside. A clear sky gives you a promise that you will not get wet before you return to your starting place. 

Pond at Sunset 04302016

A study of perspective, color, shadow and light.  A small painting, done in the morning on a cloudy day in Port Washington.  Why is this a sunset and not a sunrise?  Just a feeling I have.

Overlook

My dad walks by my paintings and asks me "Is that a real place or did you make it up?" 

I said, " I look at the lake everyday, I watch the skies, the clouds, the birds.  I paint what I see in my mind.  Real and not real is the answer." 

Autumn River in the Driftless Area

Another scene inspired by my Saturday drive to the Driftless Area of western Wisconsin.

Autumn in the Driftless Area

10 hours, 450 miles, beautiful scenery, a short visit with a friend, apple cider donuts, pumpkin pie and a beautiful autumn day well spent crossing Wisconsin from East to West and home again inspired this painting. This year the yellows seemed brighter and the reds seemed redder!  We saw whooping cranes in a field and a red fox running across the road and then running away through the field only his back and tail showing above the crops (soy beans, I think).

Morning 06082014

This piece is acrylic on canvas, 16 X 20". 

 What a busy day I had yesterday, helping out at the Kiwanis Brat Fry, Art day with Kathy and then dinner (small plates) at the Twisted Willow Treehouse with Kathy and Karen.  

I was determined that this piece would be brighter and lighter.  Out with the dark and in with the light!  I worked on it yesterday for a couple of hours.  I was not satisfied.  I asked Kathy, "what do you see?"  She said "a lake and hills, a meadow".  Well that was not what I had tried to paint but since I wasn't happy with how it was turning out with my idea, I took Kathy's interpretation and ran with it.  Now we have a lake, trees and meadows-plus 2 horses and the sun rising out of the morning mist and clouds.   Oh, yeah the river was there all along.