Spring Lake 04292016

Working on shadows, horizons and perspective.  Reproducing the color of the painting digitally is a challenge.  Just so you know, spring in Wisconsin does not look like this yet!

From the Wine and Art bar

I attended a fun birthday party for my son's MIL at an Art and Wine Bar, you know, one of those places where you can paint a picture that comes with directions or paint free style.  You can have drinks and snacks while you paint and a chance to see everyone else's work.  Even people who never do anything artistic walk away with a painting.  This painting  pleased me.  The colors reflecting in the water, the lake shore continuing around the corner and the way the grasses came out-all done with a pretty large brush, either using the flat side or the tips.  No small sharp brushes available.

Lake Michigan with Waves 02162016

I started this one on my birthday (2-27) and finished it today.  I am heading for Florida in a few days, but this is not a painting of Florida!  Maybe somewhere in Door County. 

North Beach 02142016

 I see the North Beach from my bedroom window.  The bluffs in winter are full of color, not the greens of spring and summer nor the orange, red and yellow of early autumn, but the browns, oranges, purplish taupes and greys of late autumn and winter.  I see people walking, sometimes alone, often in pairs and often with their dogs running free.  The wind blows in from the northeast, the waves roll in and it takes a hardy type to walk the beach during February in Port Washington, WI.

Lake Michigan Sunrise 02132016

Saturday, 0 degrees outside but clear and sunny.  I am painting in at my table by the north windows and I can feel the cold just on the other side of the glass.  I am not painting the winter scene outside, but the warm summer scene in my mind.    I am trying new ways of using my brushes, experimenting to make the grass on the beach.  More time equals more painting.  Feels good.

Jet Trails @Dawn

I often see the traces of the jets that fly at dawn, but never the actual jets.  I wonder why they are up so early and from where they are flying.  What is their destination? 

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."