Sleeping Bear Point

I painted over the weekend at Sleeping Bear Dunes again. In case you didn't hear, it was named by viewers of Good Morning America as "The most beautiful place in America." Some local residents weren't too pleased at the influx of tourists this brought, but businesses were.

I stood up in the dunes looking north toward South Manitou island for this painting. With the sky clearing after a stormy morning, the views in every direction were beautiful. I felt like I was on the edge of heaven. The Fall colors are starting to show-up in the trees now, and hopefully will peak when I'm back there in a couple of weeks for the Glen Arbor Art Association member show. I'll try to capture some of that on canvas then.

From Sleeping Bear Point, oil, 11" x 14"

Vacant lot view

Along the Lake Michigan shore in some places, it can be hard to find access to the lake. If it's not public land then it probably has a home or cottage on it. When I saw a real estate sign on a vacant lot along Lake Shore Drive north of Manistee, I pulled over and climbed the hill to find this great view. Afternoon was a good time to paint there, but I want to go back for the morning light too.

Birch at the shore, oil, 9" x 12"