New work, new gallery

Here’s a new one that will be in the Glen Arbor Art Association's member show this weekend. I’m also being featured in the Underbark Furniture / Carol Spaulding Gallery in for the month of October.

Shore Birch, oil, 18" x 9"

ArtPrize — plein air to studio

This year, I again entered ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It’s one of the largest art competitions and probably pays out the most award money, more than $500,000. 1500-plus artist must “connect” with a venue to show their work.  I have been wanting to do a larger piece, so this was a good opportunity. Last year (click here) I entered a 24" x 30" piece, this year, 60" x 48." My piece is showing at Cathedral Square.

Since the audience is mostly from Michigan, and I paint a lot of Michigan subjects, I thought “A Michigan Shore” would fit well. This spot near Elberta is one of my favorite coastal views. I've painted en plein air there several times, so having studied the subject, doing a large studio painting was made easier. Here is my entry and some plein air versions from the last few years.

A Michigan Shore,
oil, 60" x 48"

At ArtPrize

8" x 6"

12" x 10"

11" x 14"

From up in the dune

I have probably referred to this before, but in case you’ve never been to northwest Michigan’s dunes, you have to go up. From the beach, with the prevailing westerly winds, you have to climb. At one spot, a very steep 450 feet. From the eastern side it’s mostly a gradual hike up. The views from the top are worth the effort.

This is a painting I did last week from atop Sleeping Bear Point looking north. I headed up the dune at the end of the day after my show with photographer Jim Jacoby at the Glen Arbor Art Association. Blue sky and long blue shadows always gets my attention.

View to North Manitou Island, oil, 9" x 12"

A little tree study

I love trees with character. These were on the edge of a small drop-off where the forest becomes beach. Holding on against erosion, for how long I don’t know. The lake water has been down for the past few years so there is hope. Oil, 8"x6"

Workshop and demos

I had a great time giving a two-day workshop for the Glen Arbor Art Association last weekend. Couldn’t beat the location, a historic farm and a beautiful beach, both a part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northwest Michigan. Good to be with other painters eager to capture the up-north summer scenery.

Out house and hen house,
oil, 9" x 12"






Admiring each others work

On Sleeping Bear Bay

First light on the beach, oil, 11" x 14"

Two from Douglas

It was a perfect day for the Water Street Gallery paint-out last Saturday in Michigan. I did a morning and an afternoon painting and happily, both sold at the evening reception. Others of mine are still hanging in the gallery for their continuing “Are we there yet?” landscape show.

Morning shadows, Saugatuck Dunes, oil, 11" x 14"

Oval Beach, oil,
12" x 10"

Michigan Plein Air

Last week I was in Glen Arbor for the Art Associations annual paint-out. This is my morning painting from atop Sleeping Bear Point. A beautiful view, watching the sail boats and freighters go by.
This weekend I'm in Douglas for Water Street Gallery's “Wet Paint” day of painting and evening reception.

The Manitou Passage, oil, 10" x 12"