Along the shore

Summer along the Port Oneida shore. A part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Port Oneida was a rural farm and logging community established about 150 years ago on the lake in northern Michigan. Now preserved by the National Park Service, the beaches, farms, dunes and forests make it a great place to paint.

Port Oneida shore, oil, 11" x 14"

More winter

Winter at the Olsen’s farm along M22 near Glen Arbor. I love the long shadows when the sun is low.

Olsen’s barn, oil, 12" x 16"

Seasonals

I just returned from a long weekend up north. I had hoped for some plein air, but it was a little too frigid. I did have a chance for some sketching and photographic reference time. Mostly gray skies, but one glorious day of sunshine on fresh snow. Got lots of images for studio work in the coming months.

Here is one I just completed.

Winter light, oil, 10" x 18"

Commission

After my shows this past summer, I received a half-dozen commissions. Here’s one I just finished of one of my favorite Michigan beaches. I find it makes a lot of difference for a studio painting if I have painted plein air at the same or similar spot. I can’t count the number of times I have painted at this location near Onekama. And I can’t wait to get back there again.

Off-shore breeze, 
oil, 16" x 22"

Lake Michigan Wind

On one of my trips to Michigan last year I stopped at the Van Buren State Park along the western shore. It was cool and windy and I didn’t quite have enough time to set-up for plein air. But I took a bunch of pictures and recently got around to working up this one. It’s now at Water Street Gallery.

September Wind, oil, 30" x 30"

Small works

I've been working on some small pieces lately getting ready for a couple of shows. It's become popular to have small works shows just before gift-giving season.

Dune study
oil, 6" x 8"

Winter sunlight
oil, 8" x 6"

Surf fishing
oil, 6" x 6"

By the shore
oil, 6" x 6"

Winter shadows study
oil, 8" x 6"

Fall plein air

It’s a great time to be out for some colorful plein air. Last weekend had the perfect fall weather in northwest Michigan. This hundred-year-old schoolhouse is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The dunes are nearby, a study for a an upcoming commission. While painting, photographer Todd Smigelski wandered by and took this shot of me.

Schooltime,
oil, 11" x 14"

Shore study, 

oil, 12" x 14"