Port Onieda farm

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has a preserved “rural district.” There's the small village of Glen Haven and several farms in an area known as Port Onieda. These are turn-of -the-(last)-century, homestead farms that are now a part of the park. This is the Carston Burfiend farm. The family first had a log cabin here, then this house and other buildings built in the late 1800s. A great location to live, Lake Michigan is down a small bluff just beyond the trees.

I was attracted to the great late-day light on these long, summer days. I started this at 5:00 the other day and painted till 7:30. I came back the next day to finish at the same time. Exactly the same weather conditions, clear and sunny.

Summer evening, Port Onieda, oil 12" x 18" SOLD

Artist Residency

I have been here in Glen Arbor, Michigan, for a week as the Art Association’s ‘artist in residence.’ A great opportunity for a mini-sabatical away from everyday responsibilities and a chance, hopefully, to grow as a painter. I have been out painting plein air everyday and during some rain, painting in the provided studio. It’s been great and I have another week to go!

This is a view from one of the overlooks on the Pierce Stocking Drive, part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, looking south over North Bar Lake to the Empire Buffs and Lake Michigan.

North Bar overlook, oil, 9" x 16"

More to come.

Morning song

Back at my studio easel. This is a beach on Lanai I painted at several times when I was there. I developed this one from photos and memories. I love being places like this where all you hear, feel, or see is nature.

Morning song, oil, 18" x 14"

Paint America

Here's a painting I did a few months ago of my son exploring the tidal pools on Maui. I entered it in the Paint America competition and just heard it was chosen for the Top 100 traveling exhibit. I'm shipping it off to Kansas for it's first stop at the Coutts Museum of Art next week. It will be on the Paint America website (not there yet), and be published in an exhibit catalog.

Exploring the tidal pools, oil, 24" x 30"

Another from St. Thomas

The resort we stayed at on St. Thomas faced west on Pacquereau Bay. It connects to the main harbor on the island, so we could wave to the cruise ships as they passed. This is kind of a north view toward the town of Charlotte Amalie. Some expensive real estate here.

Again, this is acrylic, not my favorite medium, but I'm satisfied with the result.

Back to some studio work now with oils.

Toward the harbor, acrylic, 12" x 9"

Acrylics in St. Thomas

Just back from a week in St. Thomas for our 20th anniversary. I planned on doing some painting, but because it wasn't a primary part of the trip, I didn't want to deal with the hassles of mineral spirits and wet paintings. I brought along a pochade box with acrylics, a few small panels, and a pad of heavy watercolor paper.

Lots of great views, great subjects and caribbean colors. This would be a good place for an extended painting trip.

I wasn't happy with the acrylics though. I've worked with them many times through the years, but was reminded again, of what to me, are their short comings. The fast drying has always frustrated me. It also seems harder to capture clean, bright colors, especially the turquoise of the water. I'll be happier doing studio versions of some of my sketches with oils.

This is a morning view from our balcony of Charlotte Amalie Harbor.

Balcony view, acrylic on paper, 9" x 7"

Bright morning

Facing East on Portage Lake in northern Michigan, the Portage Point Inn has been around since 1903. With that classic old-inn feel, it's ripe for some plein air. This, however, is a studio piece. Hopefully I'll get some time this summer when I'm in that neck of the woods.

Bright morning, oil, 16" x 12"