Mackinac Island

Later this week I’ll be driving up to Mackinac Island. A resort destination right between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. Over the winter I was invited to show in Mackinac’s Little Gallery. It’s a beautiful, historic, island where cars aren’t allowed. Most transportation is by bicycle or horse drawn carriage. I sent this painting up a few weeks ago and happily it sold shortly after they hung it. I will paint en plein air there for a couple of days and gather lots of reference for future studio work.

Then I’m on to Glen Arbor for a week of painting and a reception at the Old School Gallery.

Carriage horse, 

oil, 12" x 9"

Weekend deliveries

The past two weekends I've made trips from Illinois to Michigan. About 12 hours in the car each time. The first trip I delivered paintings to several galleries and hung a wall of them at the new Old School Gallery in Glen Arbor. The second trip I delivered my son to his summer position on staff at Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp.

During both weekends I managed to find some time to paint at my favorite locations. Morning and late afternoon, the best times to paint.

Morning study, oil, 8" x 10"

Late afternoon, Arcadia Beach, oil, 9" x 12"

Leland Air

I had a great weekend in Michigan. I hung paintings at Glen Arbor's Old School Gallery for the summer season and participated in The Old Art Building's "Leland Air" plein air event. Couldn't have asked for better weather. Finally summer is near.

The Janice Sue at Fishtown, oil, 12" x 12" (sold)

Early summer—Van's Beach, oil, 11" x 14"

Let the season begin

In many of the resort areas of Michigan, summer is the high season, of course. A couple of the galleries I show in are only open for the warm months. Others, in larger towns, are open all year.

This week I'm headed north to deliver paintings and to participate in my first plein air event of the year, Leland Air, put on by The Old Art Building in Leland, Michigan. Should be a good day.

Here's a painting that is going to Water Street Gallery in Douglas, Michigan. It's a large version of the small study I did last month.

Grass roots, oil, 30" x 48"

Dune study and Workshop

Here is a small dune study done in preparation for a larger piece. It was Fall and the sun being lower in an all blue sky made for great shadows.

I have another two-day workshop scheduled for this summer in Michigan with the Glen Arbor Art Association. We'll start at the Thoresen Farm, part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Beautiful countryside, preserved historic farms, dunes and beaches. Lots of interesting subjects for plein air painting. For beginners and up.

Dune study, oil, 8" x 8"

Spring-break painting

Last week we spent spring-break with our kids at Disney World. A great getaway from the cold. I brought my paints along and had time for a couple of sketches at the Beach & Yacht Club.

Beach Club Light, oil, 10" x 8"

 Palms study, oil, 12" x 9"

New works to Michigan

Here are a couple of recent studio pieces that just went to Water Street Gallery in Douglas, Michigan.

Path to the Bay, oil, 24" x 48"

Summer afternoon, oil, 20" x 30"