Are we there yet?

I've spent most weekends this summer traveling—shows, painting events, vacation. This coming weekend is no different, I'm on my way to Glen Arbor, Michigan, again for the Art Association's annual plein air paint-out. There is a quick-paint on Friday afternoon, and the all day competition on Saturday. Hoping for good weather.

At the same time, Water Street Gallery's landscape show "Are we there yet?" opens Saturday, August 3.  This painting is a recently finished studio piece that will be a part of their show.

Spring Aspens,
oil, 24" x 36"

New studio work

I've been spending time in the studio for another upcoming exhibit. Water Street Gallery's annual landscape show. Here's a new one that I will be taking up to Douglas, Michigan. The show opens August 3.

This is a location I painted at last fall in Manistee.

Afternoon clouds, oil, 16" x 20"

With sand and without

A couple of my recent Michigan plein air paintings.

The first was from atop Sleeping Bear Point first thing in the morning. So calm and quite. I was about a half-a-mile above the beach on the dune but I could hear the gulls splashing in the water below.

The second one is at Portage Lake, again, in the morning. When I arrived you could barely make out the opposite shore through the fog. It began to burn off as I was finishing.

Morning on Sleeping Bear Point,
oil, 12" x 9"

Beside the lake, oil, 8" x 8"

Two weeks in Michigan

I just returned from a great two weeks in Michigan. I spent the first week painting and getting ready for my Center Gallery show in Glen Arbor. A nice opening reception with a few sales then and more during the week-long show.

At the end of the week I got a last minute invitation to be a part of the first Fishtown Plein Air Paint-out. Fishtown is an historic little fishing village and dock area in Leland, Michigan. The Fishtown Preservation Society put this on as a fund-raiser. Fifteen artists did two paintings each for the Sunday evening reception and sale at Main Street Gallery. My painting of one of the old fishing tugs, the Janice Sue, was awarded 2nd place.

The Janice Sue, 
oil, 12" x 12"
SOLD


The second week was spent with family relaxing at Family Camp. But I did get some painting in and also had a reception of some recent pieces at MacBeth & Co. in Onekama. More images to come.

Running out of light

I like the idea of painting at dusk or of doing nocturns, but I need to get a light. I started this painting last week as the sun was setting. I got as far as I could before it got too dark to find my way up the path and  before too many mosquitos attacked. Finished it up at home.

Elberta dusk, oil, 11" x 14"

A busy season

The midwest summer is here, time for painting, shows, and a workshop. I'm just back from a few days in Michigan after delivering my son to his summer job on staff at Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp. I’ll miss him, but will see him on more than a few upcoming trips.

I had a couple of days for plein air painting while up there and am getting as much studio time in as I can. After being a part of the “Who’s that?” show which opened last month at Water Street Gallery in Douglas, Michigan, I’m preparing for a solo show at Center Gallery in Glen Arbor which will open June 28. MacBeth & Co. will also be hosting a reception for some new work of mine July 3, in Onekama.

On August 2 and 3, I’ll be participating in the Glen Arbor Art Association’s plein air paint-out, followed by Water Street Gallery’s “Wet Paint” event on August 10. The next weekend, back to Glen Arbor to teach a 2-day workshop “Plein Air Basics” sponsored by the Art Association, August 16 and 17 (for more info or to sign up go here). Finally ending the summer Labor Day weekend, when photographer Jim Jacoby and I show our work together in the Glen Arbor Art Association’s gallery.

A fun summer and lots of painting ahead.

 Looking up, oil, 12" x 9"

Spring shore, oil,
12" x 9"

Arcadia dunes, oil, 9" x 12"

From Carmel

I love painting in Michigan and I love painting in Hawaii, but California was really made for painters. With such variety of subjects from the mountains to the coast, golden hills, farms and cities. And the foliage: ancient, giant trees, palms, cactus, and wildflowers. Four days was hardly enough, but the Carmel Art Festival was a great experience. A perfect, little, picturesque town for plein air. I concentrated mainly on the coast and wished I had more time to explore inland.

The town is jammed with galleries. Many of the artists in the event were represented there. There are some galleries showing only 19th and 20th century California art. I saw my first Edgar Payne’s up close and personal. This 29" x 29" Sierra painting was amazing, and only $145,000.

Here’s a few of mine. Can’t wait to get back there.

California color, oil, 10" x 12"

China Cove morning, oil, 16" x 12"

Toward Pebble Beach from Carmel
oil, 9" x 12"