Winter studio work

After painting snow I have switched to remembering, and anticipating, summer again.

I have painted en plein air a few times along the shore of Good Harbor, just north of Glen Arbor, MI. I just finished this one working from photo reference. That's "Whaleback" across the water.

Next I'm on to a large one of another favorite spot.

At Good Harbor, oil, 16" x 20"

Upcoming show: scales

Water Street Gallery in Douglas, Michigan, is hosting a show for gallery artists entitled “Drawn to scale.” Its subject is open to each artists interpretation. I chose a fish. I purchased it at Whole Foods, and not wanting to waste it, painted fast. I put it in the frying pan to paint, but then I took it out of the frying pan and into the oven to bake. Then I had lunch.

Before Lunch, oil, 9" x 12"

Happy New Year!

A little painting I did last month of a scene in Michigan. A few friends, of Swedish decent, said they thought it was a Swedish stuga.

The Red House, oil 11" x 14"

A Large Commission

Just finished this 24" x 48" commission I received over the summer. Point Betsy in the northwest part of Michigan’s lower peninsula. On a sunny, summer day the Lake Michigan water looks like the caribbean.

More from the shore

I just packaged and shipped more paintings to Village Galleries of Maui so I thought I'd post a few more while they are fresh.

Another Charlie Young Beach morning, oil, 12" x 16"

Ready to surf, oil 8" x 6"

Harbored Boats, oil, 12" x 9'

Selective inclusion

A part of being a painter is being a designer. You can’t always find a scene with perfect composition and just paint it as-is. Most of the time what is in front of you needs editing or designing. Moving a tree, adjusting the angle of a road, altering the relationship of subjects to the horizon, or just leaving something out. This can be done to simplify a scene, take away a distraction, or just because you find it more aesthetically pleasing. Artistic license.

In the case of this painting, I preferred to have a more natural scene of paradise than to include the Hyatt Hotel sticking up above the palm trees.

Island Shore, oil, 9" x 12"

From Maui

I am just back from a week-plus of painting on Maui, Hawaii. Beautiful, inspirational views in every direction for me (except for the last two days when hurricane Ana was passing just south). I also get inspired when visiting galleries, which I did on several parts on the island, including Village Galleries where I am represented. Friday evening in Lahaina is art night. You can walk around town and visit all of the galleries which stay open late and serve libations and pupus. I was invited to do a demo at the gallery along with Rich Kenny, another of Village Galleries’ artists. A very enjoyable evening.

I was able to leave a couple of new paintings with the gallery, one of which sold the first day it was hung. Here are a few from my week, more to come.

Morning at Charlie Young Beach, oil, 11" x 14"

West Maui Dusk, oil, 8" x 10" SOLD

Three Canoes, oil, 8" x 10"