Early Morning at Moonlight Bay

Early Morning at Moonlight Bay
Oil on panel, 14x11
Bailey's Harbor, Wisconsin
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On location with fellow artists

Heading out at sunrise, several of us set our easels up on the edge of the highway.  This beautiful landscape is a favorite among artists, and we make it a priority to paint it at least once while on the peninsula.  This morning was very cool - 47 degrees in July!  And, yes - I wore my ski jacket as well as an extra pair of pants!  I had wished I'd had it last year, so this year I was sure to pack it!  By the time we were all finished, it was already warming up, and I could shed one of those pants as well as my jacket. I love this peaceful and relaxing spot, it is a joy to paint in such a place!  Painting number 584 in as many days.

On location

Hollyhocks of Ephraim

Hollyhocks of Ephraim
Acrylic over molding paste on panel, 14x11
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As you drive along the main thoroughfare through the harbor town of Ephraim, you can't help but see these amazing hollyhocks!  Just north of the Chef Hat cafe, these bountiful blooms were just begging to be painted!  I had already painted a watercolor and an oil for the day, so I decided to mix it up with the molding paste and acrylics.  Sketching first with pastels, I next sculpted the petals and leaves with a palette knife and molding paste.  Drying quickly in the strong winds off Lake Michigan, I started the underpainting almost immediately.  I lay down the background colors first, leaving the thickest sculpting to dry completely before layering on the acrylics.  Before I knew it, my fellow artists were done painting and ready for dinner, so I had to pack it up without finishing.  I would rather not eat and finish my work, but the majority wins - so I took this one back to the Red Shed and finished it at sunrise before everyone was ready to head out again.  I keep very long hours on these painting trips - and I wouldn't have it any other way!  Painting number 583 in 583 days.

Sculpted Hydrangea & Rudbeckia

Sculpted Hydrangea & Rudbeckia
Acrylic over molding paste on wood panel, 11x14
Fish Creek, Wisconsin
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My third painting of the day from the Allen yard in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, is an acrylic over molding paste on panel.  I first sketched the composition out on the panel, while set up at my easel in front of these flowers.  I have a small container of molding paste which I carry on board my french easel, and this I laid down with my palette knife.  It was rather humid right by the harbor, so this took a little longer to dry than normal.  Avoiding the still wet paste, I blocked in the background with my Golden open acrylics, careful to add enough water and regular gel medium so the acrylics would actually dry.  If I add nothing to these open acrylics, they stay tacky almost forever!  Since I need them to dry for easy storage on the trip home - I must add water and gel medium. This one was dry by morning.  Truly, these are the acrylics to use in the field, because I never have to worry about the fast drying time.  After using regular acrylics for years en plein air - these are SO much easier.  When the background was in, the paste was dry enough to start layering in the color.  My final layer is the regular gel gloss, sealing the layers and adding the perfect finish.  Another wonderful painting day - and this one makes number 577 in 577 days.

Eagle Bluff Lighthouse

Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
Oil on panel, 14x11
Peninsula State Park, Wisconsin
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Venturing back to the Peninsula State Park in Wisconsin, I set up with a fellow artist to start painting quickly.  The light was golden as the sun headed west, and we had limited time to capture it.  This Eagle Bluff Lighthouse is reported to be haunted, and as we painted, two ghost tours came by!  It was so interesting to hear the stories as we painted!  Each group came over to visit as they headed back to their trollies - Door County truly does support their visiting artists!  As it was getting so dark we could hardly see, we wondered if we would soon see the little boy who ran through the wall!  Painting number 574 in 574 days :)