Upper Range Light

After scouting a shrinking shoreline, messy with debris, I walked across and down the road to this gem.  Walking along the boardwalks, the flora and fauna were pristine in their natural beauty.  The morning light streamed across the landscape, begging to be painted.  I chose ink and watercolor for this delicate scene, and worked quickly to capture that fleeting light.  It want long before shadows shortened and the golden hour passed.  So thankful I was present for the moment.  Painting number 2410 in 2410 days.

Umbrellas and Lavender

How can I still find new places after all these years of painting in Door County?  Somehow this one escaped my notice until this year, and what a find!  Wonderful wine, food, and ambience, embellished with umbrellas and lavender!  Several of us artists set up to paint (after our food and wine, of course), and I landed in this spot.  I loved the feeling of space from this angle, complete with my fellow artists sprinkled in!  Have I mentioned how fabulous it is to paint in such a setting?  I'll think of this place when I encounter snakes in the wild, without a soul in sight!  Painting number 2023 in 2023 days.

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Yellow House Hydrangeas

Waking to strong winds along that coast, plans for plein air at Cave Point were scrapped. A little disappointed, we headed to the beauty of downtown Bailey's Harbor.  The flowers are gorgeous in front of so many buildings, but this yellow house with it's overflowing hydrangeas kept my attention.  With the changing plans, time ran short and my painting window dwindled to an hour.  No worries!  I chose an 8x10 panel and started laying paint without sketching it first. I often do this to make up a little time in the field.  It seems I NEVER have enough painting time!  Another obstacle?  I only had a dark panel primed for a nocturne, so this was my first time to paint a daytime panel on such a dark surface.  I ended up using more paint just to get good coverage, but other than that, it wasn't too distracting.  Every day is a lesson in the field.  Painting number 2019 in 2019 days.

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Bjorklunden in Bailey's Harbor

This chapel in the woods is stunning, and so unexpected in the park. In all these years, I've never been to this location, even though I've stayed just across the road each time I've visited.  Just past this chapel as the forest clears, the beach begins and Lake Michigan steadily rolls in.  I'll be painting here again, now that I know how beautiful it is!  Painting number 1776 in 1776 days.

Hydrangea Path Home

Sunrise found me painting  hydrangea, lining a path to this house in the woods. It was cold enough for two jackets, fuzzy socks and my boots, and the light was glorious!  This was exactly whay I wanted to paint this morning.  I first sketched this scene, establishing my values, and jumped right in to paint.  The painting almost painted itself, all I had to do was hold the brush.  Painting number 1659 in 1659 days.

Boardwalk to the Beach

Morning on the beach was brisk and windy, and SO inviting!  Choosing Bailey's Harbor for my first Door County painting, the boardwalk was my lead in to the painting.  The color of Lake Michigan was deep blue to green, with gold in the waves as they approached the sandy edge.  Using my polytips for the bulk of my painting, I only brought out a soft brush for the finish. Another beautiful day for painting! Painting number 1658 in 1658 days.

Light on the Urn

After very little sleep last night, we arrived with our workshop students at our loft in Bailey's Harbor.  A little unpacking and introductions cleared the way for a quick nocturne paint.  Even with only 3 hours of sleep, the brushes and paint exhilarated me as I captured the illumination in the night landscape.  It has been a little while since my last nocturne - and boy do I love them!  Now - off to bed!    Painting number 1298 in 1298 days :)

Beach Path

Beach Path
Oil on panel, 8x10
Anclam Park, Bailey's Harbor, Wisconsin
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Bailey’s Harbor is on the “quiet side” of the Door County Peninsula - all the locals will tell you so!  This path heads off down the beach at Anclam Park, where they have newly planted grasses on the dunes, and added boardwalks.  Last year, it was under renovation, and is hardly recognizable as the same place!  Only the long rocky pier remains the same, as well as a few established old pines.  I set my easel up under one of these trees, as it was already heating up for the day.  Since I was running low on panels to bring, this one happens to be an old winter landscape beneath this new beach scene!  You just never know what secrets are lurking beneath the surface!!  This painting makes 942 in 942 days :)

on location

Secluded Beach at Bailey's Harbor

Secluded Beach at Bailey's Harbor
Oil on wood panel, 14x11
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There is something so magical about a secluded beach!  I love the pristine condition of this one - as though untouched by man.  Located down a pedestrian only path, this little jewell simply begged to be painted.  I set up in the sun - which I try not to do, and worked longer than usual to get all of this information down with paint.  Once finished, I had to stop at the local library for internet usage - coverage is spotty all over the peninsula!  Painting number 936 in 936 days.

Sunrise at Water's Edge

Sunrise at Water's Edge
Oil on panel, 12x9
Kangaroo Lake, WI - sold

This charming cabin at Sunset Shores was just across the road from the Red Shed in Bailey's Harbor.  Two other times I had walked across to check the lighting, and neither the afternoon or early evening had sun on the face of this cabin.  On the third try, I went over at sunrise - knowing I would probably have enough time to paint it before the girls were ready to leave.  Sunrise lighting was perfect - golden and fresh on the cabin, kayak and across the grass.  It was cold, and I had left my boots in Teddy's car, so I had to wear my fuzzy purple chenille socks with my black beaded sandals - the only shoes I had at the shed!  I am SO glad nobody snapped a photo of that little fashion faux-pas!  Working very quickly to get all the warm color and sunlight in, I next blocked in the darks.  Marking all the color masses was next, all important as I had limited time and could not be sure the next day's lighting would be the same.  Although early, the winds were kicking up on the lake behind.  Sometimes, this lake reflects like glass, but not this day.  There was a beautiful blue in the water, tinted with turquoise.  It is so amazing how the water appears in so many different shades. One morning, it was a warm emerald green in the foreground, and dark blue at the horizon.  I never get tired of painting near the water.  This painting makes 597 in as many days.

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

Red Shed Daisies

Red Shed Daisies
Watercolor on paper, 10.5x7

On the first morning of our Door County plein air trip, I woke up early - just after 4:00am.  Excited to be there, I jumped up and got ready before anyone else was up.  There were 8 of us rooming together in a loft sharing one bathroom, so staggering our schedules was essential!  Our place set back in a heavily wooded area with these wonderful wildflowers right off the patio.  I had to capture them.  It was so much more humid here - that I had to wait for the drawing gum to dry, and then I had to wait on the watercolors to dry.  It took me far longer than normal to finish this, due to the weather!  Once finished, I felt like I could relax.  With the first painting of the day under my belt, I would now be relaxed while scouting a new location with the girls.  I guess it was like warming up for the day!  The watercolors allow me to quickly knock out a painting, when I only have a small painting window.  I don't really know why they are so fast for me, perhaps because I have no preconceived notions of how I want my painting to look?  I just let the colors unfold in their own tale of whimsy on the page.  Maybe, I should get a watercolor journal......this painting makes 581 in 581 days.

Bailey's Harbor

Bailey's Harbor
Door County, Wisconsin
Oil on panel, 6x8

The view from this pier in Bailey's Harbor, Wisconsin, was breath-taking.  The winds grew stronger the further out I walked.  There was only one tiny spot with shade -  a couple of short trees, from which to paint under.  Sometimes, I have to just take reference photos to use at a later date.  This is one such place.  The breeze off Lake Michigan was always cold, making the temperature feel much cooler than it should have.  Keeping extra jackets in the car is always a good idea for the plein air painter - it saved me in Wisconsin!  On one day, I had put all four of my jackets on - just to stay warm enough to paint in the cold, damp wind.  This landscape was picturesque with it's flowing beaches dotted with houses.  Bailey's Harbor is a quiet little town off the eastern side of the Door County peninsula.  It was also the closest place I could go for internet while staying at Kangaroo Lake!  This is painting number 214 in as many days.

Beach at Bailey's Harbor

Beach at Bailey's Harbor
Oil on panel, 6x8
Door County, Wisconsin

Three other artists and I arrived on this deserted beach early one morning.  As we walked around, looking for the perfect painting spot, one of the girls looked down at the sand.  Lo and behold, there were bear tracks right at our feet!  On further inspection, they were all over the beach!  I did not think bears would be wandering around Door County!  So, I changed my original position from the thick of the bear tracks to a spot with my back to Lake Michigan - facing the thick woods (just in case Mr. Bear decided to join me)!  Quite a few people strolled onto the beach in the next two hours, as well as a couple more artists we knew.  It turned out to be a lovely painting day with no bears in sight!  Painting number 212 in 212 days :)

Yikes!  Bear track on the beach!
(one of many....)