Anderson House

I love exploring new places in paint!  As I lay down those lines, I spend time getting to know my subject.  The cool of the breeze, earthy smell of the damp ground, and the filtered light through the trees, all seep into my painting.  As I experience the moment, that experience slips into my paint and fills the page. There is truly something magical in plein air painting.  Painting number 2429 in 2429 days.

Storm in Ephraim

Set up on the beach of a friend's home in Ephraim, I watched the approaching clouds with interest.  Mist rolled in like the waves, clouds changed colors and formations.  As it became clear the storm was not dissipating, I passed over the oils for my inks. I have never captured clouds with ink before!  Loving the challenge, I started with my lines, lightly laying them into the sky, which really means I was afraid of messing them up!  Moving the ink with my water brush pen, I manipulated the clouds to represent what was before me.  It was SO fun!!  To darken, I simply dropped in more ink, getting the feel of the day.  THAT is the plein air experience!  Painting number 2013 in 2013 days!.

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Ephraim Cottage in Watercolor

I have never watched a watercolor artist complete a painting from start to finish before last week.  Vladislav Yeliseyev is an amazing artist, and watching how he approached the plein air landscape was eye opening!  I have only worked wet on wet before, without the foggiest notion on how to add another layer.  Watching that one artist work has inspired me in a whole new way!  Can't wait to see what this media can really do!   Painting number 1666 in 1666 days.

Porch Side Garden

Porch Side Garden
Oil on panel, 7x5
Ephraim, WI

While in Ephraim, I got the amazing opportunity to paint this lovely victorian home with gardens spilling down the hill towards the harbor!  There are paintings waiting at every corner of this place - and this is only my second, and a small one at 7x5.  This painting makes the 1311th in 1311 days :)

Sailing from Ephraim

This sailboat was picturesque as it sailed from the Ephraim harbor.  With the marina visible in the distance, this scene was a little slice of everyday life along this shore.  This place is one of my favorite towns along the coast in Door County.  It is full of nostalgic buildings dotting the coastline like jewels in a crown.  What a beautiful place to paint!  This painting makes 1308 in 1308 days :)

Steps through the Garden

The focus of today's workshop was architecture in the garden - and what better scene than this Victorian house overlooking this beautifully tiered garden? The owners were so gracious, allowing us to set up on the lawn and paint all afternoon.  This was a very tranquil place to paint, with the sailboats gracing the harbor just behind us.  As we painted, neighbors would stop by, offering up their place for painting this year or next.  The one just to the south was also amazing, and the log cabin across from the confectionary will certainly be a "must paint"! This was truly a little slice of heaven in this girl's plein air adventures!   Painting number 1303 in 1303 days :)

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.