Remembering Dad

A  few weeks ago, a group photo appeared on the Marine on St. Croix FB page, and I immediately knew I’d like o paint it. It captured my Dad at one of his favorite activities – gathered with the guys, I think this may be part of the Mayhem group, at one of his favorite spots, the Marine Landing. A sunny morning with  pontoons floating on the quiet river. It’s a timeless view and so precious to me. After my Mom’s funeral in August, owners Meg and Mike Zajac graciously opened the deck and restaurant to our family to share a meal and remember the joyful times with Mom and Dad. It will always be a special place for us.

This week's painting is a reflection of that special photo. It’ my first time of painting a group of people, and my apologies if not everyone gathered in the photo made it into the painting. This one’s not for sale – it will go in a special place somewhere in our new home – as a reminder of wonderful times gathered with family and dear friends at this same spot. Marine Mayhem, 9” x 12” on 300 lb. hot press watercolor paper, captures a snapshot of a wonderful gathering on a summer day. 

In Transition

 After 10 years in this beautiful place in northwestern Wisconsin, we are preparing to transition to a new home. This has been a wonderful space for us – plenty of projects (rejuvenating a neglected cabin into our full-time home) with room for family gatherings, creating gardens edged with awesome rocks, and lovely days spent on the lake with family and friends puttering around in my Dad’s beloved pontoon. However, there is a time and season for everything, and to our surprise, this is the time to move on. Through all the years of caring for my Mom and driving almost daily the 150-mile round trip to Stillwater, we looked for something closer, but nothing opened up for us. And we were throwing straws up in all directions to no avail. But we are firm believers that things happen in God’s time, not ours. My dear Mom died in July and the immediate urgency to move passed. So we were totally caught off-guard when unexpected events led us to the open door of our new place.  And we continue to be amazed at how quickly things are moving forward in this adventure. I’m reminded again, “God has a plan for good.”

This week’s painting is one of my new favorites -– Sheep at Rest, is an 11” x 15” on 300 lb. hot press watercolor paper. I love the way the paint fused with the paper and a wash of New Gamboge gave it a wonderful sense of vintage texture.

Argyle Zebra Community Gallery

I’m honored to be accepted as an artist for the upcoming exhibit, Collective ALCHEMY l, at the Argyle Zebra Community Gallery in St. Paul, Minnesota. The exhibit opens on Saturday, January 13 and runs through Saturday, March 24, 2024. My juried artwork, “Moonlight Birches,” 9” x 13” watercolor, will be on display throughout the exhibit. An Artists Reception is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, 2024, from 5-8 p.m. For more information, see www.theazgallery.org.

The Big Lake

It seemed the perfect day to paint a “liltie” and this week’s painting is Hollow Rock, 4” x 6” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, I love the energy of the sky and the reflections in the water. 

New Year Reflections

Sometimes “traditions” need to be put aside in order to meet and greet what’s ahead in our lives. As our grown children move into new phases with their own children, we’ve found it’s essential to be flexible and try to meet them where they are. At least for our family, it’s not realistic for us to assume that we can all gather on one day, in one house around a big table.  This year, Christmas came several times for us – one on Christmas Eve, with two of our families, after a lovely church service and with a delicious meal of take-out Chinese; another  at a halfway-point restaurant in St. Coud to enjoy a meal with our family in from Arizona;  and then  on  December 30 with tacos and fixings and the opening of presents at our daughter’s  boyfriend’s home.  And we’ll have one more celebration this weekend with our dear family who just came home after two weeks in the hospital with their oldest daughter. Life is dynamic and we are just so thankful for the joyous times when we can be together.

This week’s painting is back to the sheep – these three came charging around a stone wall and I just had to paint them. “Sheep on the Run” – 9” x 9” on 300 lb. hot prese watercolor paper. I enjoy painting on this “smoother” paper – the paint is absorbed differently and it really encourages a looser  brush style (not my usual MO) and results in softer edges.

Close of 2023

It's officially New Year’s Eve and at this point in the evening, we aren’t making any promises about seeing the new year in tonight. We are recovering from icky colds, so we can actually fall asleep just by sitting in the big recliners! Yet In spite of the losses and sadnesses of this year, we are looking with hope to this new year. God is faithful and we are holding on to His promises for good in our lives. We have been tremendously blessed with good health, loving family and friends, and meaningful work. We are so thankful!

After an odd December of balmy weather – temps in the 40’s and no snow – we had a spot of snow overnight and are anticipating much more in the days to come. January is known for blizzards in northern Wisconsin. It seemed like a good week to use my new tube of American Journey Peacock Blue and be inspired by a couple of Jan Swart (janswartphotography.com) birch trees. Blue Birches, 10” x 13” on 300 lb. hot press watercolor paper, captures the bright morning light and beautiful aqua-blue reflections of the water and light on birch trees.

Christmas Magic

As we see the close of 2023, it’s been an emotional year with an incredible loss of loved ones and illness. At this time, our oldest grandchild in in the hospital this week struggling with pneumonia and next weekend, we’ll be traveling to Iowa to celebrate the life of one of my cousins, Scott, who we recently lost, with the Hahn/Stull families. It all seems surreal, and I feel like I’m slogging through to Christmas. However, we are people of hope – and any random feelings that I may be having are just that – feelings. We will be attending grandchildren's Christmas concerts this week and hearing the wondrous story once more and singing the favorite joyous songs. We are confident in this hope – that God loves us, is faithful, and has a plan for good for us. So we move forward in this amazing grace.

This week’s painting, Welcoming Committee, 4” x 6” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures a favorite scene – a mama ewe and her shy lamb greeting strangers on the path.