Moor Springtime

One of my favorite memories will always be of glimpsing sheep roaming the hills, moors, beaches and roadways throughout the western coastal counties of Ireland. It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to travel there, but in my mind’s eye, I can still see these free-grazers standing their ground or running with their specific “gang.” And no place was sacred – they easily navigated church cemeteries as well marched confidently down the main streets of small villages.

This week’s painting is another Liltie – Moor Springtime, 4” x 6” (framed with double matte is 8” x 10”) captures a mama ewe and her lamb high on the Irish moorland.

Coneflowers

I'm working to prepare a delivery of paintings for later in April to the Plum Bottom Gallery in Door County, WI. It’s been a busy winter for the galleries and I’m planning to have 13 to 15 new watercolors ready for this delivery. It’s always fun to take the roadtrip to one of the prettiest spots in Wisconsin and a delight to meet with the team in the galleries at Egg Harbor (farm location), Egg Harbor-Main Street, Fish Creek and now in Sturgeon Bay!

This week’s focus is on painting Lilties – and Summer Sunshine, 4” x 6” watercolor, is a favorite close-up of beautiful Coneflower blossoms.

Back to the Lilties: Flying Free

It’s March, and we are already experiencing the wild ride of this month! Last week, we had a few days of gloriously warm spring weather, followed by two days of blizzard conditions with 12” of heavy snow, and then today, it’s warm spring weather with snow melting off the roof. And so it begins . . . the wide fluctuations of temps, the start of Lent this week, Daylight Savings Time returning on Sunday . . , and slowly, but surely we are on the march into Spring.

And it’s the time of spring activities for the grands – High School plays (Music Man and Buckshot and Blossoms), baseball season for four families, and the football season for our Arizona clan. We are so looking forward to enjoying this season!

This week’s painting is a Liltie (4” x 6” on 300 lb. watercolor paper), and Flying Free is another study of the patterns of birds in this area. It is a such an incredible sight and a cacophony of sounds as the birds rise up off the lakes and ponds and take flight. We are blessed to be surrounded by nature and I’m so grateful for all of it!

February Light

And just like that, February sweeps in with increasing daylight! It is a daily reminder to be thankful for the small things and having daylight until after 5:30 p.m. seems to be one of those gifts! It has been a year of health issues for both Paul and me. After a few days of fighting what seemed to be a head cold, Paul finally went to the doctor for shortness of breath and possible pneumonia. Although he had none of the usual signs of heart distress, we were shocked to learn that he had serious heart blockage and now has three stents. We are so grateful – for quick-responding and skilled medical teams, incredible improvements in heart diagnosis and treatments, faithful and supportive prayer partners, and most of all – that Paul is improving every day and able to move forward. While it’s been a season of challenges, we are thankful for renewed health and working on positive lifestyle changes. As you can imagine, Paul is so excited and thriving all those yummy veggies and leafy greens!

I’m working to integrate some new techniques into my painting style, and for this week’s painting, I went back to one of my favorite scenes. For the painting, Grand Marais Light, 10” x 13”, I chose 300 lb. Arches Hot Press watercolor paper. This paper is much more sensitive to paint saturation and absorption, so I used Silver Black Velvet brushes, limited my palette colors and let each layer dry completely before adding the next layer. It’s a joy to work in watercolor because there is always something new to learn!

January musings

In spite of having a birthday in this month, January in the north country is always incredibly long. It’s typically a time of snow, blizzards, bitter cold weather and incredibly short days – starting about 3:30 p.m. early in the month. It’s no secret that I’ve been known to have my pjs on and the electric blanket on the bed turned on 6 by p.m. on terribly cold days! And all this can be especially hard on those of us gardeners who watch with disbelief as other regions talk about preparing to plant in February or March and we know there are at least 100 days before the ground thaws in our neck of the woods!

Yet it’s a wonderful time to be in my studio and paint. This week’s painting, Night Woods, 11” x 13” on 300 hot press watercolor paper, captures a favorite subject o’ mine – paper birch trees reflected against the closing down of the light in a deep woods.  

 

Keeping Watch

It’s the season for rejoicing, and we have so much to be thankful for. It has been a year of difficult challenges, yet we are here – with hot water for showers, warm clothes and house, loving family and friends, soft snowflakes falling outside and hearts rejoicing in God’s grace.

And good health. After months of struggling with double vision and shortness of breath, I’m so grateful that through medical expertise and God’s healing, I have renewed stamina and restored eyesight. It’s an ongoing journey, but what an incredible gift! And so grateful to Paul who took a sabbatical from his work to provide care and drive me all over! Special gratitude to all the family and faith partners who continue to walk with us and pray fervently. We feel so blessed to be part of a tremendous support community.

This week’s painting is our Christmas card to you.  During our travels to Ireland, we were captivated by the free-grazing sheep. And in considering the sheep on the hills surrounding Bethlehem on that night long ago, I think they were kin to the free-roaming flocks found on the rugged coastline along the Wild Atlantic Way. Wild, unkempt, coyote-savvy and yet somehow aware and perhaps anticipating the announcement of the angels ~ “a Savior is born, the Messiah and Lord ~ and the babe is wrapped in cloth, lying in a manger.” This watercolor painting, Keeping Watch, captures a band of free-grazers high on the Irish moorlands. We wish you a joyous Christmas and New Year!  

Part of the Process

Our family had four precious, pivotal days in Regions Hospital with my dad before he died. It was a defining moment for us – both as a family unit and as individuals. During the 10 years since, we have shared many memories of that time – sweet stories and devastating moments – all in the final watch over our beloved dad, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many.  One of the overwhelming messages we received from the medical team was – pay attention to the process. It seems simplistic, but that is what those critical days encompassed – we were bystanders, waiting and watching as the process unfolded. And we will be forever grateful for the compassion and skilled care of the trauma team who gently cared for my dad, and all the while helped us prepare to let him go.

And today, I’m reminded again of the importance of allowing the process to unfold. In moving through recovery from my condition, I’m beginning to realize progress, but the process seems slow. I’m ready to be “back to normal” and yet, I’m not there. It can be frustrating, but at every turn I’m reminded that I have so much to be grateful for – grateful for caring providers, for a viable treatment plan and proven medicine - and so grateful for the loving support, encouragement, prayers and kindness of those around me. It makes all the difference!

Today’s painting is a reflection of another incredible process – from starting new gardens in May to watching the garden grow and thrive in this season. August Beauty, 10” x 13” on 300-lb. cold watercolor paper, captures a happy, white coneflower, which now in mid-October, is continuing to bloom outside my front door. What a blessing!