Hello Llama!

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in a Plein Air Workshop in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. It was an interesting experience – made all the more special because of the incredible scenery of this part of the state. Cedarburg is an historic town situated in a picturesque setting along Lake Michigan, and it was a wonderful weekend of blue skies and cool summer weather. In addition to hosting our Plein Air Workshop, it was also happened to be the location of the 2017 Cedarburg Plein Air with 150 nationally recognized and local artists spending over a week painting outside.

Our one-day workshop was facilitated by Artist Spencer Meagher and 11 of us spent the day painting on location at the Family Farm in nearby Grafton, WI. The farm, with 38 acres and several barns and outbuildings, featured wonderful venues for events and a glorious variety of animals. One of my favorite was the resident llama – it reminded me of my former llama, Teddy.

The experience also confirmed for me that plein air is a whole different animal in the world of watercolor painting. First, there are tremendous logistics in moving your art outdoors – everything needs to be portable. This includes setting up an easel, carrying in your own water, and determining ahead of time the specific paints and supplies you’ll need. And second, painting onsite demands a whole new way of looking at things around you. It requires the artist to be “present” – to be in the moment and continually responding to shifting light and movement.

This week, my painting is Hello Llama, 7” x 10” Watercolor, and features a friendly llama in front of a weathered barn. For more artwork, check out Deborah Stull-Kinsley Art page on Facebook.

 

 

A Barn Study

Barns have always held a special fascination for me. Perhaps it’s from my childhood and the memories of playing in the old barn (and sledding off the roof peak in a year of nearly overwhelming snowfall in the 1960’s) on my grandparent’s farm in Iowa. There is something almost majestic about these buildings – especially when reflecting on the tremendous community effort, the quality of workmanship, and the incredible materials that went into these structures. On our frequent travels around the State of Wisconsin and in the heart of the dairyland, it’s a joy for me to see all the beautifully maintained and restored barns.

This weekend, I’ll be heading across the state to participate in a Plein Air Painting workshop in Cedarburg, WI. Led by one of my artist mentors, Spencer Meagher, the one-day workshop promises to be an excellent time of learning the logistics and intricacies of painting outdoors. According to the workshop description, we need to plan ahead to be portable with our supplies and be prepared to paint in any type of weather – rain or shine!

I hope my painting, Gathering Storm, 9” x 12”  Watercolor, reflects the strength and durability of an old barn. With its stone foundation and weathered boards, it continues to bear testimony to the ingenuity and hard work of a bygone era.

 

 

 

Camping - Up North

One of the joys of summer is going camping, and in Minnesota one of the premiere places to camp is on one of the over 1,000 lakes and streams in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The BWCAW, established in 1978, encompasses nearly a million acres.

Bordered by the communities of Ely, Isabella and Finland on the west and south and the Gunflint Trail and Grand Marais on the north and east, this nationally protected area provides over 1,500 miles of canoe routes and 2,200 designated campsites. With no motors, no electricity, no telephone lines, and no roads to the inner lakes, the BWCAW offers a true wilderness experience.  

This week, my painting, Up North Camp, 8” x 12” on 300 lb. Watercolor paper, reflects morning light along the edge of a quiet lake in the north country.