Birch Tree Study

I spent this past weekend glued to my computer taking in the presentations and activities of the 2021 PBS Wisconsin Landscape and Garden Expo. Although it would have been so much more fun to be at a civic center surrounded by the sounds and aroma of garden expo, this was the next best thing! The content of the presentations was excellent with the added interactive bonus of being able to ask questions. It was great time of learning from other WI gardeners including an Indigenous Agri-Culture org dedicated to reviving native food culture; the Victory Garden project bringing healthy food and garden practices to a neighborhood in Milwaukee; restoration of a prairie; and the logistics of how to build a rain garden. I’ve got my plans organized and ready for Spring - never mind, that we still have the fickleness of weather in March and April to go through!

This week’s painting, “Birches in Sunlight,” 11” x 15” on 300 lb. watercolor painting, captures a grove of birch trees in the early morning light of Spring.

  

Cliff's Edge

We took a road trip the other day to Superior, WI, and ended up spending a lovely, windy, icy cold, day seeing sights along the North Shore – from Duluth on up to Split Rock Lighthouse! The lake was partially frozen along the shoreline – with fish houses dotting out onto the icy landscape – and a frightening reminder of an emergency rescue earlier this week when a rogue wave split the ice and sent several ice fisherfolk adrift out into Lake Superior. Fortunately all were rescued, but I think several lost expensive gear in the process. 

This week’s painting, Cliff's Edge, 8” x 10” watercolor painting, recalls warmer days along this beautiful shoreline.

February Cold

The cold weather is continuing and my mind is traveling to remote beaches! This week’s painting Evening Tide, 9” x 12” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, focuses on “dramatic, emotional skies” (quote by Artist Paul Oman) and the deep shadows of a sunset sky.

Leap of Faith

We’re into the Polar Vortex and it’s a rousing -17° F this morning! The saving grace is that the sunshine is brilliant and the view from my studio window is spectacular – animal tracks weave patterns across the new-fallen snow and there is a flurry of activity at the birdfeeders. Otherwise, the woods is quiet. During the winter months, we can see through the trees to the Fox Creek wetlands behind our house. At dusk, all year round, this area becomes a cacophony of honking voices as the Canadian Geese and Trumpeter Swans make the daily flight back to their nests. 

This week’s painting seems to reflect my mood in February. This is a time of waiting – the continuing uncertainty of COVID and the hope of a vaccine and, while there is certainly no sign of it today, the deep anticipation and longing for Spring. I’m spending free moments (and there seem to be many of those with this continued isolation) reading Monty Don gardening books, checking out the seed catalogs and drawing up plans for this year’s gardens. The truth is, we are getting ready to launch.

Today’s painting, Leap of Faith, 9” x 12” on 300 lb. water paper, calls us to move forward to the end of the dock and be ready to launch into whatever lies ahead.