Spring Snow

We took a day for ourselves yesterday and loaded Kirby Puckett and Madelyn Rose into the truck and headed south. We dropped off the cockers at their favorite boarding spot and then just relished the sun shining and the rambling road. We stopped for lunch in Hudson and then drove on though lovely communities of River Falls, Ellsworth to the river towns of Prescott and Bay City. We stopped at an incredibly organized woodworking shop and learned secrets from a lifelong, expert woodworker and his lovely wife. Brought home a wonderful copper sculpture that we decided is probably too nice to put outside in the gardens! It was a glorious day! 

This week’s painting, Spring Snow, 4” x 6” watercolor, captures a small band of sheep in a spring snow squall.

Dreaming of Open Sea

It's become a war of wills in our yard – the warm sunshine up against heaps of solid, almost iceberg-like snow. Spring is surely coming slowly this year, which may be a blessing given the sheer amount of snow and the huge potential for flooding. But my thoughts have already moved to open water. We spent four days last week exploring Door County – there’s always something new to discover – and it was such a glorious sight to see the open waters of Lake Michigan. For those of us raised in the aura of Lake Superior, there is something beguiling about Michigan. While the crystal-clear freshwater is the same, It’s not the familiar “iron ore” color of Superior but rather an amazing blue-green color.

This week’s painting is set in high summer on the waters of Lake Superior. Dreaming of Open Sea, 4” x 6” watercolor, captures a moored sailboat ready to launch out, anytime, into this vast inland sea.

Sunshine Moments

Even though we're continuing with almost daily snow showers, there is an underlying warmth of the sun that speaks of Spring! I’m trying to be patient, but the warm sunny moments of some days, the front and back doors are often propped open and the critters are loving the freedom going out and coming in at will! My painting is now focused on preparing for two upcoming shows – the first one launches in mid-June with an exhibit at the Gallery of Westfield Hospital and Clinic in New Richmond.

This week’s painting is a return to the Liltie Series – Sunshine Moments, 4” x 6” watercolor, captures a kayaker enjoying the first rays of the morning.

March . . . in like a lion!

We are enjoying our second snowstorm of March, and it’s only the 6^th! We feel resigned to endless shoveling and chopping ice, but are not without hope! The cold continues, but you can feel that the sunshine is gaining warmth every day. There are more bird voices in the woods and rumor has it that the Sandhill Cranes are moving north and should be here soon – massive snowbanks or not! We are so grateful for the gifts of Faith and Hope! What a tremendous joy to be able to trust God and look forward with confidence to Spring coming again.

While winter seems long – especially this year – I’m grateful for the times of quiet when I can focus and paint. A couple of months ago, I moved my studio from our kitchen island to a designated space in our great room and it’s working out so well! A few years, we worked with our carpenter and electrician friends to build a workroom downstairs – with the idea that it would be my studio space. However, it quickly became a perfect office and framing space for Paul. It turns out that I need the light and the connectedness to the scenery outside our windows. So now, I have wonderful views of the woods and lake, along with the companionship of our four furry animals who follow me endlessly from room to room!

This week’s painting, Moonlight on Birches, 9” x 14” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures light in a dark woods through the amazing night sky reflections off side-by-side birch trees.