Irish memories

Earlier this fall, we missed a highly anticipated trip to Ireland. At the time, Paul was recovering from a terrible allergic reaction, and we thought it best not to chance being overseas while he was still on antibiotics. It was a fair hit to the finances, but it was mostly just so disappointing – to miss out on seeing new sights in one of our favorite places and then getting to visit with dear friends in Holland.  However, we are hoping to go another time soon.

In the meantime, I’m working to expand my line of Irish cottage cards for market. This week, Summer Reflections, is a 5”x 7” painting on 300 lb. Watercolor paper. The full line of Wild River Art cards is available through the “Legends of the Celts” Irish shop in Hayward, WI.

 

Season of Thanksgiving

It’s another year of Christmas music and movies playing non-stop from November 1^st on. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Hallmark movies, but I’m a huge fan of Thanksgiving, too. It’s a special holiday, a reminder of the good that comes from caring for each other and sharing from our own bounty, and a wonderful time of gathering together with family. It was a joy last night to facetime with three grandsons, a couple of hours away from our house, and see them dancing around their house and wearing their handmade Thanksgiving hats! We are blessed that it will work for 21 of us to gather at Mom’s new place this weekend for an early Thanksgiving. She’s excited about the event, but we’re a “joyously enthusiastic” family (o.k. – we’re loud!!), and now with 10 active cousins under the age of 13 as part of the festivities, it was a wonderful relief to hear from the staff that they are so happy when families choose to gather together within the retirement center. Everyone is bringing something to share, and at our house, the first batch of lefse came off the griddle last night and today we’ll make the apple pies. We wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving!

This week, I’m back to sheep! Sheep have been such an important part of my life. For many years, I raised a small flock of black sheep on the edge of the Red River Valley in North Dakota and was part of an amazing fiber guild. The women in the group shared their talents for all things fiber and faithfully came to gatherings from regions around the Dakotas and southern Manitoba. It was an inspiring time of my life and served to shape much of what I am today. It was such fun to paint, Keeping Watch, 7”x10” Watercolor on 300 lb. paper.

 

 

Snowy Barns

Can’t believe we’re into November already! We’ve had a wonderful fall with lots of outings to see the changing of the trees in this area. Along with spectacular scenery on the North Shore of Minnesota, our own woods here in northwestern Wisconsin put on a spectacular show. We are surrounded by large Maple trees, and they were so pretty this year. I love living in an area that has four definite seasons, and now I’m looking forward to the arrival of snow. We had a brief taste of it this past weekend when 5” of snow fell overnight. It didn’t last long, but with family here for a visit, it was such fun us to spend time building snowmen and enjoying a campfire in the snow.

And I’m beginning to think of upcoming holiday celebrations. This week’s painting, Snowy Barns 8”x10” on 300 lb. Watercolor paper, reminds me of one of my favorite activities – walking through a quiet woods and watching snow fall on a rural farm scene.

 

 

 

 

More about goats!

It’s been a tumultuous week. My husband Paul has spent the last eight days recovering from a terrible allergic reaction to a prescribed drug. Although it looks like he will be o.k., the doctors agree that it may take 2 to 3 MONTHS before he fully recovers. His symptoms ranged from a swollen, angry-red leg (thankfully not a blood clot) and crippling back spasms which resulted in an ambulance ride to the emergency room. Now on the other side of the active reaction, we are so thankful that it wasn’t worse. He is up and taking short walks and slowly getting back to doing the things he enjoys.

And lately I’m drawn to goats! This week’s painting, Josie, 8” x 10” on 300 lb. Watercolor paper, captures a baby goat playing “king of the hill” on rocks in a sunny pasture.   

To see more paintings, visit my website, www.wildriverarts.com. And I’d love to visit with you about painting your favorite photograph – just send a request to my email at dstullkinsley@gmail.com.

 

 

 

Sailboat at sunset

The Grand Marais harbor acts like a magnet for photographers and artists with its iconic lighthouse, anchored sailboats and spectacular sunsets. This week’s painting, Sunset Mooring, 10” x 14” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures the light of the setting sun silhouetting a moored sailboat.

Plein Air #2 – September Surf

One of the joys of participating in the recent Grand Marais Plein Air event was the opportunity to see and experience some of the beautiful vistas dotting the North Shore of Minnesota. For me, a highlight of the event surely was the Sunday morning I spent painting on the beach at Naniboujou Lodge. If you haven’t been there before, be sure to put it on your bucket list! Built in 1929 as a getaway for wealthy investors, it’s now a welcoming inn for all visitors – even offering to pack lunches for day-trip hikers. In addition to its spectacular dining room, it’s located on an especially picturesque section of the lakeshore, and I was thrilled when the owners granted me permission to set up my easel on the hill just off the beach.

I had a breathtaking view of the big lake, trees beginning to take on the colors of fall, and beachcombers relaxing on the many Adirondack chairs or trekking slowly up and down the shoreline. It was a beautiful day – with warm sunshine, soft breezes, and lightly rolling waves on the beach – and it was made all the more special by the many folks I met! It was especially fun to take a brief break and visit with visitors from Thunder Bay, Ontario. It seems there is a group that comes down every Sunday to partake in the wonderful breakfast buffet in the lodge dining room.

This second plein air painting is titled: September Surf, 8” x 10” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, and reflects the incredible view of Lake Superior along Naniboujou beach.

 

 

 

Goats and circles of light!

Earth Arts of the Upper St. Croix Valley is sponsoring its Annual Fall Salon to be held from November 10-30, 2017. This month-long art show is hosted by the artZ Gallery in Amery, WI, and includes a wide representation of art created by Earth Arts members. The show is based on a theme, one voted on by the membership, and this year’s theme is “Circles of Light.” For the exhibition or salon, each Earth Arts member is invited to create and display up to two pieces based on their interpretation of this theme.

As a first-year member of this group, I’ve been thinking about what might represent a “circles of light” painting for me. And after reading the “Goats of Anarchy” book given to me by one of my daughters, I guess baby goat kids have been on my mind! It was the darker background surrounding the lighter subject and the circular shadows framing the edges of this baby kid that caught my eye as a possible entry for this exhibit.

This week’s painting is titled: Maisie, 8” x 9.5” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, and captures a baby goat enjoying a sunshine-y, light-filled day.