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.

 

 

Study: Shadows and Light

This has surely been a year of firsts. . . beginning with the national lockdown last February to a summer of social distancing, to new frontiers for back-to-school this fall, and then on to winter. In northwest Wisconsin, winter is always long – but it seems especially so this year. We are the primary caregivers for my Mom so we’re committed to being cautious about avoiding crowds, staying close to home and wearing masks.

But it has also been a month of joyous moments! A couple of sweet memories include gathering on a bright sunshine-y day with some of our family to celebrate my birthday at an outdoor skating rink, and being able to get away for a couple of days with Paul to explore Door County and deliver art to the Plum Bottom Gallery at Egg Harbor. We have so much to be thankful for!

And there are quiet days for painting! This week’s painting, Shadows and Light, 9” x 12” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures the deep shadows of a woods and grassy meadow balanced against the light of a birch tree.

Returning to the river!

In the midst of having to live fairly restricted lives due to the ongoing pandemic, we are grateful for the wonderful weather of this January. In contrast to previous years, this month has been perfect for getting outside and enjoying winter! A week of no wind and ideal conditions produced hoar frost every night and brought daily scenes straight out of story books, with everything - trees, barns, bushes and weeds - perfectly etched in white. 

This week, I’m returning to the river with fond memories of a lovely day in July. Wild River Cruise, 8” x 11” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures a kayaker enjoying the soft breezes and warm sunshine on this wild, scenic river.

Oh January!

The sense of chaos of 2020 has spilled into this month, but we are looking with hope to better days ahead. In our small group Zoom study, we are going through the book, “Sacred Rhythms,” and it has been a life-changing book for Paul and I – altering our perspectives on prayer, solitude, silence and habitus. As I understand it, habitus is the daily decision to listen to our conscience and practice the presence of God in our lives. Through cultivating habitus, we are better able to nurture the fruits of the Spirit (e.g., love, joy, peace, patience . . .) within us and respond to those around us with good. I am a totally flawed work in progress, but it has helped to lift my eyes above the current muck and be aware of the overwhelming need for care and compassion of the vulnerable in our own neighborhood, family and world.

Last summer, we took a social-distancing river cruise and it was a magical couple of hours on the water. This week’s painting, Sunlit Currents, an 8” x 11” watercolor, captures a poignant snaphot – a relaxed kayaker enjoying a dappled-sunshine day on the river.