It’s the countdown to the Fall line-up of art shows, and I’ve got renewed energy to get back to more regular times in my studio space. This week’s painting, Summer House, 9” x 11” on 300 lb watercolor paper, is a return to one of my favorite scenes. I love the light and reflections of this secluded lake and summer place.
Due to the COVID pandemic, it’s been over a year of isolating and social distancing. However, with the vaccinations, small groups are beginning to gather again. So when Lisa Lee asked me to teach a watercolor class at their new storefront in Amery, WI, I was excited to get back to in-person classes. The first class sold out and I’ve got four students signed up for the 2nd class slated for Saturday morning, July 24. It’s a fun time of sharing information and being surprised by their astonishing results. As my daughter said, “Mom, their paintings look like the actual photo!”
With beginning watercolor painters, I think it’s fun to just explore my favorite elements – sky, birch trees, water, rocks, and this time, we’ll be trying our hand at reflections! I’m hoping they enjoy this as much as I do. This week’s painting, “Lake Reflections” features one of our lovely northern lakes in the heart of summer!
And the living is . . . hot! Although we are grateful that we’re not in the “heat dome” of the Northwestern States, we’ve spent most of this past week indoors. It’s been a difficult summer for many parts of the nation, with many areas suffering from severe drought, so any complaints we may have are trivial. We have much to be thankful for!
This week’s painting, Harbor Blue, 9” x 12” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, features a welcome sight on a hot summer day - the chance to take a lovely boat ride on crystal blue water!
I’m getting ready to deliver another group of paintings to Plum Bottom Gallery in Door County and bring fresh art for my displays in Arts in Hand Gallery in Spooner. In addition, the Baker Orchard Art Festival is scheduled for the last weekend in September and I’ve been accepted for an exhibit, October-November 2021, at ArtReach St. Croix in Stillwater, MN. Whew! But the gardens are blooming, the ballgames are mostly done (and cheering on the grandkidsies!) and this is the perfect time to focus on full-time painting.
This week’s painting, Summer Light Birch, 9” x 12” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures a group of birch trees in the fading light of a warm summer evening.
For the first time in a couple of years, I hosted an in-person watercolor class. Due to COVID, since March of 2020, no onsite classes have been held. With things beginning to open up and small gatherings now allowed, it seemed to be the perfect time to reconnect with others and learn how to paint watercolors. My good friends, Lisa and Randy Lee recently opened a new storefront on the main street of Amery, WI, so this class was held at their new Tin Cat Studio location. We painted one of my favorite scenes, and the five participants had such a good time painting “Go to the Lake!” Looking forward to hosting another class in the near future!
I’m honored to be one of the featured artists at artZ Gallery in Amery, WI, for the months of June-July 2021! A collection of my latest watercolor paintings are now on display in the gallery along with the beautiful artwork of Ruth Ronning (Pastels) and Barb Tanner (Jewelry). Plan to stop by the gallery soon to view all the creative work of 15 member artists and several guest artists! artZ Gallery is open, Thursday-Sunday each week, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Due to the road construction on the main street of Amery, detour signs will direct you to the parking lot and entrance at the back door of the Gallery.
Wow – I hadn’t realized how long it’s been since I posted on this site! From April, we raced into the Earth Arts Spring Tour weekend (May 3-5, 2021) and then right into gardening and baseball season! For the first time in a year, we were able to see our grandkids play ball and it was such a thrill! Paul and I sometimes went to 8 games in a week, and it was a joy to be able to cheer them all on – Anabelle in softball; Andrew, Haddon, Schaeffer, Casper and Jaxson in baseball; and Riley in soccer! We missed Grace in her track events and Brecken in soccer! Maybe next spring! And spring in the garden is a huge consuming passion for me. I love getting out in the yard and digging in the dirt! Now, in the middle of June, all is set and we’re celebrating today with a banner rain! It’s been so hot and dry that this is just a huge relief and we are so thankful.
After a year of COVID 19, in-person watercolor classes are beginning again! My first class will be held later this week, on Thursday, June 24, at the new Tin Cat Studio location in Amery, WI. So far, I think there are three students – maybe more will sign up this week. It’s been a terrible summer to be a business owner in Amery – the highway crews have totally torn up the main street and a cumbersome (and daily changeable!) detour has been in effect since the first part of April. Hopefully every little promotion will encourage new folks to come see all the neat shops in this hometown.
This week’s painting is the one that we’ll tackle in the class. “Let’s Go to the Lake” is one of my favorite scenes and features a variety of fun watercolor basics: water, rocks and birch trees! We’re meeting at the art table in Tin Cat Studio shop on June 24, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The cost is reduced to $40 – and includes all the supplies you’ll need to take home a finished 8” x 10” watercolor painting. For more info, send me an email at dstullkinsley@gmail.com and I'll make sure you're registered for the class.
