December Snow

We are waiting today. A major snowstorm is predicted to hit our area later this afternoon . . . and so we wait. Paul went to the grocery store early this morning – it was packed with others stocking up – so we are thankful that the pantry is full, fresh batteries are in the flashlights, the birdfeeders filled . . . and we wait. I think this is why my spirit absolutely craves this time of year. The options for activities are limited and I can’t just flit from one thing to another. I need to take time and pause – to sit quietly with one of the cats on my lap, to paint, to write a letter or read a favorite book. There is healing in this time, and so we rest and wait.

And in this season of Advent, we are preparing our hearts for Christmas. This week’s painting reflects an iconic sight, Eagle Harbor Winter. One of our favorite places to visit, this 8” x 11” watercolor captures the historic Eagle Harbor lighthouse guiding mariners to safety in this region of the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan.

November Gales

It was an exceptionally fine Fall here – filled with warm sunshine and magical colors on the trees through November, including the grass growing right up to two weeks ago! And when the cold finally hit, it seemed a cruel shock. Our son Jack was here from WA when the first snowfall happened and walking out to the truck one morning, he paused and asked what was that sound. I listened and announced: It’s snowing, Jack. His response: No way! Snow doesn’t make that much noise! Well, it does when it’s sleet and full of frozen water! Haha! We just took a quick road trip to Door County and as we drove into Ephraim, the wind was howling off the lake with the waves pounding up against the harbor docks and rocky shoreline. It reminded me to be thankful that I don’t have lake-front property – the Great Lakes are especially filled with wild unpredictability!

I recently took a “Gales of November” watercolor class with Artist/Instructor Paul Oman. He is a terrific teacher, and it was fun to hone skills in painting a lake storm and the resulting “confused seas.” This week’s painting, November Fury, 9” x 12” watercolor, reflects crashing waves along the shore of Lake Superior.

 

Theme: Change

In the soft light of this late afternoon in November, it seems the perfect time to think about Change in the new year. And that’s the theme for the upcoming member art exhibit at artZ Gallery in Amery, WI.  Slated for January-February 2022, it’s a theme that’s inspiring me to explore watercolor challenges such as honing techniques for dynamic skies.

This week’s painting, “Copper Bay,” 9” x 12” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, reflects the rosy light of a sunset on a quiet bay.

More Lilties!

It has been a tremendous joy to see my paintings go to new homes. Sometimes I hear wonderful messages from individuals who have purchased original art - so appreciated and thank you! As a result, I’m busy painting new Liltie Series watercolors for Paul to frame. Another recent painting, "Lake Isle," 4” x 6” on 300 lb. watercolor paper reflects the beautiful colors of sunset on the Big Lake.  

Finishing Strong

It seems like this year has just whooshed by. We have had a lovely Fall – the colors in the woods were awesome and so many of our days have been filled with sunshine and light breezes. Yesterday, when we were helping my Mom into the pickup to go to Thanksgiving dinner, we were interrupted by a loud distinctive sound in the sky. We looked up to see a large skein of Sandhill Cranes circling over our heads and honking noisily. What an incredible sight! And knowing that they were near extinction, it is so gratifying to see how they have recovered.

This week’s painting, “Cave Point Cliffs” is another of my Liltie Series – 4” x 6” to be framed in a black shadowbox and ready for delivery to Plum Bottom Gallery in Door County later next week.

 

November Images

There are a lot of up-front projects that have to happen before a watercolor class can take place. I gather and sort supplies for each student and have everything organized so that they can get going in the actual painting process as soon as possible in the 5 -hour timeframe. During the November group classes, I demonstrated techniques for completing two paintings – here’s the Door County Barn (in snow) watercolor. 

Thanksgiving Gratitude

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving Day – we had a small family gathering in New Hope, MN, and enjoyed a fabulous day of visiting, feasting, and playing Awkward Family Photos board game! We have so much to be thankful for – Mom felt good enough to come with us and Jack was with us from Washington State. And we are mindful of families (including some of our own dear ones) who are struggling with COVID. It’s an insidious and seemingly random disease and it can cause us to be filled with “what ifs” – what if I hadn’t met with that person; what if I hadn’t been in that place? Sometimes it’s an effort to stay brave and intentional in the face of such uncertainty.

It seems like I’ve taken a break from posting on this blog, but I’ve been busy painting. I taught two watercolor classes in November in Amery – one at the Tin Cat Studio on Nov. 9 and the other at the artZ Gallery on Nov. 17. It was an amazing experience with about 9 students in each session. The first one was "Let's Paint the Big Lake!' and the second was "Let's Paint a Door County Barn!" Many of the students were brand new to watercolor, but they were all enthusiastic and everyone had a wonderful painting to take home! It’s a two-person project – Paul is integral in setting up, picking up snacks, helping dispense supplies and cleaning up afterwards. But after a few times of doing this, we’re beginning to act like a cohesive unit! We're wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!