Fall Memories

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve shared on this blog and we have moved from lovely fall weather to cold and snow temps with ice covering the lake and this weekend, back to lovely warm weather and an open lake again. You have to hang on – the weather changes on a whim! It’s been a tough season for my mom who has been in and out of the hospital twice in the past three weeks and is now working to recover strength and health. And Paul and I are struggling to recover from flu, ear and sinus infection – to the extent that we had to cancel our family Thanksgiving gathering. So disappointing . . . but we put the tree up, got out all our Christmas movies and are looking forward to happier days soon!  

This week’s painting recalls a wonderful trip to the Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper Michigan. This Liltie Series, Ontonagon Autumn, is 4” x 6” on 300 lb. watercolor paper and captures this beautiful lighthouse in its fall colors.

Playing with Watercolors

It was a great class today at Tin Cat Studio in Amery, WI - playing with watercolor and learning techniques for painting evening skies, watery reflections and big rocks! Thank you to these amazing artists and our one unknown, really quiet visitor! Thank you, Lisa and Randy Lee, for sharing your store classroom space with us!

Indian Summer Days

We are enjoying such beautiful October days! On Sunday, October 30, we had a family pizza gathering at the Boutwell Park to celebrate Riley’s upcoming 12^th birthday (on Friday, November 4) and hear about plans for the upcoming wedding of Alex and Katrina on Nov. 4. It was a “high plains” day with temps in the70’s and no wind – and the kids and grandkids had a blessed time visiting with Gr. Jan, Riley opening presents and the Carlson’s sporting their incredible T-Rex dinosaur costumes (and Mia’s pink dragon)! And today – Halloween – is again a 65 degree day with no wind and bright blue skies. I’m so grateful for this time before the long winter sets in.

Watercolor Class – Tuesday, November 8 – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. – Tin Cat Studio, Amery, WI

I’m getting ready to teach a painting class next week, so this week’s painting, Evening Sky, 8” x 10” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, is what we’ll be working on! We’ll focus on learning techniques for sunset skies, water reflections and large rocks! The cost is $50 and I’ll provide all the supplies. Register by sending an email to me at dstullkinsley@gmail.com.  

Door County in October!

We just got back from a long weekend in Door County – delivering paintings to Plum Bottom Gallery and taking in the sights of this beautiful area. The trees were at peak with amazing colors under bright blue skies and surrounded by that gorgeous teal-colored water rolling in on the beaches of Lake Michigan. We stay at our favorite lodge and while Paul caught up on school issues in the evenings, it seemed the perfect time to get out the paints! This week’s painting, “Summer Fire,” 4”x 6” watercolor, captures the incredibly bold colors of Fall in these Echinacea blooms.

Arts In Hand Gallery – Spooner, WI

Although It’s a rather small space, this gallery is filled with dynamic creative thinkers and artists dedicated to making it a featured destination in this Northwoods area. And opening in May 2022, the gallery effectively doubled its available space to include a wonderful workshop/gallery/kitchen in Studio 210 – a beautifully remodeled apartment on the 2^nd floor of this main street building. It’s been a busy summer there for me - teaching three full watercolor classes in May, August and September and being a featured artist in two gallery exhibits with fellow member artists Gail Threinen and Tin Cat Studio.

Thank you to all who purchase original art and a special thank you to the amazng volunteer team at Arts In Hand Gallery in Spooner! This week, one of my shadowbox Liltie Series watercolors, "Pure Bliss" moved to a new home!

Back to Birch Trees!

One of my favorite Facebook groups is the North Shore Vibe. Its members are photographers and outdoorists who love everything about the North Shore. One of those dedicated members is Jan Swart, a talented professional photographer who posts daily – yes, every day – a new picture on the site of some fresh perspective of the incredible land, cities and lake of this region. For me, there isn’t anyone better for taking incredible photos of birch trees. She has a tremendous gift for catching the light on these incredible trees. Last week, she posted a new photo of a group of birch trees, and I messaged her to see if I could have permission to paint this amazing photograph. And she graciously said yes! This week’s painting, Birch Stand, 8” x 11” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures a beautiful fall moment in the midst of a northern woods.

Changing Seasons

There is a definite change in the air. Yesterday’s high was about 90 degrees and today we are closing windows and turning on the heat - with the low tonight in the 40’s! But I love this time of the year – flannel is a favorite attire, so I’m happily reaching to the back of my closet and getting out warmer shirts and pajamas! And in celebration of our 14^th Anniversary yesterday, I planted 125 bulbs in our front “meadow” – alliums, daffodils, tulips and anemones will hopefully fill in that area. I’ll plant more daffodils this weekend – it makes such a joyful display in the spring. 

This week’s painting is a Liltie Series, Country School, 4” x 6” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, reflects a total change of season with a remote schoolhouse in the heart of winter.