It seems early in the season but in the past 24 hours, 16 new inches of snow have filled our yard and totally bejeweled the trees and bushes in the woods. And the forecast is for another 6-8 inches tonight. YIKES! It’s absolutely gorgeous, but totally wet snow and heavy as sin! We are fortunate that there isn’t ice underneath all the layers, and our old dogs are loving going in and out . . . and out and in . . . all day long to inspect and taste the newly fallen flakes!
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Supposedly a mountain of snow is coming our way this afternoon, but our supplies are well stocked and there’s a pot of chili is on the stove – yummy leftovers from our Christmas celebration on Sunday with Krista’s and Jenn’s families. I love days like this – with wide open spaces in our schedule and no reason to leave the house. It’s the perfect day for painting!
This week’s painting is back to the Lilties Series – Birch Light , 4” x 6” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, was inspired by a photo from a favorite photographer, Jan Swart. She takes amazing photos of birch trees all along the North Shore of Minnesota.
It’s a lovely day of snow – fluffy flakes coming straight down – and when you live with dogs, you are always thankful for the fresh covering of new whiteness across the lawn! We’re looking forward to celebrating Christmas with part of our family on Sunday and this year feels different. For the past two years, Paul and I have been participating in a ZOOM faith study every Monday night. With 16 to 20 others, living across the country, we’ve been studying spiritual practices and disciplines to help us grow in our faith walk with Christ. Also in the past few years of walking with my Mom in her life journey, I’ve learned (usually the hard way) that I really have no control over anything except my own attitude. I think these have all worked to make a difference in the way I approach things. I don’t feel the anxiety or the need to do over-the-top preparations this year. We’re having soup for our Christmas meal along with Heggies cheese pizzas (a family favorite) for the kidsies. And we’ll just relax and enjoy the few hours of being together and celebrating Jesus’ birthday!
This week’s painting reflects my spirit today. Off the Beaten Path, 9” x 12” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures an early snow on an abandoned covered bridge.
It’s an honor for me to begin my third year of being represented by Plum Bottom Gallery in Door County, WI. Their three gallery locations – on Plum Bottom Road and in Egg Harbor and Fish Creek – are filled with beautiful art. And thank you to all who support and encourage artists through the purchase of original art. These original watercolors are moving to new homes this month – Evening Paddle (4x6); Blue Letter Day (4x6); and Birches in Sunlight (11x15). Thank You!
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.
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!
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 12th 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.
