Friends on the Farm, as painted by me.

About a year ago, my mom became so ill in Racine that she entered the hospital, then nursing home, and back and forth, beginning her decline and the decline of my dad, whose shreds of strength were taxed by worry, visits, and financial issues. Being the only of my siblings who is retired, I packed up for Racine, and the hospitality of good friends Mike and Ales Marz. Little did I know that I would barely return to my home in Sparta between the end of Nowember 2014 and January 19, 2015. While staying with the Marz family I worked on 4 animal paintings that I am sharing here.

The first was "Struttin' Chicken", 9 x 12 inches, pastel on sanded paper. This chicken lives - or lives the summer before I painted it from a photo - on Highway BC just west of Sparta, squeezing through a hole in the barn door when I came to close. This chicken had attitude.

The next painting was "Betsy's Baby", my friend's goat with whom I was well acquainted by observation and by frequently photographing. The painting is 9 x 12 inches, pastel on sanded paper. I loved this goat, and I loved this painting, and while I painted it I felt connected to my home amd friend in Sparta, a home I missed with a visceral pain, even while feeling proud that I was able to be a help to my parents at this demanding time of ill health. When I later posted this photo on Facebook, I was not surprised that it SOLD! 

My third painting is "Napping Nellie, in the MOOd", 9 x 12 inches, pastel on sanded paper, from a photo of a cow that lived along the Sparta-Elroy Bike Trail, between Sparta and Norwalk. 

In my last week or 2 in Racine, I painted this miniature donkey, from photos taken at the farm on Highway Q where many of these cuties are raised. I named this guy Mike. "Mini-Mike", 8 x 10 inches, pastel on Canson MT board,

So here are the paintings of that era of my life last year. FYI, all are for sale except Betsy's goat, of course. Send me a message if you're interested.

Between the Bluffs 2015 - 2nd & 3rd Paintings

Since BtB was about a month ago, I want to finish up and move to newer work. Here are my finished paintings and some process shots as well. This farm "speaks" to me whenever I drive on Russian Coulee Road, with the house windows appearing to be watching the movement of all who pass by. As for the road, I painted it last year - bigger size, different surface, slightly different season. If you want to compare, look back. I like this version better. It is fresher, and to me speaks of the difference between a plein air painting and one painted from a photo. Can you tell I love this road?

 "The Farm Watches", 9x12 inches, pastel on Uart 320 grit sanded surface.

"Down Russian Coulee Road, Again", 12 x 16 inches, pastel on Richeson sanded surface.

 I didn't paint in the dappled sunlight (above), but the shade under my umbrella (a great investment, BTW) was a a bit too deep for a photo. Here is the under painting and my setup.

 Let me clarify for the photo below: YES, I did my initial drawing and underpainting in the rain in my car. I was feeling frustrated by the dreary afternoon and figured I could get a jump on being ready to paint when the sun came out. I was!

 The next "sunny day" actually varied between sun and deep clouds, I captured the shadows that were present during my sunny last hour or so of painting and I think they were pretty accurate.

Between the Bluffs 2015 - I did it!

We just returned from our annual trip to Baltimore to celebrate granddaughter Annabell's birthday - this year her 4th - so now I can post my  work for BtB. I had a great time painting in the crisp sunny early fall weather of the 3rd week of September. All 3 paintings that I entered in the show were painted on Russian Coulee Road in eastern LaCrosse county, just south of Bangor. I thoroughly enjoyed my painting experiences, especially the cows that came to visit during my first painting day. Here is that sociable cow. Perhaps over the winter I will paint him.

This is the painting I was working on while that cow came to visit.The first is my under-painting, the second nearly complete, and the third is the final painting. Peering over this hill at the farm below was an interesting perspective from which to paint - almost voyeuristic, although the cows and sheep were well aware of my presence.

 

And, yes, all 3 paintings were delivered to Gallery 1311 on time! I will soon post the rest of my work from BtB. 

Between the Bluffs 2015 or How to Avoid the Mistakes of Last Year

I am excited to begin painting in this year's LaCrosse Plein Air event - Between the Bluffs (BtB). I had a great time painting last year. I was challenged to paint some good paintings in a limited time frame of 10 days. I participated in my first "Quick Paint" challenge (3 hours to create a painting, frame it, and submit for judging). But I made one tiny mistake... I submitted my paintings for judging a day late. Like a day after the judging had taken place. Seriously. Oops.

I'm not sure exactly how I failed to meet this deadline. I could tell you what I thought I read in the material for artists, and so on, but the truth is that since retirement I live a life where deadlines are very fluid, if they exist at all. SO -  I am stating here - to all 3 of you who actually read this - that I promise I will get my work in to be judged by the deadline this year!! Yes, I will strive to paint good works - maybe great works. And all the other stuff I have to do. And, I will get them in on time.

I painted 5 or 6 decent paintings last year and I submitted the following three a day after judging.

All 3 are 9x12 inches, pastel on sanded Uart surface, 600 grit. From top to bottom, they are: "Fishing for Happiness", "Floating Abodes", and "Rusty Bridge to the Fest". It will be a challenge to paint subjects that I love as much, but I will cross that bridge tomorrow. For now, my goal is simple - get the darn paintings - whatever they are - in on time!!

Painting at Wegner Grotto with Monroe County History Museum

Two weeks ago, on Saturday, August 22, Monroe County History Museum hosted “Art Outdoors” to explore the fascinating environment of Wegner Grotto County Park and create art.  Participants painted plein air style postcard-size works of the sculptures from the Grotto.  This is the second year of this event. 

I was pleased and honored to win the first place prize in the professional adult artist catefory with this little postcard of the Bremen ocean liner mosaic, in pastel.

I feel so proud!  Here is a photo taken while I was painting. It was a great day.

Last year, I struggled over whether to consider myself amateur or professional. I chose professional. I based this on several things, but mostly these: 1) While painting there I saw all these parents bringing their kids to paint then saying "ah, what the heck - I suppose I could give it a try" and 2) I keep pushing myself to take my art endeavor more seriously... and calling myself professional, though somewhat symbolic, sure seemed to support that effort. So last year, I won 2nd place and was surprised and encouraged. This year I knew which box to check.

Painting From Camp

There are a million reasons why I haven't blogged for over a year, but forget those and here I am. What has most revived my creative spirit and helped me paint plein air again is the cute little camper that Mary and I parked in a seasonal site. It is at Leon Valley Campground, just 7 miles from our house, which might sound crazy until you visit there and find it to be a peaceful retreat in the woods. It was our intention when we bought this second-hand gem to take it travelling until Mary found that pulling it down the highway was a terrifying experience! So there it sits, close to home where we use it often. Here are 2 of the paintings I did while there.

This is "Redneck Summer Home", 9 x 12 inches, pastel on sanded surface. This was painted before the awning and support posts were ripped off in a crazy windy thunder storm late July.

This "Camp Road Canopy", 9 x 12 inches, pastel on sanded surface. I love this road.

Prior to painting at the campground I was sort of stuck, and had not painted outdoors since last September while I was in Racine helping out while my mom was sick. Maybe tomorrow I will post something from that time... or a new painting! Thanks for visiting with me - and my art. While you are visiting, please sign up to get email update notifications!