Lakeshore Plein Air

Beach Day, oil on linen panel, 9x12

Evening in the Dunes, oil on linen panel, 9x12

Sunset Glow-Dunes, oil on gesso board, 12x9

Quiet Morning-Dunes, oil on linen panel, 12x16

Plein air paintings from my camping trip at Muskegon Lakeshore State Park this past week.
We had beautiful Michigan weather, good company among many friends and many hours of relaxing  beach time and good wine! What more can you ask for?

Downtown Painting

Pearl Street Bridge, oil, 9x12

Painting along the river...warm sun and sounds of flowing water made for an enjoyable morning.

Here I am, set up near the Gerald R. Ford Museum, along the Grand River,  painting with the Plein Air   Artists of West Michigan (PAAWM). This was a challenging choice of subject matter...bridges and large buildings. I had decided to narrow down my focus to avoid a complicated view of the bridge and buildings on the other side of the river. I liked the morning light on the protruding bridge base and the color of the water as it rolled into sunlight from the small waterfall. Lots of reflected light that adds interest to the grays of the concrete. The blue pedestrian bridge can be seen under the arch of Pearl Street Bridge.

A Quaint Farm

"Pasture Fields", oil, 11x14, $800. framed

A small farm down in a valley. Rows of fresh cut hay ready to be bailed.  The barn is weathered and the home is a classic white farmhouse with a nice large front porch.
I have always wanted to paint here and last Thursday, I got the chance when the Thursday plein air painters received permission. There was a potential painting everywhere I looked and the morning had a bright overcast sky. So I choose this nice spot among many. I used my artistic license to help the composition along, by leaving out closed gate and a small foreground tree. The story is here though at this little farm...admire the gardens...and then let's wander through this gate and into the field of fresh cut hay. Summer.

Out West

Collegiate Peaks-study, oil on linen panel, 6x8, NFS

Collegiate Peaks II-Study, oil on linen panel, 6x6, NFS
 

Utah Afternoon-study, oil on linen panel, 6x8, NFS

Our family returned last week from a two week trip out west! We drove to Colorado, Utah and the Grand Canyon.  I did numerous watercolor sketches during our long hours of driving and some oil studies from various campgrounds. I was most amazed by Utah's ever changing landscape. As we drove, it seemed to change from green mountain passes to deep canyons. Yellow and red mesas and unearthly hoo doo rock formations in Bryce Canyon. What a beautiful state! Colorado was also amazing with the very high mountain peaks, most still snow covered. We had a great time and now Colorado is on my wish list of places to live along with Montana.