Plein Air in Northern Michigan

Bell's Bay Sunset, oil on linen panel, 6x8, $295. framed
Used this study for a 6x6 pastel for the upcoming Ann Arbor show.
Look for this painting and possibly a larger version at the Charlevoix Show.
We camped at Fisherman's Island S.P. just south of Charlevoix.

Bell's Bay, oil on linen, 6x8, $295. framed
Love this painting! I am using it as a study for a larger work. Look for both at the Charlevoix Art Fair, Aug. 11.

Birches-Study, oil on linen panel, 8x6, $295. SOLD

Mushroom Half House, oil on linen panel, 9x12, SOLD
One of the attractions in Charlevoix is to drive by the unusual "Mushroom" homes built by an eccentric architect sometime in the 40's or 50's. Could not resist doing a painting of this one.
After visiting Charlevoix, we drove to the Upper Peninsula, north to Grand Marais.

Dock in Grand Marais, oil on linen panel, 8x10, NFS
I was attracted to this dock and buildings right on the bay. As I was painting, a red coast guard boat put in the water. Maybe I do a painting of that in another work. This painting will go to the owners of the "Green Shingle Inn", where we stayed for the weekend. A nicely renovated old inn (still in the process of the upstairs). It is available for rent and a nice place to stay in the middle of the village, within walking distance of everything! Beautiful beach right on the bay and down the street is a large expanse of the Lake Superior lakeshore. Great for the rockhounds in my family!
We are looking forward to our next visit....an artists paradise!

Sable Lake Study, oil on linen panel, 12x9, $650.
Beautiful Sable Lake, just south of Grand Marais. I painted this from the overlook.
Lot's of poison ivy in this neck of the woods....best to stay on the trails and be watchful.

Sailboat in Grand Marais Bay, oil on panel, 6x6, NFS
Tried to finish this up as the sun was setting low. Nice warm light on the boat and distant dunes.

Artprize Venue Secured

Yeah! I officially have secured a venue for this year's Artprize! The venue is the Old Federal Building - "THE SPOT", on Pearl Street between Ottawa and Ionia. It is a very cool looking venue with the exposed brick work, large walls and good lighting. My painting will be an oil, 40x60, titled "Elements of Rock and Water". While I have done many paintings of water...since we live in a state almost surrounded by large lakes, the rocks are a new type of landscape subject, esp. the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
I have completed a pastel painting that will serve as my study.

Elements of Rock and Water, pastel, 20x30, NFS...yet.

I will be posting some progress photos that took while working on this painting. Stay tuned.
Thanks for viewing my art!

End of the Rainbow

Sign of the Covenant, oil on linen, 24x18

I never thought I would do a painting with a rainbow in it, but I just needed to try it to see if I could pull it off.  I worked from some of my photo reference, and used my artistic license in a few places because photos are just not the same as the real thing. I did several plein air paintings of this same lake in the evening hours and some in the morning. A rainbow happens so fast it would be difficult to quickly capture it in a study, so observation is the key. The lake is in the Upper Peninsula, where wonderful things happen in nature.