Grape Expectations

These three paintings were accepted into an exhibit to take place at the Old Art Building in Leland on June 7 - 8. This is a new event called Grape Expectations, the 2013 Leland Wine Festival. One painting from the exhibit of approximately 30 pieces of art with a wine theme and/or of the Leland area will be selected for the next year's event poster.

After the Leland event, if not sold at the exhibit, these works will be on display at Treeline Gallery in Suttons Bay.

Wine and Cheese, oil on panel, 12x12 $850

Ready for Harvest, pastel, 18x12, $900
Pinot Noir grapes from Silver Tree Winery in Sutton's Bay. I did several plein air studies from this beautiful vineyard.

Vineyard by the Bay, pastel, 16x20, $1300
A winery off of Hilltop Road in Leelanau Co. I did a plein air study, took photos and compiled the two for this composition of a vineyard leading you to a scenic view of Lake Leelanau.

Thank you for viewing my art!

Painting with a Theme

During last two weeks, I have not only been painting still lifes but also following a "wine" or "grape" theme. I did two pastels and several oils with this theme and the paintings will be entered into an exhibit called "Grape Expectations" for this summer in Leland, MI. I hope you enjoy my interpretations!

"Cabernet", oil on panel, 7x5
The first "study" as I was thinking about doing a larger still life with the bottle and glass of wine, see the next painting.

Untitled right now, oil on panel, 12x12

"Ready for Harvest",  or Pinot Noir... undecided on the title. 
Pastel, 18x12
From a reference photo that I took during a plein air session at  Silver Tree Winery in Suttons Bay, MI.

"Vineyard by the Bay", pastel, 16x20
This pastel is an example of using a plein air study and a photo of the vines going in the other direction. So basically, I used both reference to make this painting.

Day 3 - "30 Paintings in 30 Days"

Boathouse on Traverse Bay, pastel, 9x12
$375. uf or $500. framed like an oil with AR glass in Warm silver, gold or black custom frame. 
Framed size approx. 11x14"

This painting was started during one of my class demos last fall. I was just at the beginning stage demonstrating the underpainting wash and had not worked on it since. The underpainting is a light coat of Nu-pastel in warm colors and brushed into the sanded paper to give it tone. So I am happy to finish it up today as the painting for day 3. I am happy with the colors in the water and left some underpainting "drips" in the immediate foreground.

Thank you for looking at my art, hope you enjoy it!

This painting also in "30 Paintings in 30 Days" blog.

Working from Studies

This is the first post in a series of studio paintings that were painted from plein air studies.

Kelderhouse Road, oil, 6x8, SOLD
This study was painted during the Glen Arbor AA paint out and sold during the reception. I am glad I took a photo of it because it reminded me of why I loved the composition. The day was also very hot and the thunderheads were rolling in. I also took several reference photos.

Summer Heat, oil, 24x30Fresh from the easel, I can still make adjustments if necessary.
The studio painting includes the cumulus clouds from the photos that I took. The photos also helped with the birch grove on the left.

Painting in Leelanau Co.

Here is the rest of the story! When I returned home from the Glen Arbor trip, I felt a few of the paintings needed a little help. So after a few touch ups, they were photographed so I could add them to my web site and blog.

Michigan Beach (Port Oneida), oil, 6x8, $295. framed
The second painting on Saturday morning of the paint out. This one required more paint in the foreground , which I worked on in the studio.

Thoreson Farm, oil, 8x10, $500. framed
I painted this one on Friday evening during the "quick draw" event. We only had two hours to complete a painting and I felt like this one was finished by the ending time.

Leelanau Road, oil on panel, 6x6, $250. framed
Painted on Sunday, the day after the paint out. It was very windy and kind of chilly compared to the day before. 

Port Oneida Beach, oil, 9x12, $650. framed
The first painting of the day on Saturday....I found some shade.

Vineyard and Bay, oil, 9x12, $650. framed
Painted on Sunday, south of Suttons Bay, before we left for home.

The start of "Port Oneida Beach".

Painting in Glen Arbor

This weekend I participated in the Glen Arbor Art Association 2012 Paint Out. Sixty artists from Michigan participated in the event and spread out to paint around the Glen Arbor area. I accompanied  another artist, Holly Sturges, as we searched and painted at the perfect spots during the event on Saturday. One of the criteria for a good spot was shade. The day was very hot. I found morning shade at the beach (below) and did two paintings there. Then we went to the base of Sleeping Bear Dunes and painted under a shady tree (see "Dune View" below). The last place of the afternoon was a small shady spot along a not often traveled gravel road. I lost my shade and could really feel the heat but the view was so great that I persevered to finish "Kelderhouse Road". We had to turn in two framed paintings by 4:30pm for the evening reception. There patrons browsed the work by the many artists and quickly purchased their favorites!

Painting Saturday morning on a Port Onida Beach. The painting is in progress here.

Dune View, oil on linen panel, 9x12, SOLD
at the Glen Arbor Art  Asso.  reception on Saturday night.

Kelderhouse Road, oil, 6x8, SOLD
at the Glen Arbor Art Asso. Paint Out reception on Saturday night.

Painting a Leelanau scene on Sunday morning. It was very, very windy and the temperature had dropped considerably from yesterday.

Leelanau Farm, oil, 6x8, at Treeline gallery
This is the finished painting now at the gallery in Suttons Bay. I dropped it off wet and unframed. Call the gallery if interested in this little Leelanau painting.

Leelanau Plein Air

I took a painting trip to the Leelanau Peninsula for four days at the end of June. All the paintings below were painted en plein air. I also did a demo painting in front of Treeline Gallery on that Saturday (see below).

Boathouse at Lake Leelanau, oil, 6x6 SOLD at Treeline Gallery

Cherry Blossoms and White Pine, oil, 12x16, $900.
The painting was started as a demo from a previous plein air study and a photo of the orchards in spring. The demo was at the Treeline Gallery on June 30.

Fish Town in Morning, oil, 9x12, $650. at Treeline Gallery

Fountain Point Boathouse, oil, 6x8, SOLD at Treeline Gallery

Lake Leelanau Boathouse, oil, 9x12, $650.

Leland Boathouse, oil, 6x8, SOLD at Treeline Gallery

Leland Falls, oil, 14x11, $850.

The Bluebird, oil, 9x12, $650. at Treeline Gallery

The Whaleback - Leland, oil, 9x12, $650.

View of North Manitou, oil, 6x8, SOLD at Treeline Gallery

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Pinot Noir, oil on linen panel, 9x12

Painted on location last August at the Silver Tree Winery, north of Suttons Bay, MI.
This painting trip inspired the following paintings. I just finished the Chardonnay Grapes (below) and it will be added to the web site in February.

Fruit of the Vine, oil on linen panel, 12x16, $900. framed
Selected for the Celebration of the Arts Exhibit, Feb. 2012 

Chardonnay, oil on panel, 7x5, $250. framed in black with gold lip

A Spy and Pinot Noir, oil on panel, 6x6, $250. - SOLD

Leelanau Paintings

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to spend three days with my best painting friends in beautiful Leelanau County. This northern Michigan area is ideal for the plein air painter with rolling hills, water, and old farmsteads. The added bonus was the warm, sunny weather and beautiful fall colors. I hope you enjoy the results of this plein air outing. Some of these paintings will be used as studies for larger works over the winter. If you are interested in one of these small works, I can save one just for you!

Omena Bay in Autumn, oil, 9x12

Little Cove, oil, 6x6
Same cove as below, just a different viewpoint.

Cove in Morning, oil, 11x14
Grand Traverse Bay. I loved the water color and fascinated by the color changes on the water with the morning shadows. 

Vineyards in October, oil, 11x14
This was a challenging scene. The vineyards were illuminated from the late afternoon sun.
Typical Leenlanu land. Isn't it beautiful?

Bass Lake, oil, 11x14
A beautiful gem of a lake just off M-22.

Cove on Autumn Day, oil, 6x8
Another study of turquoise water and warm sand and trees. Love it!

A Day in Leelanau County

Leelanau View, oil on linen panel, 9x12

Leelanau Cherry Trees, oil on linen panel, 8x10, $475. Treeline Gallery

Last Sunday I was invited by artist Holly Sturgis to take a drive north. We dropped off paintings to Treeline Gallery, saw friend Margo Burian's work in Glen Arbor and painted in two different locations. It is a treat to paint in Leelanau County. Everywhere you turn, you see a painting. I should be living there for endless inspiration!