ARTPRIZE painting completed

Elements of Rock and Water, oil on linen, 40x60

Whew! I am finally finished. At least for now because I may still have to do some tweaking. The last stretch of finishing the sunlit rock in the middle and completing the water took at least 10 hours of very steady painting. It helped to make big piles of mixed colors and I did not want to stop too long for the color to dry out. I also tweaked the dry areas quite a bit by scumbling to lighten and gray down areas and glazing to darken and warm or cool areas.

This painting will be exhibited during ArtPrize 2012 at "THE SPOT", the Federal Square Building, 29 Pearl St., Grand Rapids. If you are wondering what ArtPrize is, check out the web site at www.artprize.org.   ArtPrize starts Wednesday, September 19. I will be there from 6-8pm on the opening day, Friday 6-10pm, Saturday 12-3pm, Sunday 3-6pm and the following Thursday the 27th from 12-2:30pm. Please stop in to say Hi!

Painting Progression III

 I had the opportunity to participate in the Water Street Wet Paint event last weekend in Douglas, MI. I will be posting the paintings that I did from that event soon. Still need to photograph them!

Painting at Oval Beach, Douglas, MI

Elements of Rock and Water, oil, 40x60

I just finished painting the rocks....for now. It took much longer than I anticipated. I will study the progress I have made and probably make some minor changes as I tackle the water. The turquoise strip of water you see will most likely change as I determine the colors to create a sense of depth.
Painting the water could take a few days...so I hope to complete this painting by Friday.
Look for the final outcome then.

Painting Progression II

Here I have included my palette as I worked on the sky and distant trees. I have actually progressed much more than this, with much of the time focused on the large rock. I just need to work a few more hours and will photograph and post my most recent progress.

Watch for the next blog....coming soon.

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!

Festival Regional Arts Exhibition - 2012

These four paintings were accepted in the 2012 Festival of the Arts Exhibition in Grand Rapids, MI. The exhibit and opening reception is at the GR Press Building, May 25, from 5:00 - 8:30 pm. More info can be found at Festival 2012. The exhibit will run until Saturday, June 9.

Awaiting Fields, pastel, 18x12

Daffodil Bouquet, pastel, 12x9

October Moon, oil, 6x6, SOLD

Towards Evening, oil, 12x24