Orchard Blossoms II

  The weather here has finally turned and we had beautiful weather for plein air painting this past week! I was able to paint in the orchards three times this week and hopefully again next week unless the forecasted rain puts and end to them.

   With each orchard painting, I felt like I was improving. Painting trees with white blossoms is more difficult than it seems. The trees are a slightly darker value than the blue morning sky. The core of the tree is a darker value than the sunlit grass on a flat plane of ground. The white blossoms are really not white but should appear so in the painting. I used cool and warm tints.

Apple Orchard Reflections, oil, 8x10, $250 unframed

The subject of an orchard and reflections in a pond. The tree on the right was not so pretty, so I used my artistic license and substituted another.

 Another morning, I tackled this difficult subject of a back lit orchard. 

The corner of an apple orchard, backlit in the morning light.

The start of my blocking in the large masses. I was working on the  apple tree masses when I took this photo, trying to figure out the right tone.

Apple Orchard - May, oil, 11x14, $400 uf

This study will translate well into a pastel painting!

Thank you for viewing my paintings! Please contact me if you are interested.
To see more plein air work see my website: www.KalinowskiFineArt.com

New painting from study

Farm in Winter, pastel, 16x20, $1300. framed

A new pastel painting inspired by a plain air study and the reference photos of the location. The study was featured on "Day 27" of my 30 Day painting adventure. As you can see, I didn't change much except enlarge the composition and add the hickory nut tree that was there. I was very focused on color harmony here and getting that "fresh"snow look with multiple shades of light tints.

This pastel was painted on acid-free UART sanded paper, grade #400.

Thank you for viewing my art!

Day 26 - "30 Paintings in 30 Days"

Yesterday I had a chance to drive to Portage to paint with the Plein Air Artists of West Michigan (PAAWM). We met at the Southwest Conservancy offices in Portage, which is an old farm with other transplanted farmhouses and barns scattered among the property. As you can imagine, much to paint, and it was hard to choose. There was about a foot of snow and the day was in the mid twenties, sunny, with hardly a breeze. I was appropriately dressed and even a little too warm, so I managed to do two paintings on site. The painting below is the first painting and tomorrow I will post the second.

Sunny Morning at the Farm, oil, 8x10
Plein air
$200. unframed

Thanks for viewing my paintings!

Early April plein air

Brechting Barn, oil on linen panel, 6x8, $100. uf
On a nice evening, I had several hours to paint near 4 Mile, west of Alpine. I decided on the Brechting Barn. My girlfriend from middle school lived here and now her brother owns the farm. The barn is very tall and has a rounded roof style. The sun was setting quickly and the light was a warm rose color, giving the gray barn a reddish glow.

Plum Orchard, oil on linen panel, 12x16, $500. uf
Again this year the plum trees were the first to bloom and I again painted at the Chase farm. This time, the light was different with a late afternoon sun.

Warm Spring Day, oil, 9x12, $350. uf
Another warm morning and I was off to paint at a nearby farm. The cows were great, though always moving. Last summer I painted here, see the painting "Farmyard Conversation" on the Oils page of the website, Kalinowski Fine Art.



I am offering these plein air works at a lower price, unframed. Call or e-mail if you are interested in owning one of these new paintings.
Thanks for viewing my artwork!

New Pastel Accepted in Exhibit

Awaiting Fields, pastel, 12x18, $900. framed

Two weeks ago, I came across this field with the last remnants of this years snow. The field was shaded by trees and the remaining snow filled the plowed ruts. I immediately knew I wanted to paint this scene.   The added bonus was the full moon rising from the horizon as the sun was starting to set in the west. I could only shoot some photos and the next day painted my interpretation based on photo reference in the studio.
The painting was framed and entered in the Lowell Regional Art Competition and took the Juror's Recognition Award! The reception for this exhibit is on Sunday, March 25 from 2-4pm.
Thanks for viewing my work!

The Apple in Still Life

Ida Red, oil, 6x6, $250 framed - SOLD

Kettle and Apples, oil, 8x8, $395. framed

Pitcher with Apples, oil, 12x12, $850. framed

Small Basket of Apples, oil, 6x6, $250.framed


Living near the fruit belt of western Michigan, I love to visit the farmer's fruit stands. I like to hand pick the fresh harvest for still lifes and then for eating. My apples of choice in these still lifes are Ida Reds and Golden Delicious. The basket was borrowed from Brechting Farm on Six Mile Rd.

Plein Air in October

More plein air work during the Indian Summer we had here in West Michigan!

Lake at Ox-Bow, oil, 8x10
Painted from a dune at Oval Beach, looking east toward Ox-Bow.

Cornstalks and Pumpkins, oil, 10x8
Painted at Klein Cider Mill and Farm on Tuesday. One of the last warm days this month!

Farmyard Conversation, oil, 11x14
I have driven by this farm many times and finally decided to ask if I could paint on their property. I will definitely want to come back to this farm. I can imagine how it will look in the winter!

Pasture with Black Angus, oil, 11x14
This is another favorite painting spot that I just keep coming back to!

Maples and Fields, oil, 11x14
The fields are strawberry plants. I was attracted to the shapes and the contrasting trees in the distance. I think this painting could have been more like 11x18. Will have to do another one!

Apple Orchard, oil, 11x14
This was a lovely day spending time alone near this apple orchard owned by the Brechting family.
Painting in a quite place with no distractions is the best!

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.

Magnolia Tree

Magnolia Tree, oil on linen panel, 11x14, $800. framed

This week I also went back to paint a favorite plum orchard. The plum trees always bloom a few days before the apple trees. When admiring the plum orchard, I was struck by this beautiful old Magnolia tree in full bloom. The owner of the home came over to see what I was up to and said the tree has scale and will soon be cut down. So here I am painting something that will never be there again. I am glad I chose to paint it and think it turned into a nice painting. You can see the plum orchard behind the lovely farmhouse. I was able to finish the painting before the clouds rolled in.

Jumping into Spring

Blue Barn - Spring, oil, 9x12

Haybales and Rolling Hills, oil, 9x12

These two paintings were from the 1st Sunday of May. I ventured out to paint with my friend Holly  and we ended up on Giles Road because of the high winds. It felt really good to paint something other than snow!!!

Gifts of Art Exhibit...Kathleen Putnam

Featured here is one of the "Six Women Painters in Study to Studio" at the Gifts of Art Exhibit currently at the U of M Health Systems South Taubam South Gallery. Shown here are Kathleen's studio paintings. You will have to visit the show to see her studys! To see more of her work visit www.KathleenPutnam.com .

"After the Rain" oil, 16x20

"At Dusk", oil, 16x20

"Early Morning, Orchard", oil, 16x20

"Freshly Mowed Hay", oil, 16x20

"Kayaking the Jordon River", oil, 16x20

"Riding at Sunset", oil, 16x20

Beautiful!!!

February Plein air paintings

"Around the Bend", oil on panel, 6x6

"February Thaw", oil on linen panel, 11x14

These two paintings were painted last week when the temperatures were around 40 degrees.  The snow was beginning to thaw and since I was short on time I decided against driving around until I found a spot. I went back to "Lonnie's Farm" a place where I have done a number of plein air paintings in all seasons. I changed the frozen pond in front to look like tracks...a good way for the eye to enter the painting. As usual, since I love red this place is a favorite place to paint.

Another day last week when the morning was crisp, I came across the scene featured on top and decided to do a small 6x6 study. The red house at the bend in the road was a nice focal point.

Plein air with PAAWM

It was a fine day yesterday with lots of sun and temps in the 30 degree range. I drove over an hour south to paint with the Plein Air Artists of West Michigan at the Cedar Creek Farm Conservation Easement. The property owners were very accomodating. Al drove us back in the property on his new deluxe four wheeler vehicle. Jean made a pot of chili for lunch and we had a very fine critique at the end of the paintout in the warmth of their beautiful home. What more could you ask for?

"Winding Creek-Winter", oil on linen panel, 10x8

"Winter Woodland Trail", oil on panel, 8x10

I am already to use these small paintings as a reference for a 24x18 pastel....starting today!

Winter Beauty

Winter can be irritating and inconvenient , especially with the excess of 12" of new snow last night. I was wishing that I could be somewhere painting this winter wonderland, except I was basically snowed in. My husband is now snow blowing out the drive and I am afraid it will be at least a four hour job. Since I could not paint outside today, I worked in the studio. On a winter scene. Something about this season...I find it more visually appealing the more I grow as an artist so many more winter landscapes are just waiting to be painted!

"On The Way Home", oil on linen panel, 16x20

Art Reception

I just wanted to say thanks to all who came out on a snowy Michigan evening to my artist reception at the Forest Hills Fine Art Center. It is truly a wonderful venue for an exhibit. I am going to post some pictures of the reception and the artwork.