November Still Lifes (so far)

Bouquet and Milkweed Pod, oil, 6x6, $250. framed

Aubergine and Pumpkin, oil, 6x6, $250. framed

Golden Pear, oil, 6x6, $250. framed - SOLD

Golden Pear, Apple and Mums, oil, 6x6, $250. framed - SOLD


These little still lifes are a joy to set up and paint. I am hand picking the fruit from Brechting Farm. The  flowers are from my gardens and the milkweed pod is growing in abundance along the road. 

More Artwork on Bell's Amber Ale

These are the other four paintings chosen by Bell's for the new Amber Ale collection.

Isa Lake, oil, 24x18, SOLD
This pond is on the Continental Divide in Yellowstone National Park.  It also reminds me of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

A birch forest on Drummond Island, MI.

"Creek Banks - Spring", pastel, 24x18, SOLD
The wispy light purple of the red bud tree and white carpets of Trilliums assures us that spring is here.

"Shalda Creek", pastel, 24x18, SOLD
A beautiful place in the Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore near Glen Arbor, MI.

Paintings on the Amber Ale!

Bell's Brewery Blog about the new Amber Ale paintings>

Yah! The newly designed Bell's Brewery Amber Ale is available for purchase! Earlier this year, Larry Bell purchased seven paintings with the idea of putting art on the labels of their Amber Ale Beer. The six pack carton has the "Lake Michigan Dunes" painting that was in ArtPrize last year. Each six pack will feature a different painting on the labels.

Lake Michigan Dunes, oil, 30x52

This painting is on the six pack I just purchased.

Sunset Over the Bay, pastel, 24x18

More pictures of the other label paintings in the next blog!

Painting Trip to Glen Lake

Last week, I was invited by Holly to go on a day trip to Glen Arbor to do a little painting. The leaves were still on the trees and it looked like a promising day. Holly is very familiar with the area so we stopped at the base of Sleeping Bear Dunes to paint and then drove around Glen Lake. I was interested in painting Glen Lake, so we stopped at Inspiration Point, and it did not disappoint!

Birch and Sleeping Bear, oil, 8x10

Glen Lake - Autumn, oil, 9x12
Inspiration Point Looking West

Inspiration Point - Glen Lake, oil, 8x6
Inspiration Point Looking North

October Still Lifes

Red Cabbage and Tomatos, oil, 6x6, $250. framed

Pear, Nectarine and Concords, oil, 6x6, $250. Framed

Pumpkin Gourd and Concords, oil, 6x6, $250 framed

Plum, Nectarine and Concords, oil, 6x6, $250. framed

I bought some Concord Grapes and loved painting them as much as eating them.

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!

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!