Michigan Dunes

Michigan Dunes, oil on gessobord, 12x12"

I tried to work on still life for about two hours yesterday, but it wasn't happening and they became swipers. I had found this photo a few weeks ago and saved it for another time, which ended up being yesterday and finished today. I need a vacay. Visions of beaches are seeping into my subconscious.

Shoreline

Shoreline, watercolor and pastel on watercolor paper, 

6x8 inches

As my research and exploration continues with pastel, I have discovered an interesting technique that seems to be not altogether uncommon among pastel artist, and that is applying an under painting of watercolor.  I went and bought some new watercolor paper and a few colors and brushes to explore this technique. I stated in the previous post that I  know little about pastels, but I absolutely know NOTHING about watercolor. Luckily, my mistakes won't show as the pastel becomes the top layer. Plus I hope to become looser and more abstract with practice.

Pastel over watercolor adds a beautiful, playful level of layers depending on your method of application (smear or not to smear, that is the question). So far, it has been a lot of fun to "play" with, and I feel it is working for me right now.  It allows me to be out of my cold, basement studio and upstairs at a table where I am quite comfortable.  I can "prep" a drawing by painting in the evenings when I am tired, and then continue working on them in the mornings before leaving for work at my 8-5, with the lively pastel when I am...not tired. 

Just for the record, my watercolor paper is acid-free, cold pressed (140 lb.).  I like the texture so far, but I am still a newbie. I will be working on pastel as long as the weather is cold, or I get bored, whichever comes first :-)  Contact me if you are interested in purchasing. 

Near Sleeping Bear

Near Sleeping Bear, oil on gessobord, 6x8 inches

I declare this my favorite painting I have done so far of over 150 posts !!! I worked for a long time on this one trying to get it  right, and I feel accomplished.  Before I started it though, I had a larger gessobord picked out to paint on. I ended up putting it away feeling intimidated by the jump in size ( I know... I need to jump this hurdle, and soon). Now, all I wish is that I had done a larger version of it. But, it's still my favorite!!

Northern Michigan

Northern Michigan, oil on gessobord, 6x8 inches

With the 30 day challenge over, I gave myself one day off to rest 

(!!).  When I resumed Sunday morning, I literally asked myself what I wanted to paint and the answer was "more Michigan". Even though I normally like the cold, I do believe each of these lake paintings is giving me more sanity to handle the cold, and handle my extremely cold studio (have I mentioned my cold studio :-))

I am learning more about painting light. When I returned to painting back in April/May, I worked on technique and color, which was more difficult for me than I remembered. The muscles were hibernating.   Now, I am trying to continue improving in these areas and expand my ability and focus on light.  Light has such an enormous impact on the viewer. It will always strike a cord or set a mood whether you are viewing work close up or from across the room.

Lake Grass

Lake Grass, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

Lake Michigan has incredibly tall dunes that extend up and down the western side of the state of Michigan.  There are smaller versions also some flatten out all together allowing protective grasses to take over, like at the ocean. Sea grass is like a form of kinetic sculpture, constantly in motion, rarely still. And it beautifully captures the light, casting delicate shadows.  

I have been reading Carol Marine's book on Daily Painting and am thoroughly enjoying it. I appreciate how her book is an abridged version of my college art years and then some.

I do find myself feeling hopeless in some organizational areas she suggests for artists, like palette set-up  (I "failed" at this during college as well).  I was laughing when I set up my palette recently after reading her well articulated section on that subject, and realized I am the perfect example of "you can't teach an old dog new tricks". I still randomly squeeze out paint, with no color-wheel order. And, I still mix paint with my brushes rather than a palette knife, a habit I actually have tried to stop many times. In some ways my knee-jerk reactions to color(s) is a result of my particular state of mind (i.e. mood) of the day. I have my favorites to pair up, and then experimentation comes into play for the rest.

Lake Path

Lake Path, oil  on gessobord, 6x6 inches

Saturday I spent nearly the whole day painting. The good news is, I accomplished quite a bit and had daylight to get decent photos to post. The bad news is, I spent an entire  beautiful day down in my cold, basement studio. Oh well, can't win 'em all.  

Keeping with my streak of Lake Michigan paintings, I found a generic lake path photo and ad-libbed a bit. This painting was relatively fun to do, and I tried to stay loose, and lighten my palette. I am looking for more beach grass scenes to paint, because it is the perfect subject matter for warming up first thing in the morning and being playful with the paint. The more I paint these scenes, the more enchanted I am becoming with the area itself.  

The Saugatuck area is known as the Art Coast of Michigan. There are numerous galleries in the downtown and surrounding area, thus a supportive community. The downside however, is the winters are long and many shops and studios close up from November to April. But, there are always the interwebs for winter sales.

Grand Haven

Grand Haven, oil on gessobord, 5x7 inches

Painting 23/30 for my challenge of 30/30. I am still trying to figure out when I will have the time to post two paintings in one day, to make up for my lost day due to bad photographic conditions. 

I moved about 30-40 miles up the coast of Lake Michigan from yesterday's post, to Grand Haven. All of the coast is beautiful. Hey, I might be on to something!!

South Haven

South Haven, oil on gessobord, 5x7 inches

Yesterday I failed to post, and I broke the chain of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Boo! This then becomes 22/30. 

I have had such a hard time taking photos of my work because of lack of daylight, before and after my 8-5ish job, and indoor lights are throwing glare.

So this morning I enlisting the help, once again, of my trusted son who came to the rescue. Voila... No glare!

This is South Haven beach, Michigan, in all it's summer glory...how it will be the next time I see it. I am quite happy with this painting. It was produced quickly a few evenings ago, when I was in an overall crappy mood.  Once completed, my spirits were lifted.

Saugatuck

Saugatuck, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

Ok, I kinda cheated :-) 

I went up to the west coast of the state of Michigan this past weekend. The beach did not look like this. It resembled a mountain range of tall peaks consisting of snow, ice and sand.   It was beautiful to see but did not allow for beach trekking due to large formations of ice from the blowing wind and freezing water. So, wanting to paint the Michigan coast, I found some images on a free photo site.  Hopefully, I will return when I can actually set up my easel. I scoped out a few places while I was there.