Plein air pastel seascape painting from Fisherman's Island Park near Charlevoix, Michigan.

Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches

Last day “up north.”  Wanhhhh! I packed up our hotel room and worked my way toward the golf course where I would pick up my husband and head back down south. I had time for one quick pastel landscape on the way, so I stopped at the little Fisherman’s Island Park just outside of Charlevoix. It was a gorgeous morning but the mosquitoes were ferocious! I literally was eaten alive. But I was happy with way this pastel seascape came out. No pain, no gain…

Pastel plein air landscape painting of the Jordan River in East Jordan, Michigan

Pastel painting 11 inches x 14 inches

I almost always work on paper when I create my plein air pastel landscapes, using mostly Art Spectrum or Kitty Wallis paper. I recently bought a couple of Ampersand Pastelbords to try them out and was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked the surface. It is, of course, a heavier substrate, almost like masonite in weight.  When painting on it, the surface feels “harder” than other papers I have used, but it seems to hold just as much pastel. I used a sand-colored board for this painting of the Jordan River. I think this plein air artist will buy a few more boards to experiment with…

Plein air pastel seascape painting of a sand bar in the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix.

Pastel painting 8.5 inches x 11.5 inches

One day, while the guys were golfing up north, I spent the day painting pastel landscapes in the little town of East Jordan which is situated along the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix. This was my first work of the day, done early in the morning, before 9 am. As a plein air artist I’m always looking for interesting seascape opportunities. Although I really respect artists who can create a work of art solely from miles of endless water, I tend to shy away from scenes that are nothing but lake or ocean. I like to find something with an interesting center of interest that integrates with the water around it. This little sand bar did the trick.

I’m leaving for a week at Bonanza Creek in Montana today! Non-stop horseback riding and painting with close friends…Ahhhh!!! Check out their website at http://www.bonanzacreekcountry.com. If you are looking for a wonderful place to ride and experience the wonders of “out west”, I recommend it highly!

Plein air pastel landscape painting of a home in BayView near Lake Michigan

Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches

Spring in Northern Michigan is a wonderful place for a plein air artist. The landscape is bursting with color and there’s always Lake Michigan for a perfect backdrop. I stopped by BayView, a neat little area filled with old Victorian cottages near Petoskey and painted this pastel painting. The sun was just coming up and the light and shadows on this old home drew me in. I was able to combine a painting of architecture with gorgeous blue-water seascape.

Plein air pastel landscape painting of Harbor Springs, Michigan from above

Pastel painting 8.5 inches x 11.5 inches

We spent a wonderful long weekend in Charlevoix, Michigan over Memorial Day. Its a trip that we take with our good friends every year and we always look forward to it. The guys golf, the ladies shop and I paint. At night we enjoy wonderful food, wine and friendship.  I dropped off a lot of new paintings to Tvedten Fine Art, my gallery in Harbor Springs, and of course, I painted my way there and back.

This pastel landscape is from the bluff that overlooks the beautiful harbor. Luckily I was able to find a For Sale sign up in front of one of the gorgeous mansions on the hill. It looked like no one was home…I hope they didn’t mind this plein air artist parking in front and blocking their view…

Plein air pastel landscape painting of marsh land near the Naples Botanical Gardens

Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches

As a Michigan artist I don’t get many chances to do plein air paintings of tropical landscapes. So when we visit Florida, I make it my business to focus on pastel landscapes of the beautiful southern marsh lands. This painting was done in the Naples Botanical gardens.

My pastel painting, Everglades Morning, which won an award of Exceptional Merit from the Pastel Society of North Florida, just received a third place award from the Ann Arbor Women Artists. We are having a wonderful exhibit, filled with exceptional artwork, at the Ann Arbor Public Library through May 1st. Stop by and explore if you have a chance!

Plein air pastel painting of water lilies about to open in the morning.

Pastel painting 13.5 inches x 9 inches

I’d never painted a water lily before last month. Suddenly, I am in love with them and can totally understand why painters through the ages have been drawn to them. Every leaf is interesting and unique and the bright flowers create a perfect focal point. But my favorite part is the endless variations of how sunlight hits the surrounding water, creating highlights and deep shadows.

The Naples Botanical Gardens has a huge variety of water lilies in their many themed “rooms.” I spent a few Tuesday mornings working on floral paintings there. This is the only pastel painting I did, but I experimented with quite a few watercolor versions.

Plein air pastel landscape painting of Everglades water in the morning.

Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches  SOLD

I love doing plein air paintings on location when we travel. But as a Michigan artist with galleries in-state, it is difficult to show pastel landscapes which are obviously done in different parts of the country. People tend to like images that relate to their own surroundings. One of my goals for this year is to find good gallery representation in the southern states…

Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a sailboat at a dock.

Plein air watercolor painting    6 inches x 9.5 inches

This  plein air watercolor landscape is painted on plastic yupo paper. I tend to go back and forth between that and more traditional Waterford. I get frustrated with one paper and technique and switch to the other. Yupo lets me paint more like an oil or acrylic painter. The paper doesn’t absorb the paint and gives a completely different effect.

Pastel landscape painting of a light-filled afternoon on the Lake Michigan coast.

Pastel painting 14 inches x 10 inches

Still deeply focused on my new set of paintings of Italy. I turn Andrea Bocelli music waaaaay up and sing in Italian as I paint. It’s actually pretty embarrassing but it seems to be working for me…

Every once in a while I have to take a break and do some pastel paintings of different subjects. Northern Michigan is one of my favorite places on earth and the gorgeous scenery always calls to me. This pastel landscape shows a little cove that I have painted many times, between Charlevoix and Petoskey along Lake Michigan. I’ve stopped at various times of day and this water scene always inspires me. On this piece I worked mainly with my Great American pastels. They are square and flat like Terry Ludwigs, and great for working loosely and eliminating unnecessary details.

I just ordered a 100 new Terry Ludwig pastels with the gift certificate award I received for my marsh painting in The Pastel Society of North Florida’s National Exhibition. I am excited but overwhelmed by the prospect of adding MORE pastels to my already huge collection. I should be set for life!!!

Don’t miss the Artist Reception for the Saline Plein Air Painters Exhibit at My Favorite Cafe in Saline. Friday, 7-9pm, 101 South Ann Arbor Street.