Plein air watercolor painting of an old farm from across the spring fields.

Watercolor painting 6 inches x 9 inches 100

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This watercolor painting was done just outside Petoskey on a huge hill that overlooks the town and Lake Michigan. Its an area I return to year after year. It has dramatic rural views, something I love to capture in plein air watercolor landscapes. This particular scene  created a “Z” composition.

Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a road and fields on a Montana ranch.

Watercolor painting 15 inches x 5.5 inches $200

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I painted this plein air watercolor landscape when I was out west visiting my sister. She worked as a marketing director on the coolest ranch in southwest Montana. They raised and trained high-end quarter horses for sale. The ranch was stunningly beautiful and I painted alot out there for a few summers. You can see some of my other paintings from that time here.

But Beth has moved on and started a new business. She and our other sister, Lynn, now create and sell beautiful personalized jewelry in platinum, gold, silver and other metals. If you are in the market for a truly special piece of fine jewelry, checkout Sorella Jewelry Studio.

Plein air pastel landscape painting of a distant farm from the autumn fields.

Pastel painting 10 inches x 8 inches       SOLD

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Some of the painters around Saline, Michigan are coming together to exhibit artworks of a special farm near our town. “Visions of Braun Farms” will be displayed in January and February of next year in downtown Saline. I have completed one piece, but on Sunday I thought I’d try another plein air pastel landscape painting of the beautiful old farm. The fields had all been plowed under and there was very little local color this late in November. But I was drawn to the buildings on the crest with the tractor tracks leading up to them. As I painted, a storm clouds appeared to be moving in so I included them to create a little drama.

Plein air pastel painting of a farmhouse and fields in late afternoon.

Pastel painting 11 inches x 8.5 inches       $200

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What a perfect afternoon for plein air pastel painting! The autumn leaves have all dropped here in Michigan but the fields are still colorful and the light today was fantastic. I’ve wanted to paint Braun Farm in Saline for years now, and I finally got the push I needed when I found out that my pastel group is going to have a show with this farm as the only subject matter. Its a beautiful old place right near town, owned by a couple of brothers, who, I believe, have put the property in a land trust so it will never be filled with industrial sprawl. The light on the fields in late afternoon is almost dreamlike and sooooo peaceful. It was just begging to become a pastel landscape!

Plein air pastel landscape painting of a golden autumn field and distant tree line.

Pastel painting 9 inches x 6 inches       $100

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After the nice farmer man offered me his “back yard” to paint in, I drove way back in to his fields til I found this intriguing scene. I liked the strong diagonal of the grassy lane and the endless golden fields. The colorful little trees in the background made a perfect focal point. I painted quickly because now it was after five p.m. and REALLY cold. But I’m happy I stayed to add this pastel painting to my autumn landscape series. In a couple of months, when winter descends,  I’m sure I will be pining for this type of “mild” weather…

Plein air pastel painting of sunlit fields in autumn

Pastel painting 11 inches x 8 inches       $200

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Another pastel landscape painting from my plein air travels last weekend. I was wandering around the farms south of Ann Arbor and noticed the sunlight illuminating the soybean crops and the green fields beyond. The colors were almost psychedelic and the stand of trees in the foreground made a perfect focal point. I’m really drawn to the way forests in the distance turn a vibrant shade of blue when seen through the atmosphere…

Visited the Chelsea Painters show at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti last night. Wonderful portrait and figure paintings inspired me to work on a new series of watercolor portraits!

Plein air pastel landscape painting of a distant barn seen from the fields

Pastel painting 9.5 inches x 6 inches       SOLD

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This beautiful old farm on Judd Road in Saline caught my eye last weekend. On cloudy days, it would seem like the landscape should be dull and drab, but its really the exact opposite. All the colors become hyper saturated in relation to the dismal sky.  I love autumn in Michigan when all the crops turn rusty ochre. To me, a pastel painting of golden soy bean fields can be more exciting than the traditional landscapes filled with brightly colored fall trees. I painted this piece on white paper that I had underpainted with a bright red watercolor wash. I like to leave some of that red color peaking through the pastel to unify the painting.

Hope the weather holds so that I can get out again this weekend…

Pastel painting of Queen Anne's Lace in a meadow in Michigan.

Pastel painting 10 inches x 10 inches   $450

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A couple of weeks ago, I went out to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens to photograph the flowers that were blooming. I snapped a few interesting photos, but the surrounding meadows, teaming with Queen Anne’s Lace, really grabbed my attention. I’ve done a few pastel paintings of wild flower fields lately. I like the randomness of the blooms blowing in the breeze. They seem so pure and free and make dynamic flower paintings. To me, they are a gorgeous and perfect symbol of late summer in Michigan.

The Ann Arbor Pastelists are having a reception for our new show at Mallet Creek Library in Ann Arbor on Friday night. Please stop by from 6:30-8:30 pm to see amazing works from talented pastel artists!

Plein air pastel landscape painting of rolling fields and a farm in the distance.

Pastel painting 9 inches x 6 inches   $100

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The fields are all starting to turn and the colors are becoming more like autumn here in southern Michigan. In the late afternoon, the sun casts a warm, golden light on the farmland near our home. To me, it is simply irresistible.

I am constantly drawn to this type of  pastel landscape painting, over and over again. I swear it is because, in some earlier incarnation, I was born and raised on a MidWest farm very much like this one. I can’t explain my fascination with barns, and crops and fields in any other way. I certainly don’t know much about that lifestyle. I just can’t stop painting farmscapes!

Plein air pastel landscape painting of an old farm in Michigan

Pastel painting 8.5 inches x 11 inches   $200

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It was a beautiful and sunny on Saturday, so i wandered the dirt roads west of our home looking for a likely subject to paint. I did this pastel landscape sitting under a shade tree on Lindeman Road. The gorgeous old farmhouse looked like it had been build in the mid 1800’s but was beautifully kept up with loving care. Even the crops looked neat.

Plein air pastel landscape painting of an old white farmhouse and fields.

Pastel painting 11 inches x 8.5 inches   $200

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Another pastel landscape painting from my plein air foray last weekend. The dappled sunlight on this old farmhouse seemed to sparkle in the early morning, and the field with its purple-flowered crop made it all the more enticing. My dog, Roxy, sat at my feet the whole time, staring up at me and the easel. She was so patient. But I’m sure she thought her mom was crazy to be wasting time like this when she could be chasing all those yummy squirrels…

Speaking of animals….

I’m taking commissions for pet portraits! Wouldn’t you just love to give a friend or family member a portrait of their furry friend for the holidays? Email me if I can solve your gift giving problems for the upcoming holiday season…

Plein air pastel landscape painting of rolling fields in early morning.

Pastel painting 6 inches x 9 inches   $100

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Finally got a chance to get out and paint this morning! 8:30 am, out in the fields with my dog, Roxy. The sun was in and out, and every once in a while, the light on the fields was heavenly. On mornings like this, painting plein air pastel landscapes is pure joy!