This is the last painting I made in Harbor Springs when we were “up north.” I stopped on a quiet little dirt road far from the tourists when I saw the bright light filtering through the trees. There was NOBODY around. Halfway through the painting a car stopped and a couple stepped out to see my pastel landscape. We chatted for quite a while. Turns out the woman’s brother was a plein air artist –who died of Lyme’s disease! You would think being an artist is a poor-paying but relatively safe career. I guess not. I quickly applied another layer of bug repellant.
Pastel landscape painting of woods with sunlight streaming through the trees.
Pastel painting 12 inches x 9 inches
In the spring, summer and fall, I work almost completely en plein air-painting outside directly from the subjects that inspire me. But during the blustery winter months in Michigan, I do pastel paintings from the reference photo library I have built up over the years. We are lucky to live in an area where there is still pristine woods and fields. Forests have always inspired me and I love to do pastel landscapes of them, especially when sunlight creates an interesting focal point.
In this piece I concentrated on creating a lifelike fall scene, using a limited palette of colors and hues.
Pastel landscape painting of fields and forest in Montana
Pastel painting 12.5 inches x 18 inches
Thought I’d post more work from my Montana travels. I shot the reference photo for this pastel painting on the back of a horse as we traveled to a secluded valley with ancient indian paintings on the rock walls. So many neat things to experience out west and sooooo little time! I don’t bring my pastels with me on these trips. Its too rugged and they would be reduced to a pile of dust! But I take hundreds of photos to bring back and use as reference in my home studio.
Wishing you all an exciting, happy, and prosperous New Year!
Plein air pastel landscape painting of a stand of trees reflected in a lake.
Pastel painting 4.5 inches x 9 inches
Its been a crazy, happy week with family in town. And we are on “Baby Alert” with our second grandson due any minute. Very little art is being created in this studio!
I thought I’d post this small pastel painting I did recently at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor. Its all about the beautiful tree reflections in the lake. The ripples change every minute and it’s hard to capture them in plein air paintings. But I had fun trying!
I was honored to be profiled on the Artists in Pastel website today! Check it out if you get a chance!
Plein air pastel landscape painting of a Michigan river with autumn trees.
Pastel painting 8 inches x 11 inches
This is another pastel landscape from my plein air outing last weekend. There is a river that winds through the park in town and the reflections of the early morning light made for an interesting pastel painting. I think I may have gone a little crazy with color but the fall trees really DID seem that vibrant!
Don’t forget the Saline ArtWalk this weekend at the Stone Arch Arts and Events! The reception is Friday, 5-8pm and we will be demonstrating on Saturday and Sunday from 12-5pm, too. Y’all come by!
Plein air pastel landscape painting of a woodland stream lit by golden sunlight.
Pastel painting 8 inches x 11 inches
Another pastel painting from our second plein air trip to Parker Mill. I chose to paint the river again because the sparkling water was just too scrumptious to refuse. The sunlight cast a warm yellow reflection in the stream that really attracted me. It creates a natural pathway that leads you through the pastel landscape.
Plein air pastel landscape painting of light streaming through the woods near a river in Saline, Michigan
Pastel painting 6 inches x 9 inches $100
Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.
Another one of my pastel landscapes from Wellers a couple of days ago. The light bursting through the trees was almost psychodelic and had to be captured in pastel! Linda and Karen were out at the mill painting too, each working on a different scene. Its nice to have some buds to create art with. I really enjoy watching how other plein air artists approach their subject and how they use their chosen medium. There are always so many new things to learn!
Spring Cleaning Sale through June 15th! Any small blog painting (under $300) on sale for 30% off! Please contact me directly for your special piece of art.
Pastel painting of trees reflected in a river deep in the woods.
Pastel painting 10 inches x 10 inches SOLD
Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.
I have been crazy busy the last few days between work at our ann arbor advertising agency, studio work and GrandBaby time. I now have 5 of my planned 9 family portraits done for a project I am calling my “portrait quilt”. I am hoping to have it finished and hung for Thanksgiving so the whole fam damily can critique it!
This pastel landscape above is part of the “Michigan Reflections” series I am currently painting. I am so drawn to light and shadow and, if you throw a couple reflections in, I am a real goner. I liked playing with the heightened color in this piece. I wanted to evoke the feeling of an early morning walk and coming upon a gorgeous treasure of a place, deep in the woods, that no one else knew about…
