Plein air watercolor painting of the lighthouse near Charlevoix, Michigan

Watercolor painting 9 inches x 13 inches

Please contact me if you are interested in this artwork.

I’m on a comparison binge this week. The watercolor painting above was done plein air a couple of years ago in Charlevoix, Michigan. And the pastel landscape below was done plein air last year. Almost the same seascape view but using very different mediums.

Happy Anniversary Johnny Wags!

Plein air pastel landscape painting of the lighthouse at Point Betsie near Frankfort, Michigan

Pastel painting 8 inches x 11 inches

We just returned from a wonderful week in my favorite part of Michigan: Up North. We attended the opening of a new show including two of my pastel Orchard paintings at Tvedten Fine Art in Harbor Springs. Then traveled over to Traverse City for the Film Festival, and spent the last 3 days at our friend’s cottage on beautiful Crystal Lake. We were having so much fun, I found it difficult to tear away and paint. But i did find time to create a few pastel paintings that I am very happy with.

This is pastel landscape painting of the lighthouse at Point Betsie is one of my favorites. It was a sunny, windy day with very few people at the point. I was able to pick a view where the diagonals of the shadows matched up with the angles on the window roofs. Always a bonus. Plus, I think I managed to quit before I overworked it!

Pastel plein air painting of the Charlevoix lighthouse in midday sun.

Pastel painting 8.5 inches x 11 inches   $200

Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.

This lighthouse is like a magnet for me for some reason. This is the third time I’ve painted it in the last 2 years. I think it attracts me because it’s so stark and minimalist against the bright blue sky. Sometimes painting pastel landscapes can be overwhelming because there is SO MUCH out there to choose from that it becomes difficult to focus. Every once in a while, its nice to approach a simpler, straightforward subject!