Wisconsin Plein Air Painters Honorable Mention

I was honored to receive an award over the weekend from the annual Wisconsin Plein Air Painters Association exhibit.  This painting "Fall Torch" received an honorable mention among so many wonderful paintings by Wisconsin artists.  The show runs through the end of June at Richeson Gallery in the Appleton area.   This was painted at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center last fall in that glorious late afternoon sun. 

A Spring Sunset

I love those moments in life when you stumble upon something special.  That happened a few months ago on our drive home from a pizza restaurant in Mequon and I noticed a sign for a city Park.  We happened to arrive when the sun was setting and it was beautiful.  No matter where you live, there are always special places close to home.  The Mequon park is Villa Grove.

Has anyone here seen Gertrude?

Ahhhh, the life of chickens and other feathered friends.  Out enjoying the sunshine and running around with a sense of urgency.  Who or what are they looking for??  A grub, the perfect corn kernel, leftover cabbage and greens?  The white chicken told me they are trying to find their wild-n-crazy chicken friend, Gertrude, who often wanders in the countryside and looks for greener pastures.  Naughty chicken!

The Chorus Line

When I saw these cows coming towards me, I felt like they were about to start dancing and singing in a chorus line.  But instead they are chomping the grass like a giant lawnmower.  As I continue painting cows, my goal is to focus on simplifying shapes to become more painterly.  All these legs of the Chorus Line can make my head spin!

Dozing Dames

Living in Wisconsin, it's hard to avoid these beautiful bovines.  Can't you just hear them chewing their cud on a beautiful summer day?

Melting before our eyes!

On Tuesday, my friend Lynn and I found a few patches of remaining snow and began painting.  At the end of our two hours, our subject changed dramatically.  Where once we had a hillside of snow, it was all gone!  The temps reached the 60s that afternoon making it a great day to paint.  We hiked about a mile back to our cars in mud and slush making it a great workout too.

More Schlitz Audubon plein air

Since there is no ice or snow along the lakeshore this year, I am focusing on painting trees in the winter.  I sometimes feel like my brain is "mush" after these paintings of all the complicated branches and patterns.  So I try to simplify the subject as much as possible.  Every brushstroke is a learning experience!