Framing Day!

Between summer park camps, Ballet class, and nap time, I am getting some paintings framed for Red Hot Art and Music Festival.  I also finished roughly 20 handmade journals / sketchbooks made with 100% cotton italian made paper.  These journals were the gateway for me to begin painting again.  They are also cheap therapy.  I am so excited to see what happens this weekend.    

8 x 10 oil on linen (sold)

8 x 10 oil on linen (sold)

9 x 12 oil on linen

I still have some journals left. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in one. ($25)

Lastly, here is a painting I did at an OPM (Outdoor Painters of Minnesota) paint out last Saturday.  The paint out was at the home of a talented gardener who combined Horticulture and Permaculture to create a beautiful and healthy landscape.

9 x 12 oil on linen

July Plein Airs

Lutsen, MN 8 x 10 (sold)

At the end of June I was lucky enough to take a plein air painting class with the talented Kami Mendlik.  The class of 16 worked on finding the big shapes and seeing the color of light.  I have been trying to lock in what I learned; trying to hone my eye for color and value. 

Hyland lake Park restored prairie
9 x 12 oil on linen

I had a lot of fun painting this.  I packed up and headed out at the last minute on a week day evening.  I had to choose my subject fast so I would not run out of light.  A couple of deer bounded by about an hour into painting.  

Poplar River Lutsen, MN
9 x 12 oil on linen

 This was very challenging as a plein air and I am not entirely sure I am happy with it, but I do like parts of it.  A woman walked by when I was about half done.  She stopped looked at my canvas and said,  "Well, it is not as bad as what I would do.... uh uh I mean it is better than anything I could do." I have so been this woman before aka foot in mouth syndrome.