Hidden Farm ©

This is a plein air painting I painted one crisp morning before work.  I had to go to the location 3 times before completing the painting.  The farm is just down the road from me in northern Illinois......another in my series of farms.

Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Creating a Small Masterpiece - Farm On The Hill ©

I love to paint plein air: painting outdoors.  It forces me to paint quickly, using my creative sense rather than analyzing every stroke.  I can better capture the actual feelings a scene brings to mind.  Of course I always take some reference photos as I typically finish each small masterpiece in my studio.  I have included a picture of my easel and the work in process as well as one of my reference photos.  A picture of the finished small masterpiece,  follows.

Oil on canvas on panel, 8"H x 10"W
Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Farm On Button Road ©

I am doing a series of farm paintings that are in my area.  All are Plein air that are painted in the morning before work.  I am blessed to have so many farms in my area.....each having there own unique character.
Oil on canvas on panel, 8"H x 10"W

Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Path Through The Woods ©

This is a plein air painting I painted at Rock Cut State Park. The park is located near Rockford, Illinos, where I used to camp quite a bit. It's a beautiful park, where you can rent kayaks, paddle boats and canoes and just putts around the lake.

Oil on masonite, Framed, 8.5"H x 11.5"W

Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Farm On The Fox ©

Maddie, my granddaughter and I went plein air painting at Fox River Marina in Island Lake.  

This is her second year painting with me and we had such a wonderful time! She is quite the artist!

Oil on canvas on panel, 6"H x 8"W

Visit Ebay to purchase this oil painting. 

Peaceful ©

This is a plein air painting I did at the Fox River Marina in Island Lake. I used heavy bodied gesso and applied it to a Masonite board.  I love how the texture creates little surprises in the painting. 
Oil on canvas on panel, 6"H x 8"W
Visit Ebay to purchase this oil painting.
Click Here!

Crabtree Nature Center ©

Once a year, I give a morning workshop hosted by Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington, Illinois.  It is a beginning workshop that teaches students basic plein air techniques: how to start a painting, how to address light and shadow, and recommended supplies for painting outdoors. This small masterpiece started as a plein air demo during the workshop.  It was a beautiful day and everyone seemed to have a great time.

Oil on canvas on panel, 8"H x 10"W
Visit Ebay to purchase this oil painting.
Click Here!

Hiking ©

I painted this small masterpiece plein air in Richmond, illinois.  I just love the extreme shadows and bright light filtering through the tall trees, marking the hikers' path.  
Oil on canvas on panel, 9"W x 12"H
Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

A Little Piece of Paradise ©

This is a plein air painting I completed on Friday.  My friend Sherri has a friend who invited us to paint on her beautiful property outside of Harvard, IL . Everywhere we turned there was something exciting to paint......out buildings, ponds, flowers etc.. The woman who owns this wonderful property was so gracious and kind.  It was the perfect day; beautiful weather and wonderful friends to paint with!!

Oil on canvas on panel, 8"H x 10"W
SOLD

Winds A Howling on Lake Geneva ©

This is a plein air painting I did on the shores of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  Plein Air is a French expression which means "in the open air" and is often used to describe the act of painting outdoors. 

That day in Lake Geneva, the wind was blowing so hard that people in canoes on the lake were not even moving an inch while paddling like crazy.....That was so funny to watch.   My friends Karen and Jill came out to paint with me that day. It was their first time plein air painting and they had a blast. Their paintings were beautiful!!

Oil on canvas on panel, 8x10"
Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Summertime ©

I completed this small masterpiece on a trip to one of my favorite outdoor painting spots; Eagle, Wisconsin.   Eagle is a small town with a beautiful hidden park.  I try to go there at least every other year to paint.
Oil on canvas on panel, 8x10"
Visit Ebay to purchase this oil painting. 
Click Here!

Hilltop Farm ©

Just across the street from the Volo Bog, Illinois sits a red barn on a hill.  I was happy to have found the perfect site for my day of plein air painting. I just love the way the farm is nestled into the hillside.  I added the pink flowers in the foreground to draw the viewer to the beginning of the path leading to the red barn.

Oil on canvas on panel, 8 x 10"

Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Let's Take A Walk ©

This is a plein air painting I did in Richmond, Illinois.  I pass by this hiking trail every day on the way to work. I love the filtered light that comes through the trees and onto the path. It's so much fun painting outside.....You get to meet a lot of people who stop and watch you paint.

Oil on canvas on panel, 9"W x 12"H
SOLD

The Cheese Box ©

The Cheese Box has been a part of the resort town, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, for as long as I can remember.  In fact, I used to go there quite often as a child. The cheese curds are the best.  I used a reference photo to create this painting, but I would love to try it plein air this summer....stay tuned.

Oil on canvas on panel, 11"H x 14"W

Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Boggin'

This is a painting I did for the auction to be held at the Volo Bog Nature Center, Illinois. Every year they have an art show in order to educate the public regarding bogs and their importance in the state of Illinois.

This year, paintings must be delivered no later than June 26th.  The public is invited to view the paintings for one month, June 26 - July 26, and submit bids for the silent auciton.  There is a wonderful reception, open to the public, on Sunday, July 26th.  At that time the winning bids are revealed. 

Oil on canvas on panel, 8x8"
SOLD

Serenity ©

I had a lot of fun painting this small masterpiece. To me it feels very whimsical and carefree which was the mood I wanted to create. 
Oil on canvas on panel, 6 x 6"

Visit my Ebay Listing to purchase this.
Click Here!

Rosie ©

I created this small masterpiece from reference photos I took in Ely, Minnesota at the International Wolf Center.  The Center has five wolves living on a site of about one and a half acres.  The Wolf Center has a wonderful building for viewing the beautiful wildlife:  the entire back side is glass.  I enjoyed watching "Rosie" sunbathing and was inspired to record the moment.   
Oil on canvas on panel, 6"H x 8"W
Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Bluebird ©

I saw this bluebird the other day when all of the other birds were passing through. I don't think I have the right kind of seed for them (if they even eat bird seed) because they never stick around. Our neighbors have the bird houses set up for them so they aren't too far away.

Oil on canvas on panel, 6 x 6"
SOLD

Sunflower Garden ©

Sunflowers are a challenging yet joyful subject to paint.  The first challenge for me is painting a yellow flower using a combination of colors: not just yellow.  In this composition I added some unexpected red accents and a blue sky to complement the yellow flowers and green foliage. Voila: "Sunflower Garden" !

Oil on canvas on panel, 6"W x 8"H
Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Meadow In Colorado ©

On a recent visit to Colorado I spotted this scene. The yellow flowers beckoned me to explore the path and I was inspired to take a few reference photos.  I was happy to paint my impression of that moment when I returned home to my studio in Illinois. 

Oil on canvas on panel, 6 x 6"
SOLD

Sunflower With Attitude ©

"Sunflower With Attitude" was a bit of a stretch for me. I wanted to try a different composition and a little different style.  I had a blast creating this painting.
Oil on canvas on panel, 8 x 8 "
Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Just Around The Bend ©

I used a photograph I took in Wisconsin as my inspiration for this painting.  My friend and I were enjoying the scenery as we drove through the Wisconsin countryside, looking for things to paint....old barns...farm houses and such. We came across this wonderful red barn.  I think what intrigued me the most about the photo was how the pavement reflected little bits of the sky and the barn.

Oil on canvas on panel, 6"H x 8"W
SOLD

Early Morning Hike ©

This painting was completed during a Plein air competition held at the Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington, IL.  I love painting there, because there is so many beautiful areas to paint.  I am teaching  a free beginning plein air painting class on August 8th. For anyone interested you can contact Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington to sign up for the class.

Oil on canvas on panel, 6"H x 8"W
SOLD

IMWolf Buddies ©

I put this painting together from several pictures that I had taken up in Ely, Minnesota......and the North Woods of Wisconsin.  I love the serenity of the forest.

Oil on canvas on panel, 8"W x 10"H
Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Sam ©

Sam is one of the wolves that is residing at the International Wolf Center in Ely ,Minnesota. The wolves live in a fenced-in, wooded area about the size of an acre and a half. The wolf center building has windows from floor to ceiling that run the length of the building for observation and picture taking. Also in the building, there is a museum, gift shop and lecture room. It is a wonderful place to visit!

Oil on canvas on panel, 10"H x 10"W
SOLD

Reflections ©

Pictures I took up in the Nothwoods of Wisconsin inspired me to paint this small masterpiece. Most of my childhood vacations were spent in Tomahawk, Wisconsin.  I just love it up there.....SOOO many wonderful memories.

Here's something very interesting about Tomahawk, which is located in northern Wisconsin.   That is, it is interesting if you are a fan of the TV drama, The Sopranos.  Before 1837, the land where Tomahawk is now situated, belonged to the Ojibwe Indians.  The saying that someone posted in Anthony Soprano's hospital room when he got shot read.........

"Sometimes I go about in pity for myself, and all the while, a great wind carries me across the sky."

Ojibwe Saying as seen in The Sopranos, S6/E4

Oil on canvas on panel, 8"W x 16"H
Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this.
Click Here!

Minnesota Waters ©

I used the paint and destroy method to complete this small masterpiece.  You can read all about that technique in my last post. 
I enjoy the little surprises that evolve!!  Using a lot of thick paint makes it easier to maneuver my palette knife: my primary tool for this painting.
Oil on canvas on panel, 6"H x 8"W
SOLD