The Old Tool Shed©

The Old Tool Shed ©
The Mainstreet Art Center staff went up to The Clearing in Dorr County,  Wisconsin for
four days of painting and fun!!  The weather was so awesome I ended up Plein Air painting
all four days! This is the first of three that I painted.

Original Oil Painting On Canvas Panel.    6"x12"

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Out My Front Porch ©

This is a plein air painting of the land across the street from my house.  Every morning the sun hits the trees in different ways, each day revealing something prettier than the day before. On this particular morning I spotted a deer, so of course I had to put her in the painting.

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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.

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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"

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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
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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"
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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
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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
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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
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Northwoods Paradise ©

Oil on canvas on panel, 6"H x 8"W
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Still Waters ©

MainStreet Art Center in Lake Zurich, IL offers a variety of workshops conducted by accomplished artists from all over the USA.  I attended a Dawn Emerson workshop in early November.  One of the exercises Dawn taught included using a single reference photo to create a series of paintings: different sizes and compositions.  This small masterpiece, Still Waters, is first in a series.  I used a reference photo I took in Ely, Minnesota this fall.

Oil on canvas on panel, 8x8"
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Volo Bog ©

Volo Bog Nature Center has a wonderful artist reception where the artist paintings are on display and up for bid.  My painting sold!!
Oil on canvas on panel, 6x8"
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Peaceful Valley ©

Peaceful Valley is a pleair painting I did at the Fox River Preserve and Marina. I had a lot of fun painting with fr

Peaceful Valley is a plein air painting I did at the Fox River Preserve and Marina. I had a lot of fun painting with friends...and the weather was oh so nice! 
Oil on canvas on panel, 8x8"
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