March 22, 2008 Painting on the lake shore north of Duluth

PALS (aka Plein Air Lake Superior), the name we assigned to our trio of artists - Lisa Stauffer, Michelle Wegler, and myself, decided to paint together despite the remaining signs of winter so soon after the equinox.

We set up our easels north of Duluth in Brighton Beach Park. Nearby the fishermen were casting into the the mouth of the river for trout and (get this) scuba divers were descending into the cold water. Sure signs of spring, right?

We love to paint birches -- hence the reason for picking this small but lovely park on Lake Superior. The weather was fairly warm so we didn't need the layers of gloves on our fingers. With the sun still fairly low in the sky, the shadows change quickly - requiring us to discontinue painting that scene or start a new piece.

After a fabulous lunch at the Scenic Cafe, we painted in the late afternoon light at a small rest stop north of Duluth. This time I painted a closeup of a craggy birch using a watercolor underpainting and soft pastel - finishing touches will await another day at the studio.

Just being outside in the warm sun with two friends - fellow artists who share my interests - is sheer joy.

Birches

Birch trees are a favorite subject for outdoor paintings. We return to them in different places and during different seasons. They are also very popular with the collectors of our work.