Reception at the Larson Gallery

What a beautiful gallery! The Larson Gallery on the St. Paul Campus of the U of M was the most recent site for our traveling exhibit "One View, Three Visions." I had not been to the gallery before, and was most pleased. The paintings were well displayed and viewers seemed to enjoy them. We received many positive comments, and several paintings now have new homes. We look forward to painting more for our next exhibit in Wausau, WI in 2011.

Painting at the Apple Festival

As members of the Lake Country Pastel Society we painted at the Gibbs Farm Museum in August as a part of a class we were in. The farm is very interesting, with it's prairie, old buildings, and animals, giving us an abundance of subject matter. The museum director asked us to return to paint during their Apple Festival, and to exhibit finished paintings from class. We were thrilled to accept their offer! The weekend turned out to have perfect fall weather, and there was a big turn out. We painted, learned more about apples, informed people about the art of pastel painting, and were pleased to have some happy customers purchase paintings from the exhibit.

Grand Marais Plein Air Event

We were part of a group of 41 artists who painted outside all week and entered our paintings at this annual event.

One of the categories was a painting completed at night. All three of our paintings were displayed together during the show.

Lisa and Michelle won the top pastel awards! Here is Michelle with the third place award winning painting in the pastels.

Summer Exhibits

Beautiful landscape paintings celebrate the natural world around us. We are blessed with lakes and trees and PALS gets outside in all seasons to bring you these paintings.

You are invited to join me and my painting PALS (Plein Air Lake Superior) to celebrate art exhibits.

Come visit with us and enjoy the paintings.

We will be at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Sunday June 27, 1:00-4:00. The wildlife refuge is a much under-appreciated treasure nestled amongst the strip malls and hotels of Bloomington. Bring your binoculars and walking shoes! The paintings will be exhibited until August 8.

Aug 9 - Aug 27: ArtReach St Croix, artist reception Aug 20, 6:00-9:00.

An Exhibit and an Interview

Lisa and I exhibit yearly at a local coffee shop. It's a way to have our paintings easy to enjoy by people who may not otherwise get a chance to see them. And you never know who will see them. This year we were contacted by a local college student asking to do interviews about being artists. We each spent time with her, asking and answering questions. Here is the resulting article: http://www.d.umn.edu/writ/jour/lakevoice/?p=1938

Winter Paint Out Paintings

Finished paintings from the paint-out week end. Looking at them brings back the memories of a beautiful evening.

Winter Paint Out and Camp!

When the Grand Marais Art Colony announced a winter camp and paint out, we signed up! Paint all day, stay at the lovely Camp Menogyn on West Bearskin Lake, have meals prepared and served, and paint at night too, with fellow artists from the art colony! What a deal! Sadly, Lisa got sick and was unable to join us. But her husband, Jay, was able to make it, and was kind enough to be our photographer between his shoots of the landscape.

The weather was fabulous while we were there, allowing Cheryl and Michelle to stay out all day, coming inside only when the meal bell rang. Painting under the full moon was an especially memorable experience. We look forward to camp again next year.

Ancient Rocks

Artists Point rocky outcropping is a favorite place to paint, especially in summer (hence the name!). We can enjoy the warm sun plus the cool breeze off the water. There is plenty of room to set up easels, and there is an ever changing pattern of pools on the rocks. The water changes in color throughout the day, contrasting with the permanence of the rocks, adding to the challenge of painting.

Cascade State Park Trees

Cascade State park was one of our stops during the week long painting intensive last summer. The park is named after the impressive waterfalls cascading over the rocks, but equally impressive is the stand of trees at the mouth of the river as it enters Lake Superior. The deepest part of the woods is barely penetrated by sunlight and smells of cedar, openings in the canopy add sparkle to the understory, and trees stand guard along the beach: a smorgasbord of painting delights!

Long Lake Cattail Pond

This cattail pond is in a park we frequently paint at. The pond is a favorite subject and we have painted it in many seasons-it always looks different and has something exciting to interest us. Plus there are bathrooms nearby and even a picnic area for us to have our lunch in the nice weather.

Midwest Seasons Art Exhibit

Lisa and I were honored to have paintings accepted into the Midwest Seasons Art Exhibit at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau, WI. Our paintings were well received by the viewers at the event. Many commented on how well our two pieces looked together! They would look great hanging together in someone's home or office.

Lisa's painting "Winter Birch" won an honorable mention award. I was fortunate to be able to attend the Gallery Gala on opening night, meet artists and art enthusiasts, and pick up Lisa's award for her.

Hudson Hospital Healing Arts

Our exhibit at the Hudson Hospital is up, many thanks to Margaret Welshons. The reception is not until February, so we haven't seen it yet. Many patients and their family and friends will be treated to viewing refreshing and restful paintings while at the hospital.