We had out first spring paint-out this weekend. Everything was so green! It was quite a change of palette colors for us, and we had some difficulty focusing in on a subject. Green trees, green plants, green, green, green! Here's our easels set up for painting. The paintings are not finished, but even at this stage it is interesting to see that they are the same, but different. 

Winter into Spring

We set up to paint on a fine day. The nature center we were painting at had a sugar shack, with a big vat of syrup boiling away, and bucket hanging from the maples. We chose a spot to paint where the sun was chasing the last of the snow into the shadows. After a full day painting, 

Cheryl's husband treated us to a dinner of fried crappies that he had caught the night before. Painting, friends, and fresh fish! 

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. 

We paint outside!

We have painted outside together in many weather conditions, but this day was the biggest challenge. It was our first paint-out of the year, in Grand Marais, MN. The temperature was about 25 degrees below zero, with wind. COLD!!! But it was so beautiful. And the hot tub back at the motel was especially welcome!