SUNSET WITH PURPLE?

My title has a question mark at the end because no one on our northeasternWisconsin lake knows what plant this is on my neighbor's property.  Joe and his family live to the west of my lake cottage and he was excited when my friend, Lori, and I came to paint on his property.  His cabin would have been a nice subject but flowers usually catch my interest and these purple flowers? with their height and color grabbed my attention. Setting up to paint them was a challenge though since Joe's property has quite a sloping yard down to the lake.  Thank goodness for adjustable legs on my easel!  If only my own legs adjusted as well, I would have been more comfortable as I painted.  After visiting with Joe for a time and sketching in my subject - the purple flowers? - it was time to settle in to paint quickly as the sun started to go down.  Later that evening I googled purple perennial flowers and couldn't find a match.  Then I looked in my gardening books (I have a lot of gardening books) and didn't find a match.  Do you happen to know what they are called?  They are about 4 feet tall and grow on the southern bank above the lake in full sun.  If you might know their name please let me know in the comment section below this post.  Once I have their name I can order some for my own garden. Thank you. 

EGG HUT

To be invited onto someones property to paint is such an honor.  My fellow artist friend, Pamela Ruschman, had permission for us to paint at this farm.  The chickens, cats, ducks, sheep, rabbits and children kept us entertained as we painted.  This young farm couple raises most of their families food themselves and sell eggs to the buying public.  This painting features one of their (loud - he wanted my attention so I put him in the painting) roosters, quiet ducks, and the Egg Hut.  Many times I had to pause while painting when an egg buyer drove up, put their money in the jar (the honor system at it's finest) opened the refrigerator and took out the eggs they wanted to buy.  I am glad the process was fast since their car would block my view as they 'gathered' their eggs. 

COTTAGE FLOWERS

I love summer at the lake in Wisconsin.  Warmth and sunshine with deep blue skies during the day, with cool evenings that might bring a passing storm or gentle shower.  But the best part of summers at the lake has to be our many friends that come to see us at our cottage.  Many of my friends are painters and we look forward to our quiet plein air painting time in each others company.  Breaks and or lunch contain spirited discussions about the progress of our work and catching up on our lives.
This painting, 'Cottage Flowers,' captures the joyful day I spent painting along side my art friend, Lori Beringer.

Diary of an Arts Pastor: On the vocation of an artist: Part II

I think all my artist friends who read my blog will find this blogger's information very interesting so I have posted it here.  Diary of an Arts Pastor: On the vocation of an artist: Part II: René François Ghislain Magritte (1898-1967) "All art is an imitation of nature." Seneca (4 BC - 65 AD) "Man is god over all the mat...

DANCING WATER

IT IS RAINING, AGAIN!  This is wonderful since we haven't had rain for a week and the temperatures have soared into the high 90s everyday.  Most summers we are blessed with mild temperatures of mid-70s and low 80's.  The air conditioners (if our homes even have them) are rarely turned on during a 'normal' northeastern Wisconsin summer.  I am so relieved to have the rain for the moisture it gives to the plants in my gardens and the more normal temperatures it will bring.  The waterfalls will be rushing and dancing once again and the trout will be swimming in larger pools of water than have been available to them for a few weeks. 

HOW SWEET THE SOUND

It has been a hot and dry summer here in Wisconsin.   Everyone but especially our farmers are concerned about their crops, live stock and the seeds they are growing for next years crops.  Living in Northeastern Wisconsin we are blessed with lots of lakes and rivers plus seventeen named waterfalls.  (You can even get a map and take a self guided tour by car to see the falls, but it takes an entire day to visit them all.)  Not only are the falls beautiful to visit and paint but their streams feed rivers that then produce our hydroelectricity for our communities.  Today our electrical and crop concerns have been minimized since it is finally raining on the land and into the streams so the waterfalls are rushing once again.  The sound of the rushing water over the rocks is oh so sweet.  I hope all of our other Wisconsin Counties receive rain today as well.

Tractor Break

We need rain in most of our counties here in Wisconsin. The grass is 'crunchy' under our feet.  Ozaukee County, where this painting was painted really needs rain.  With irrigation most of the crops are growing well, but rain is still needed.  My garden here at home is being watered today from our trusty Simer water pump that is in our lake, for irrigating my neighbors and my gardens.  We are so lucky to have this water source and the pump!  Since we have a well for our drinking water we wouldn't be able to irrigate the garden from the well without fear of lowering our water table.