BEACH BUDDIES

After my sister's visit it was time to return to the beach.  These seagulls acted like best buddies as they flew together, found food treasures together, skirted people and obstacles on the beach together, and hopped up and down together.  What a joy it was to paint them and watch them move about - together. 

Bluebird of Happiness

I painted this bluebird in my friend, Lori's, studio last week and really enjoyed borrowing her ceramic bluebird and antique pitcher for my still life set-up.  When I was close to finishing my painting and making decisions on my edge work and color notes, I was surprised to see I had borrowed something else from Lori.  I had borrowed her reflection (as she painted next to me) and had painted it as a shape in the vase.  Look closely and you will see her painting away.  Have a happy weekend. 

Two Bee or Not Two Bee

Two bees were working this sunflower today.  It reminded me of Shakespeare's famous line from Hamlet as I painted, "To be, or not to be, that is the question."  A possible answer to Shakespeare's question came up at last weeks Bible study, on the first eight chapters of Genesis.  This question was asked,"Why would a God of Love create death for Adam and Eve after they left the Garden of Eden?"  One of the answers given was that eternal life with corruption, illness and evil would be unbearable if it went on for eternity.  So God in his goodness gives us something better, relief from all evils, and only goodness forever.  I wonder what Shakespeare would say to that answer?

Duck Tail

This is one of farmer Greg's ducks.  He also has rabbits, goats, chickens, cats, a wife and three blond children.  Greg read an article about people in Europe paying farmers to camp on their farms and was intrigued by this idea.  The European farm campers stay in canvas cabins with flooring, a deck, beds, chairs, and a filling farm breakfast.  Even hot showers are available.  Most of the campers are families and they camp on the farms so their children can experience the farm life by gathering eggs, feeding the livestock, doing choirs and picking produce in season for a weekend. Would you pay to camp on a farm here in the USA?  I certainly would!

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. 

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.

WHO'S GUARDING THE HENHOUSE?

I just returned from the 2012 Cedarburg Plein Air Paint Out.  It was a hot week for painting in Cedarburg this year, since temperatures were in the high nineties everyday I painted.  The painting that I am posting today is a painting I did last year at the 2011 paint out.  The rule for The Cedarburg Plein Air Paint Out is to finish the entire painting in --- WELL ---  plein air or completely outside with no tweaking in the studio.  This painting just wasn't finished when the light changed, so I enhanced it in the studio a few weeks ago.  I offer it for sale now while I finish putting in a late garden instead of painting today.