A Few New Paintings

Happy 4th!  We'll be celebrating by eating as much food as possible. :)

Also, I've finally gotten around editing a couple images of two of my newest paintings:


Doe - 18x18" - Oil on Canvas


Unicorn - 22x22" - Oil on Canvas

These two and 18 others are up in Milwaukee at River Edge Gallery until the 28th of July!  Make sure you check them out if you are in the area. :)

Camping & Painting Trip in Wisconsin

I love camping.  I think there is nothing better than sleeping under the stars.  This last week I went on a camping/plein-air painting trip with some amazing friends who met me at Governor Dodge State park in Wisconsin.

I only had my camera the last day, but I tried to make good use of it.  

Governor Dodge State Park is in Wisconsin's 'driftless' region - it is an area that was not hit with the second round of glaciers that flattened out much of wisconsin's landscape.  

The four of us spent most of our time painting waterfalls, lakes, cliffs, and forests.  We also managed to see a lot of wildlife: raccoon, turtles, muskrats, chipmunks, birds, and snakes.  It was just the kind of mental break I needed after frantically preparing for my solo show.  Instead of working 25 or more hours on a piece, it was a good experience to work 20 minutes on paintings.

Amanda, painting in the sunshine.  

Michelle with quite possibly the best plein-air painting chair ever.

And the four of us after four days in the outdoors - we are looking pretty good!  Nina, Michelle, Amanda, and I.  

And, last but not least, a few of the 14 paintings that I did while relaxing in the woods.  

I had such an amazing time, and I hope we'll do it again next year!  

Show Opening!

I'm back!  Sorry for the long break, I've been crazy busy getting my show ready to hang!  It opened last week, and it was so nice to see everything come together, and it was great to see so many of my friends and family members at the opening.

Here are some shots from the opening:

The show will be up until the 28th of July at River Edge Gallery - If you are in the Milwaukee area you should check it out! 

Summer.

Lilacs in Bloom

My favorite spot.

Tilled and planted the backyard garden last week.

Already enjoying some of the spoils.  The baby romaine decided to re-seed itself, so now we'll have a consistent supply of lettuce until our other veggies start to produce.  :)

I love having a garden.

Recently

I've been spending a lot of time in the studio lately despite being sick as a dog.

I started this guy a few nights ago.

And began this one as well.

The last few days I've spent mostly laying on the couch while nursing what turned out to be bronchitis/an upper respiratory infection.  I'm on antibiotics now, but it wasn't pretty for a while there.  My Grandpa C is also on the mend today.  Early yesterday morning he was rushed to the hospital for a burst appendix.  He had gone to another hospital initially, but they had sent him home without diagnosing him with appendicitis.  Please keep him in your thoughts and send some positive energy his way!  He'll need a lot of it as he heals.  It is tough being so far away from family when this kind of thing happens. :(

Anyhow, while I was confined to the couch, I started a new crochet project:

It is a blanket for my godson Noah who will be arriving in mid-August!  My sister chose the colors, and I made up the pattern.  I can't wait for his arrival! :)  

Well, here's to hoping these grey days pass soon and sunnier days are ahead.  

In the Studio

I finished two paintings this week:

Elephant - 18x18" - Oil on Canvas

Chipmunk - 16 x 20" - Oil on Canvas

My show in Milwaukee is only a month away! :)

New toy.

I may or may not have gotten a new iPad over the weekend.

I also got a new haircut.  So much better!  I ended up donating over 10' of hair. :)

I've also been a busy bee in the studio lately, I think all of this time away from other human beings is starting to get to me. 

Growing

Everything in the garden is coming to life!

Flowers are popping up,

The chives are doing swimmingly.  

The oregano is huge already!

And seedlings have been purchased.  They'll sit out on the porch for a week or so to harden off and then they are going in the ground.