Windermere Hotel    8x10    $300

This is the other painting I did outside the Victorian Summer Gallery on Mackinac Island.  I took a bunch of photos at almost twilight.  I wasn't sure how dark my camera would let me go... It can take great night time pictures if I use the manual options, but since I don't know how to use them, I stick with automatic and take my short period of time it'll work before it gets too dark.  I fit in some great shots.  I love seeing lights on inside at night.

My trip to Mackinac really inspired me.  I missed two boat rides because I didn't want to quit painting... I'm on a roll and I have to take advantage of it!  I'm currently working on Joann's Fudge Shop at night... the photo is absolutely illuminating!  Here's hoping the painting turns out the same way! Know your passions and feed them!

Hotel Iroquois    8x10    $300

This painting is available at the Victorian Summer Gallery / Lilacs and Lace at http://lilacsandlace.com

I painted this outside the gallery on the island.  It was such a wonderful opportunity!  I just love that island... I know I write about riding bikes all the time... and eating fudge, but apparently, besides painting, those are also my passions!  I'm already looking forward to going back next year.  I took so many photos to paint this winter that I want to get started right away!  My new camera performed even better than I expected.  I bought a Nikon P100 just before my last outdoor art show in Ann Arbor, MI with a 26 mm zoom and it's awesome!  It worked great on the island because I could get those close-ups that were never available to me before.

Life is good.  School is soon starting... which means volunteering at school begins also.  I'm not an especially organized person, but I'm hoping for a miracle because I have to squeeze out every minute of painting time I can muster.  My goal is to put together a number of paintings of Mackinac by spring... first, I have to organize my photos... ugh!  Time to get busy.  Feed your passions!

The Island House II    18x14

I just finished this painting to bring to The Victorian Summer Gallery / Lilacs and Lace on Mackinac Island.  I'll be painting at the gallery on August 23 & 24 from 1pm to 4pm.  I'm bringing my new camera with a 26mm zoom lens and it's going to bring me a world of new painting opportunities.  I will be painting, taking cool pictures or riding my bike for a glorious 3 days and I'm really looking forward to it. 

We are picking up our new exchange student from Denmark on Monday and we are so excited to have him!  We've talked through email and feel like he's a treasured family friend already!  He's a football player and will be playing with our local high school.  Football games are in our fall plans and I'm ready to go with my thermos for hot chocolate, padded bleacher seat & warm blanket.  I can't even believe I'm thinking about cool nights on a hot, humid day like today, but there it is.  It's going to be a great fall season!  I know I shouldn't even be talking about cooler weather, but hey, the school season is looming... school supplies are in the stores and I can't help it...  On that note, appreciate every day left of summer... savor it... Feed your passion!

Arriving at Mackinac   14x18

This painting just sold at the Victorian Summer Gallery on Mackinac Island.  This is the view arriving to Mackinac from the ferry. It's such a happy time knowing you have the island waiting with long bike rides, fudge and no cars or worries!  We'll be heading up there soon and I'm very excited to get some new photos for future paintings.  I hope the new owners will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed painting it! 

Another artist to check out is Phil Beck at http://www.mountaintrails.com/artistArtwork.cfm?ArtistId=44
I met him on Facebook and he is awesome great.  Incredible even.  You do not want to miss Phil's work... it's jaw dropping amazing!  Feed your passion!

Docked Under the Willows    24x36

I was drawn to this scene because of the contrast in the water and the Willow trees.  What a quiet, peaceful place on Harsen's Island in Michigan.  I painted the trees with fervor and let myself go to paint intuitively as opposed to thinking it over too much.  I love it when I'm able to do that...

Yellow Sailboat    16x20    $900

This is a painting of a cottage we go by in our boat.  It looks so inviting!  I know there are some good times being had in that cottage.

I've begun the journey of networking on Facebook.  I mean really putting a lot of time into meeting and getting to know other artists and their work.  I'm not exactly technologically challenged, but I'm close.  It's been overwhelming actually.  I have so many responses in my inbox every day that I'm having trouble keeping up!  I had no idea the talent out there. 

There are so many amazing artists right at our fingertips and we need only to press a few buttons to bring them to life.  Here's a couple to check out: Susan Renee Lammers at http://reneelammers.com/blog she paints oil on copper and is having a painting marathon in the month of August... she's giving a great deal on her paintings this month so you should check it out soon!  Also, check out Ken Dewaard at http://kendewaard.com.  These are two incredible artists and believe me you, it's worth your time!  Feed your passion!

Cliffs at Blackhead, Monhegan Island    8x10    $300

I don't recall who I heard this from but the advice was this: paint with paint.  The idea was that I was not using enough paint and as a result I had nothing to manipulate on the canvas.  I always think of that when I hear the scrape of the canvas and it puts me right back on track.  I love freshness in a painting, bold, decisive strokes when you can tell there were no second thoughts involved in the process. They certainly aren't all like that, but hey, you have to take them when you can get them!  I adore so many areas in Maine.  I have many paintings of Maine from photos that my sister has taken for me.  I feel like it could be home to me even though I've never physically stepped foot in Maine!  My sister and her husband go every year and now my parents are going too.  My day will come... 

I've mentioned Colin Page before, he is an incredible painter and I check out his new work weekly.  His website is http://www.colinpagepaintings.com/journal  This week my favorite painting of his is a commission he recently did called "Maine Summer Day" of a floating dock on a lake.  It's so beautiful and you feel like you're there getting ready to jump in! Artist's like Colin make it easy to FEED YOUR PASSION!

House on Mackinac    12x9   $350  

I did some research and found the information on the wood lamp sculpture artist... Billy Hall.  His website is http://www.glowingwoodsculptures.com  I really do think it's worth your time to check this guy out.  He's fantastic!  Let me say that his website doesn't do his work justice.  I've seen it in person and it's way more amazing than what his website shows.

I couldn't find the windmill guy's information but I'll keep trying!  There was another incredible artist who does life size sculptures of people and, no kidding, you can not tell the real from the sculpture!  They were mind bending.  His name is Marc Sijan from Milwaukee, WI.  You can check out his website at http://www.marcsijan.com  Remember the wax museums?  The people were very life like, but they didn't seem alive.  These are like that only better!  They look alive!  You have to see it to believe it.  His website is great.

This is what great art shows do to you, they make you excited to learn of new talent and want to get the word out!  Check it out!  Feed your passions!

I just got back from the the State Street Area Art Fair and the art work was incredible!  There was a man
(I wish I would have gotten his card) who made wooden lamps that were illuminated from the inside and they looked like glass!  The wood was so thin that the light showed every grain in the wood and the colors were amazing!  I thought they belonged in a museum! There was also a man who made super tall (15 feet maybe) windmills with beautiful, glass ornaments.  There were so many things going on them at once...  it was really something to see.  If I win the lottery, I will have to look him up! 

I go to many art shows and the Ann Arbor shows really do take the cake. It really is a once a year opportunity to view some wonderful art you just won't get to see anywhere else.  Although it was hot, I was on Maynard Street off State and it is known to be something of a wind tunnel. The breezes were great and kept us pretty cool... until the storms came....  I am so grateful that they provided 5 gallon cement weights for each tent!  A tent went down a couple down from me and the man that did the windmills also lost one of his beautiful works of art.  I'm not one to exaggerate, but I'm quite sure the winds were 60 mph... at least!  It was an adventure and I highly recommend attending next year if you didn't get the chance this year.

The Island House on Mackinac   8x10

This painting recently sold at the Victorian Summer Gallery on Mackinac Island.  This is the place we used to stay at as kids.  My dad sailed the Mackinac race for many years and my mom and us girls would drive up to spend a week along with other friends.  It was a huge blast!  All the kids would stay in one room with sleeping bags all over the floor.  We'd go to the pool at the Grand Hotel and spend the day and ride bikes until dark and beyond.  The best part was the freedom.  We were free to roam the island and spend our money in the souvenir shops on giant combs and foot long, fat pencils and beautiful Indian dolls... not to mention the fudge.  When we ran out of money, we'd find our parents in the Pink Pony, reload and hit the streets once again.  It makes me smile just thinking about it.  I hope it makes the new owners smile too!  What makes you smile?  Feed your passions!