This summer my husband's family and I made a trip to Door County, Wisconsin.  A beautiful Midwest area that has a true coastal feel.  I had never been before and was excited to take my plein air kit with.  We explored all over Door County tasting delicious cherry confections ( grown locally), toured lighthouses and boated on Lake Michigan.  I wanted to try and sneak in a plein air painting within the trip but was very conscious of everyone's time.  I do not want to hold up everyone by staying in one spot painting for 2 to 3 hours.  I did really want to paint a lighthouse from life.  So thankfully we made it work where I was able to set up and paint the Cana Island Lighthouse.  My husband sat and read a book while the others went on to do something else. 

I was very pleased with the way the painting turned out.  We toured quite a few more lighthouses on our trip and I wished I could paint them all.   Maybe another time, on my lonesome. 

I also wanted to paint some boats in a harbor.  Living on the prairie there is no such thing to paint.  I mean, I guess that isn't true.  We do have slips for boats, but what is romantic about a pontoon? ;)  Once again keeping in mind everyone's time, I chose after dinner to go to the marina and find a boat.  My husband's father is also an artist and came with.  He sketched in ink and I set up my oils.  The light ran away as the sun went down and eventually we had to pack up.  I took a photo of the scene in hopes to someday finish it in the studio.  I loved the name of the boat. 

We had so much fun exploring Door County.  I think we came home with 10+ pounds of cheese.  I would recommend to anyone to visit Door County Wisconsin.  They have goats on roofs, cherries galore and the best cheese you will ever taste ( Renard's Terrific Trio Cheese).

This summer I was able to attend a painting seminar held by one of my favorite artists Charles Dayton at his ranch in Cokeville, Wyoming.  It was three days of plein air painting western landscapes, animals and people.  I met so many kind and TALENTED painters.  We had incredible instructors like Chad Poppleton, Charles Dayton and Grant Reddin.  Along with some beautiful models.  I was so tickled to be there.  

Before arriving in Cokeville, I made a small detour to Park City, Utah to drop off the largest painting/ commission I've ever completed to some very good friends.  It was YEARS overdue, which I am embarrassed to admit.  Charles Dayton later told me that he does not accept commission work because he's quote " too selfish" and just wants to paint what he wants to paint.  And I agree with him.  Our good friends really enjoyed the painting and have told me they get guests complimenting it.  

Along with instruction and plein air painting, we were able to collect reference photos from the many beautiful models.  One of the models, CJ, was a legitimate mountain man.  He told stories about how he makes his own buckskin clothing, beaded and all.  And took commission work for the garments he made.  He goes to the mountain man rendezvous every year. His stories were just fascinating.  6 degrees of separation never ceases to amaze me, as we had never met before but were both tied to G Bar G Bronc Saddles at one point in our lives.

I think my true love is painting people.  I so enjoyed painting this model Jessica.  Our plein air painting times were incredibly short, only an hour to and hour and a half with multiple breaks in between.  Like everything in life, I'm slow at painting.  But I was semi happy with what I was able to accomplish and even more thrilled when Jessica and her husband really liked the piece.  I gave her the painting and she gladly accepted.  

If you ever have a chance to go, I would highly suggest this seminar.  You can find more information on it on Charles's website.

https://charlesdayton.com/workshops

We headed to the cabin for a nice long weekend and I was excited to get some plein air painting in. Our dog Hunter has an obsession with water and loves to retrieve sticks. Believe it or not, he has competed in Dock Dog competition numerous years with his best jump length being 6 feet! Not bad for a little cocker spaniel. During this painting I would momentarily stop painting and grab more sticks to throw for him.  Which turned out to be very helpful as I got to step back and look at the painting with fresh eyes. This painting was very rewarding as I learned how to use hog bristle brushes which in another life would intimidate the heck out of me.  I enjoy how this painting came out and it now hangs in the cabin. 

We used to call this island Dooby Island as youngsters.  We used to go out on our paddle boat, light a little camp fire and burn the end of wooden kebab stick and pretend to smoke them.  No actual doobies were ever smoked.  We would get in HUGE trouble if we were caught starting a campfire.  We spent lots of time fishing for bass off this island.  We learned if you tied your leech a little bit above the hook, you wouldn't loose your leech half as much. Because who wanted to put on yet another leech. 

We went on a lovely trip to the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming with our dear friends. I was very excited to get to paint some mountains. Living on the prairie , I dont ever get that opportunity. While the fellas went on a hike of death, I stayed back and got to painting.  Hunter on the other hand wished he had gone with the boys on a hike.  He is not a very patient sitter. My main goal of this painting was to catch the light on the snow-covered tops of the Bighorns, but I'm not too sure that registers. But no-doubt a beautiful painting location.

And the finished piece! Oil on cradled birch.