Tag Archives: landscape

Chair on the Beach

Last fall, when bird watching, I happened upon this stone bench by the shore. It was lovely, with the water all around it, and I decided to paint it in acrylics. It was a challenge – and fun- to paint the light on the water. I added in a bird resting for a moment, sinceContinue reading “Chair on the Beach”

Sandhill Cranes: Oil Painting

A few weeks ago, I saw some sandhill cranes feeding in the evening light at Misery Bay. I took a bunch of photos, and decided to take a more impressionistic approach to these beautiful birds. I used a limited palette for this oil painting: tit. white; ultramarine blue, cerulean blue, Burnt Umber, burnt sienna, yellowContinue reading “Sandhill Cranes: Oil Painting”

Geese taking off in late afternoon: acrylic painting

I love the birds around Lake Huron, and last week I saw this beautiful sight that I decided to paint: Canadian Geese beginning to fly just before sunset. I used the following colors for this painting: ultramarine blue, cerulean blue; cadmium red medium; titanium white; burnt umber and Lamp Black.

Winter Sunrise, Lake Huron: oil painting

One of the things that I love about Lake Huron is that the light is always changing, and the way the lake looks changes with it. One early morning, I was amazed at the beauty of the sunrise, and this oil painting is the result. I wanted to show the light sparkling off the snowContinue reading “Winter Sunrise, Lake Huron: oil painting”

Tundra Swans on Lake Huron in Michigan: oil painting

One of the most beautiful sights along the shores of Lake Huron in the winter are the swans. These beautiful birds float in small groups, and in the winter, look almost like small “ice chunks” when they dive their heads under water. I used a limited palette (burnt umber, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white,Continue reading “Tundra Swans on Lake Huron in Michigan: oil painting”

Ducks on Lake Huron: Winter

It is fascinating to watch Lake Huron begin freezing in the winter. I happened to see some brave mallards swimming in the cold water between ice a few weeks ago, and decided to paint this scene. This was done in oil over a base of acrylic, with a palette of ultramarine and cerulean blues, titaniumContinue reading “Ducks on Lake Huron: Winter”

In the Canopy: semi-abstract

I have been experimenting with going a bit looser and more abstract in some of my paintings. The other day, I saw the sun filtering through the trees in the woods, and decided to try to paint how the light affected me. This is one of my first attempts at abstracting somewhat what I see.Continue reading “In the Canopy: semi-abstract”

Red Wing Blackbird: acrylic painting

One of the signs of spring in Michigan is the red-winged blackbirds calling as they nest in the wet areas. This inspired my painting of one in acrylics. I combined a photo I took a few days ago of some wetlands nearby, with the blackbird to show him in his native habitat. The palette wasContinue reading “Red Wing Blackbird: acrylic painting”

Plein Aire study: Birch Tree

I decided to paint a beautiful birch tree that is only a few feet from the beach at Lake Huron. This study was done in acrylics. The day was hazy and a bit grey, so the colors are quite different from the previous sunny day study. I used my usual palette for this painting.

Hope

I decided to paint a friend of mine in a meadow (I love meadows, and am currently on a kick painting them), portraying the emotion Hope, which is what I am calling this painting. It represents the need to take time to look up, and see that there is hope during this time. This wasContinue reading “Hope”

Boat on the Beach

I love the water, and boats, so I decided to do this painting of a boat at sunset. I went back to oils for this one; it is still wet, so the glare prevents the colors from being fully true (too much yellow in the highlights, etc.) As usual, I went with a fairly limitedContinue reading “Boat on the Beach”