Holiday Boxes 2023

 

September Paintings

Tumbled Rocks Trail

I left home early, to get to Devil's Lake before the morning haze burnt off. I decided on a view from the Tumbled Rock's trail and was rewarded with an interesing grouping of rocks and boulders. One woman asked why I was painting at that time, while there was so much haze obscuring the bluffs on the other side of the Lake? I let her know that that quality of light and atmosphere was exactly what I was hoping to capture in my painting.

14x18" oil on panel $750

West Bluff Trail - Haloween Forest 

On a semi-overcast day, I painted a beautiful scene of the late Autumn Oak trees near the West Bluff trail at Devil's Lake. The painting was made on Halloween, and as I progressed with the artwork, the haze in the sky also progressed. However, I was able to capture the glowing leaves of the trees in a sweet spot between the sun and clouds. 

24x36" $1400

Cows in the Stream

I was driving home from Yoder Furniture, in Hillpoint, with a van full of frames. These cows were bathing in a picturesque stream on the side of HWY S. I had to stop and take note of them as they looked to be posing for me.

9x12" oil on panel $350

Little Cows

I needed a change of scenery, so Violet, Corbin, and I loaded in the car and took a drive. We headed to Spring Green, and went through Tower Rock on the way back home. These cows didn't stand still for long, but I was able to capture them before they grazed down the pasture.

9x12" oil on panel $400

Early Autumn Farm and Vista

The soybean fields turned yellow in mid-September, and I saw that there was an exceptionally lovely field of them just beyond this farm on HWY 136. I set up my easel and painted quickly and expressively to capture the shadowed foreground to heighten the effect of light on the soybean field.

16x24" $700

doing.

18x24" pastel on colourfix $700

Autumn Trees and Bluff

We had a week of rain and clouds in late September. Those conditions normally stop my from painting outdoors, but they do not stop me from taking my morning walks. On this morning, I thought that these trees and the bluff behind them looked so nice that I would paint them, even though there was a light rain. The umbrella went up over my easel and I captured the mood of the day.

9x12" oil on panel $160

Autumn Trees

This grouping of trees were some of the first to change color in mid-September. I was so inspired by them that I painted them in a light drizzle. As I worked, I was surprised how many people stopped to say that they admired this forest, and how they were exited for Autumn to come.

12x9" oil on panel $230

Early Autumn on Schneider Road

I was strolling my daughter down Schneider Road, and noticed that the late afternoon sunlight was creating an atmospheric effect. the early Autumn foliage was just starting to turn, which added to my interest in painting it. I took Violet home, traded the stroller for my easel, and walked back down to paint.

8x10" oil on panel $150

September Sunflowers

We had beautiful perennial flowers here on the farm all summer, but I was ready when this field of sunflowers bloomed on HWY 23. They are near the Raup farm stand and I enjoyed capturing the personality of each bobbing sunflower on a sunny morning.

18x24" pastel on colourfix $700

Save the Date for the Fall Art Tour - Paintings from August 2023

The 30th Annual Fall Art Tour is just around the corner, and we are excited to announce that it will be held on October 20, 21, and 22. As the longest-running studio tour in Wisconsin, the Fall Art Tour has become a popular event due to its longevity and the quality of artists. This year, we have 48 unique artists' studios open to the public. When you visit the tour you get to see the places where the artists create their work, and the artists also demonstrate their techniques throughout the day. The tour is free and it is a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn more about their favorite artists. I usually have a couple of school buses full of students pull up on Friday, and all weekend the Chicken Coop Studio is full of great conversations. 

As a committee member involved in planning the tour, I can attest to the effort that goes into jurying artists. The process starts every year in November, and we carefully select new artists to fill any open spots. After the jurying process, the new artists submit images of their artwork to be included on our website fallarttour.com as well as our print brochure.

Please save the dates and mark your calendar for October 20-22 and make sure to visit my Chicken Coop Studio at 

S3749 Schneider Rd. in Rock Springs, WI 53961. 

I hope to see you on the tour!

fallarttour.com

Sunflowers and Farmall

My mom gave me a call and let me know that she found a field of sunflowers that would make for a great painting. I went out the next day, and found this field of sunflowers. When I knocked on the door, the couple were delighted to have me on their farm to paint and showed me around their beautiful perennial flower garden. They even moved the red Farmall tractor near the sunflowers so that I could include it in the painting as well. It is nice to know that there are such good people around.

14x18" oil on canvas $8750

Autumn Farm with Sumac

This was painted on a lovely Autumn day, late in the afternoon. The intense sun illuminated the Barn and trees which were at the height of the color change while Long shadows obscured the foreground Sumac and grasses. The owner of the farm, which is on HWY G attended the School at the Art Institute of Chicago. He is a great painter, and I felt at home creating near his home.

18x24" oil on canvas $500

The Neighbors Sheep

I have great Neighbors, and their kids show sheep at the county and state fairs. We went to see them showing the sheep this year, and they did very well for themselves. On some mornings they will be out on the lawn sheering the sheep, and on other days the sheep are in the barn, where the cows used to be. My daughter, Violet, is also getting to see the sheep each day, and I think she enjoys them.

12x16" oil on panel $380

Golf Course Road Farm

I love these Charolais cows that graze on a farm near Golf Course Road. On this day, there was a long shadow being cast over them, some of them were in shadow and some were lit up by full sun. It is nice to have such lovely conditions to paint from when working on my favorite 
18x24" oil on canvas $700

Farm in the Bluffs Late Evening

As day becomes night the late evening light illuminates the foreground treetops and white buildings of the dairy farm. The atmospheric bluffs in the background take on more of the sky color as they recede to the distance. This is the first piece in a series of two paintings created at the end of the day.

14x18" oil on canvas $700

Farm in the Bluffs - Golden Hour

This is the second in a series of paintings created at the end of the day. The intense sun illuminates the bluffs in the background while the dairy farm and foreground trees are overtaken by shadow. The sky takes on the poetic colors of late evening. As I finished this painting, the calls of the coyotes let me know it was time to head home.

14x18" oil on canvas $700

Grandma's Phlox and Hydrangeas #2

6x8" oil on canvas.

Grandma's Hydrangeas and Phlox

As we step into the month of August, our farm is now blooming with perennial flowers. From the hydrangeas to the vibrant purple phlox, our farm is a canvas of colors and scents. The hydrangeas are a reminder of Grandma and I painted them placed on a table next to some oranges in a copper vase. The phlox had just started to bloom which added a pop of violet color to the canvas.

9x12" oil on canvas $250

July 6th Haybales
After my Sister's birthday party, I walked across the hayfield and found this atmospheric summer scene. The long grasses swayed in the breeze combined with the smell of fresh cut hay and tumbling clouds overhead. The second crop of hay has been baled and will soon be taken from the field. 
12x16" oil on canvas $550

August Lemonade #2

The sky is reflected like a mirror in the pitcher and glass of lemonade, and are represented by the purple and blue tones. The contrast of dark and light, violet against yellow and green can only be experienced in August.

12x9" oil on canvas $350

August Lemonade 

The yellow lemonade combined with the violet phlox creates a ready-made complementary color contrast. I love painting the summer sunlight that is captured in the pitcher and glass of lemonade as much as I enjoyed exploring the bits of reflected light that bounce around this still-life composition.

18x14" oil on canvas $750

August Sunflowers

The sunflowers are backlit as they bob their heads in the breeze. Their yellow petals are contrasted against an atmospheric blue bluff. The late afternoon sky is becoming yellow and green as the sun lowers to the horizon. 

10x12" oil on panel $350

August Sunflowers #2

6x8" oil on panel 

Terrytown Barns with Bales and Tractor

The August morning light illuminates the old farm on the corner of Terrytown and Cornfield Road. The bales in the foreground will soon be moved to the other side of the barn and the old tractor sits idle next to the milkhouse.

14x18" oil on canvas $550