Sunday, July 24, 2016

Another beautiful day painting!

Yesterday I was able to paint again with the PAAWM group out at Wau-ke-na North tract.  Despite the 85 degree heat, it was a beautiful morning up on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.  There were Monarch butterflies flitting all around me as I painted.   Fortunately I brought my beach cart to pile with gear as the walk was maybe 3/4 to a mile from parking to bluff.

Arriving home, I found the patio full with Kris and the boys with guests.  All boats went in the water, all squirt guns and two tanks of gas for the wave runner.  They had a blast jumping off the dock and paddling everywhere.  Mitch is practicing running the wave runner now and studying for his boating license in anticipating of cutting loose.  Yikes!!


Good news this morning...my painting of Pilgrim Haven Access was chosen for the 2017 Painted Sanctuary Calendar.  They will also have a reception on Sept 17 with an exhibit of all the paintings submitted.  Calendars will be available at the Art Walk for sale...$15. if anyone wants one.  Proceeds for SWM Land Conservancy to be used to purchase and upgrade properties.  They are saving some beautiful tracts of land for our children and grandchildren to come.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Catching up!!

Since Paige's showers we have been busy with so many events and projects!   Allie graduated in June and had a super fun party to celebrate in style.  A fun taco bar, ice cream treats and games everywhere kept the day busy and full of treats.  Her many friends dropped by for volleyball, which Allie joined in, dress and all! 

The boys have been here tubing and having fun in between baseball games.  It is almost over but now the try outs begin for next season...good grief!!  We hope to get a bit more lake fun before school starts so plan for a jam packed August.

The kids all had busy a weekend planned for the 4th holiday so we were able to host friends for an evening picnic.  We had a great time and said goodbye to Jane and Bob as another GG moves away and on with her life. 

In between the social scene I've managed to take two painting workshops at Pickle Street School and get out plein air.  Paintings were delivered to the Portage Library for an exhibit and to the Land Conversancy for their calendar competition.  I hope to be chosen again, but there are so many beautiful works done by PAAWM members and because they look for different seasons and properties to be represented, the selection is specific.  But I can hope!!  Here are those I submitted:

  Chipman Preserve

  Pilgrim Haven Path

  Hawthorne Hill Icon
 
I've been working in water soluble oils from Daniel Smith and love them.  Easy to clean up and handle like regular oils.  Still working on technique, selecting the right ground and using my brushes. 
 
The wedding is in a little over a week and things are looking wonderful.  I monogrammed robes for the bridesmaids and now my new task is to hand paint the seating sign with flowers.  I'll post some photos of this event as I certainly want to show the centerpieces and other items we've been working on as well as the beautiful bride and groom.  Stay tuned!!