Exploring Land and Color

When I left you last I had given you my first impressions of Door County Wisconsin and was eating pie at the end of our first day. On our second day we set out for one of the many parks on the peninsula, one aptly named Peninsula State Park.  Here we settled in to paint Eagle’s Bluff Lighthouse.  We were attracted to its warm light ocher brick and red roof and beacon against the cool olive trees. Later in the day we found a lovely cliff scene with abstract qualities of strong light and rock patterns which, I learned, was beyond my painting skills.  But I’ll try again! 




As promised, Cana Lighthouse-Lighting the Lake 6 x 6 oil on copper. Available.

Eagle's Bluff Lighthouse.  Soon to be a painting.

I like to cover a lot of ground, so the following day we set out for Kangaroo Lake near Bailey’s Harbor on the other side of the peninsula looking for marshes.  Unsuccessful in our search for an accessible marsh, we settled by the lake on this clear warm day.  Just as I was about to paint a lonely little canoe tethered to a dock, a couple came up and paddled away.  Woe to hopeful plein air painters.  So I settled on a scene of a few trees by the water's edge, which gave me an opportunity to play with the different greens and reds.



By Water's Edge 10 x 8 oil Available

Lunch time!  We found an unpretentious tavern near the lake and to my great delight they served bleu cheese and mushroom burgers.  This brought up a wonderful childhood memory of my Michigan youth when my grandfather made grilled hamburgers with blue cheese centers.

Determined to cover more ground, we then headed up north to Newport State Park where we had the sand dunes by Lake Michigan almost all to ourselves.  Below is a painting based on that afternoon. 




Beach Grass 18 x 24 oil. Available

We finished the day with an authentic fish boil dinner of white fish and potatoes.  We sat at a table with a couple who told us about a couple they saw at Newport seriously concentrating on painting —us!  We laughed.  The fish boil was very interesting to watch, but not to my taste—a bit bland.



"Santa Claus" preparing the fish boil.

With just two days remaining, we concentrated on scrumptious food (cream cheese and cherry stuffed pancakes for one!), the timeshare spa, and gallery hopping.  We met an artist facebook friend, Bonnie Parusch, which was a great delight.  We visited the Peninsula Art School, which hosts the well-known plein air festival each year. 

What do I think of when I think of Door County in spring? —cool, crisp air; birch trees and more trees; gently rolling hills; eagles and seagulls; apple and cherry orchards; daffodils and tulips; high, hazy clouds; white and yellow rocks; goats and cows; lovely historic buildings; lighthouses; wineries and barns; butter and fresh vegetables; jams and jellies; cheese; sparkling shorelines and cliffs; friendly people; parks; wildlife—and snow on our departure!

What’s up next?  Exploring my own backyard—Wake County and eastern North Carolina.  Then we’re looking toward Taos, Key West and Iceland in 2014 and beyond.

If you’re local to the Cary area, please join us for Final Friday Art Loop which happens—guess when?—the last Friday of each month!  Galleries open in the evening and provide refreshments and new exhibits.  I’ll be featured artist SEPT 27.

In Cary, my paintings are available at Cary Gallery of Artists 200 S. Academy St. in downtown Cary Ashworth Village. 919-462-2035 Mon-Sat 11 am - 5:30 pm. 

On the coast, my works are available at Figments Gallery, 1319 Military Cutoff, Landfall Shopping Center, Wilmington, NC 28405 910-509-4289

www.sheffieldartstudio.com

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