One of my favorite art shows to do is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Art on the Rocks in Marquette, Michigan. The show is located by the lower harbor in a beautifuly park setting overlooking Lake Superior - how can that not be perfect. Most people rate this the top art fair in the U.P. and artists come from all over. Last year my 'art neighbors' were from the East Coast and Florida - I guess they love the U.P. also! I'm taking a chance and bringing some of my new works in oil and cold wax as well as encaustic and I am excited to see the response! Hope to see you there!
This is one of my new encaustic pieces which was inspired by the shadows cast on a sunny day from the leaves of the apple trees in my orchard.

Inspiration is all around us. Everywhere we look we are surrounded by beauty. Those of us who live in the country find inspiration in the woods, the marshes, the fields - which has created the backbone of my new oil/cold wax pieces. Those that live in the cities (I would assume) could be inspired by the buildings/architecture, shapes and textures from sidewalks and buildings etc.
Travel is also very inspiring to me and I continually find inspiration wherever I go. My artist friend, Lori Schappe-Youens just returned from a 4 week 'holiday' through 4 different countries in Africa (she lives in South Africa) and has posted hundreds of photos on facebook from her trip - she truly was inspired! Someday my travels may take me to South Africa to visit her . . . someday!
For now, I am preparing pieces from my travels to the Southwest for the Labor Day Weekend art show at my studio/gallery in September. I'm working not only on watercolors, pastels as well as encaustic and oil/cold wax pieces - all inspired by my trip to Santa Fe.

It's been my plan for a long time to focus on getting my artwork into galleries, thus having to do fewer to zero art shows. I've been very fortunate to get into some great galleries including: The Leigh Gallery, Chicago; Edgewood Orchard Galleries, Door County, Gallery 50, Traverse City; Bindley Collections, Middleton, WI;Cycling Salamander, Charlevoix; Elements, Charlevoix. These all carry my newer oil/cold wax abstracted minimalist paintings, however there are more galleries that are carrying my previous works of mixed media/collage. I am grateful to all of these gallery owners who work so hard for me and the other artists they represent.
Recently I discovered a new gallery in Cottage Grove, WI - the Gaston School Gallery - and am discussing possible representation with them as well. It's a wonderful gallery in an old school house that was totally renovated last year - renovated to perfection that is! Check it out if your ever in that area.
My dream, however, is to be in a gallery in Santa Fe - so I will keep on working on that - and have had some positive responses, so we shall see.
Currently, I'm taking a little break to enjoy the summer and am not diving into any huge paintings, but working on small paintings still keeps my creative juices flowing!

Yesterday I was feeling a little 'self doubt' - you know, the feelings artists have when they wonder if they're really doing the right thing, the right way, with their lives (even though we know we couldn't have it any other way) - then WOW! the mail brings me a check from Edgewood Orchard Galleries for my June sales of 4 paintings - and voila' the self doubt leaves me and I can get back to work in the studio! Funny how things like this happen.
I'm packing up today and headed to the Kohler Art Festival in Sheboygan - hoping for sunny skies and lots of sales. This is my first time at this show, however it's rated one of the top in the State of WI - it will be nice to meet up with other artists who are working as hard as I am. Also planning on spending time with my sister and friend Courtney - so it won't be all work, thank goodness!

I was just informed that a painting "Marshgrass II" that I had submitted for the Artist's Magazine 27th Annual Art Competition has been selected as a finalist in the Abstract/Experimental category. Although not a top winner, I was thrilled to just be recognized. The December issue will have a listing of all the winners from across the country.
In the studio, I'm working away on some smaller abstracted landscapes as I prepare for the Kohler Art Festival next weekend. As I'm working on these paintings I'm realizing truly that 'less is more' as I place layer upon layer of paint - thinly -is the trick, that is what create's all the subtleness of the layers. As I'm working on these pieces, all other matters are blocked from my mind and I'm 'in the moment' and very focused on the process. Such joy!
I'm taking a few days off to rest and restore my creative juices as well as do some more reading - art reading of course!
Have a great weekend!

I'm lovin' this beautiful summer we're having AND I've actually taken sometime to lay in my hammock and read - it's been wonderful as I usually don't get time to relax in the hammock until September when the kids are back in school!
So, what I have been reading? Just finished "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho about a shepherd boy who sells his sheep to follow a 'dream/omen' that he had. This wonderful read (I can't tell you all about it, you have to read it for yourself) was an uplifting, powerful story about following your dream. There were so many inspirational quotes that I'd like to share "People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them." "Why don't people's hearts tell them to continue to follow their dreams?" WOW! I loved this book - we realize what are true dreams and treasures are!
So, now that I'm finished with that one my next book is 7 Days in the Art World. A collection of 'big city art' stories - I don't think this book will be as uplifting but I may learn something from it.
I'm taking a little break from 'creating' this weekend to spend time in our glorious outdoors - Happy 4th everyone!
This image is of an encaustic triptych I did last fall.