I am busy organizing and getting ready for the Labor Day Weekend Art Show at my studio/gallery in two weeks. The opening reception is Friday, September 2 from 5-8 and this year's show is titled "Landscapes". Artist friends that will be presented in the show are Ingrid & Nathan Blixt, Candace Zebell, Vicki Shirley and myself. We all have been working very hard to present our best art inspired by the beautiful landscape that surrounds us. All are welcome to join us!
Today I enjoyed . . . sitting in the sun in the backyard, reading, baking a fabulous basil tomato tart, sitting in the backyard in my reclining lawn chair watching the beautiful clouds - I am so glad I am home more this summer!
The book I am reading is 'The Best Advice I ever got' by Katie Couric. It is an easy read filled with uplifting, positive advice from many people. I am so enjoying it!
So I suppose the cloud watching will have to come to an end so that I can get some work done!

"Go on working freely and furiously, and you will make progress." - Paul Gauguin

This summer I thought I would have time to kick back and relax. This summer didn't quite turn out that way. That's o.k.
No matter how much art I accomplish in the winter months, it seems when summer rolls around I can slow the flow a little - but not stop the process. I've been out of the studio more than in this summer and am starting to feel the need to get back into a regular routine in the studio. Does that mean that I am sensing the end of summer, back to school days? We're almost there and as much as I don't want to see the beautiful days of summer disappear, I am ready to start painting fast and furiously.
This past week I spent several days on Mackinac Island . . . painting, relaxing, delivering artwork to galleries. Now that I am home, I've been doing more painting because I was so, so inspired by the beautiful sandy/beachy/dunes along the highway through the U.P. I'm sensing a whole new series taking place of wind blown grasses on sandy shores . . . hmmmm . . .
Enjoy the rest of your summer!!!

It isn't often that I actually get to help with the installation of my pieces. Often times they are purchased through galleries and I don't even get to meet the new owners. This week, I finished the large commission that I had been working on (4'x4'), hand delivered it and helped install it! What a treat.
My friends, David and Courtney, had just finished re-doing their kitchen and it is so, so beautiful. They wanted to fill their new kitchen with 'ginnie cappaert's' and I was honored and thankful. I love the 3 pieces that we selected but the large marshgrass piece is an all time favorite - and a major focal point in the room.
So, not only did I get to help with the hanging of these pieces, but I was also treated to a studio tour of artist Susan Hale (another post, another date) as well as dinner at Lake Park Bistro - fabulous!!!!
So, here are some pic's of the new kitchen and artwork. Their home is on the Historical Home Tour this weekend in the Cedarburg area - how cool is that!!!