Shalom Wildlife Zoo

Elk Family 11x14

Another stop while visiting my sister, Shalom Wildlife Zoo, north of West Bend, Wisconsin. This has become a favorite 3 mile walk around the 100 acres viewing some 400 animals.

Fawn 5x7

Another great opportunity to photograph and paint wildlife. they do a great job keeping the animals in a natural looking setting.

Ready to Eat 8x10

They have seasonal events. One of my favorite was the evening Halloween walk, with rest stops for campfires and treats.














Next up Christmas Drive through. By the way the rhino is not real. But they do have Lions, Tigers and Bears. Oh My! Have a nice Thanksgiving.

Decorating for the Holiday Drive thru

Hanging Around

Orange Still Life Studies and Landscapes in Guest Bathroom

I don't usually like to have too much of my own artwork hanging on my own walls. It can inhibit me from creating more.













But it's fun to display them for awhile and reflect on my efforts. It's also a great way to refresh my personal space.
If interested most of them are for sale.

A couple of Drugans Golf Course

Sometimes I just take my favorite pieces and exchange them with other artwork from different rooms. I figure way cheaper than redecorating.

Eric's favorite among the Living Room Gallery

Hopefully you don't have any artwork hidden away. Be sure to keep it out for viewing and let it breath new life and joy in your space.

Cranes join the Thai influenced Guest Bedroom

I'm also hoping to encourage those that purchased my artwork to share. I'll be featuring, on one of my blogs in December, photos that are submitted.

My personal favorite kitty Bunny

Please share with me at CShoreArtwork@gmail.com

Magic Willows Alpacas

Troubles Friend 5x7

Trips to farms and zoos are opportunities to photograph animals that I don't ordinarily have the chance to see. So taking lots of photos for future paintings is a must.



During a trip to visit my sister we went to Magic Willows Alpacas, a couple miles north of Hartford, Wisconsin.

Part of the Pack 5x7

Becky, one of the owners and caretakers of all the animals, gave us an introduction to her family of Alpacas and Trouble the Llama.




The expressions and big eyes were fun to paint. I started to use some of the 5x7 size canvases I bought from Raymar. They produce a high quality canvas panel in all sorts of finishes, so I bought their sample pack to have a go at it.

Trouble 8x10

If you go, check out their website before and try and stop when they have some of their activities. A stop at the Farm Store is also a must for alpaca products.





Thanks Magic Willows for your hospitality.

Swanning

Swan Dive-8x10

I'm back to painting whatever I want, now that October commissions are done. It's liberating to do whatever I want again. So here we go, to the Brownsville Overlook for swans.




Migrating tundra swans love to gather in the area on their way south. They feed heavily on tubers, loosening them with their feet and then nose diving, swallowing them whole.

Brownsville Reunion-11x14

The Mississippi River is wide and dotted with small islands, at this point. Thousands of swans stop to refuel during the first weeks of November before continuing their journey.

To capture the big beautiful view I painted this one on an 11x 14 canvas.

Mallard Duck-8x10

Along with swans you also see a variety of ducks and geese. A local favorite featuring the Mallard Duck.

Minnesota Overlook- 8x10 

I experimented with a new technique, adding cold wax to the oil paint. It makes for a much duller painting and gives the paint a whole new feel. Not sure if I like the process. May have to take a workshop and discover why so many people love it.









Now that I'm back painting for another year and another 100 paintings I decided to branch out and start including some smaller and larger canvas sizes to my repertoire. I'll be including unframed 5x7 for $20, 8x10 for $30 and 11x14 for $50. Keeping with standard sizes for less expensive options for framing.

Four more in a Row

One of my other commissions, was to do four of the same image.




Inspired by my trip to the Apostle Islands, I did a painting of the sea caves on Devil's Island. As it happens, a friend had also recently kayaked with three others out to this remote point on Lake Superior.

After she saw my paintings of Devil's Island, and after personally seeing how incredible the wind and water carved rocks are, she wanted one of her own.


Well at first she wanted a painting of the adventure for herself, then she thought about it and asked me about painting four of her favorite photo, so she could give the other three adventurers a memento of their journey.

This was definitely a new challenge for me.


Probably not one that I would soon repeat. Repetition is the key word. While I had certain colors mixed, I would work from one area of a painting to the same area on the next.

Over and over again. Then I went back into each one to make it it's own.


One of the more difficult areas was the kayaker. It was a must to include it, since it gave the whole painting it's scale.




Hope you can appreciate the variances in each painting and the challenges it posed.

Best Friends

Remington and Truman 11x14

Had the chance to do a few pet portraits after experimenting with friends dogs and cats.

As members of a family they really do have to look like their pet.

Nash 8x10

Fun to do and even more when their cherished friends are being memorialized.

Craft Show at La Crosse Library

NFS Trempealeau Bay

I'll be joining the Craft Show at the La Crosse Public Library on Saturday, November 2 from 9am-3pm. manning the Friends of Perrot State Park booth.

On display will be the colored creations from the Perrot State Park Centennial Coloring Book created by me. You too can create your own memories from Perrot with this coloring book featuring these four designs.

Coloring Books provided by the Friends of Perrot will be for sale at $4 each or 3 for $10.

Trempealeau Bay- The Bay forms at the convergence of the Trempealeau and Mississippi Rivers., isolating Trempealeau Mountain. An attraction for modern park visitors who like to paddle and past traveling voyageurs banking on some new found land. Local aquatic inhabitants gather around the voyageurs canoe pondering what kind of new log has washed ashore. Whether it's sunset or moonset, it's colorist choice.

Prairie Pollinator's-NFS

Prairie Pollinators-A bouquet of native blooms and a variety of pollinators, to remind us of natures special relationships. Each pollinator seeks the prairie plant designed with them in mind. Hope you find peace and harmony while contemplating which colors to choose. There's a range of possibilities.

Brady's Bluff-NFS

Brady's Bluff-Reaching the highest point in the park begins with Horseshoe Falls part of a State Natural Area. Hikers journey up the west side trail retracing the quarried stone footsteps of the CCC. The strong men who toiled together created the original path to the summit. Along the way woodland blooms and driftless wonders transform into goat prairies, showcasing the diversity of natures wonder. Be sure to bring your binoculars for a birds eye view at the top of Cambrian stone cliffs.

Perrot Post-NFS

The designated landmark highlights one of the parks original hosts, Nicolas Perrot a French Fur Trader, who hung his hat and coat near this historical marker. Resident woodland animals reveal themselves, hidden among the hardwood trees, curious to see the new comer. Evidence of the areas first known inhabitants are also seen among the mounds that once filled the park. Acknowledging the attraction of this place we call Perrot State Park.

Here's a list of all the items included in the four coloring pages of the Perrot State Park Centennial Coloring book. The book also features lots of historical photos and information about the park. A great keepsake and wonderful for gift giving at the holidays or for your favorite teacher.

 Also you'll be able to see the full line of jewelry, from bracelets, necklaces and ornaments created for Heart2Heart fundraising.