Weather or Not- Time to Plein Air

 

Winter Grasses 8x10 oil $75

Warm weather saw the emergence of artists to plein air paint at Red Pines Cafe on Brice Prairie this past Monday. Corinna welcomed artists for the afternoon, temperatures have risen to a balmy 40 degrees. Much warmer than 20 below. Looks like another great week to be out of doors, hope you get a chance to enjoy it. Looking forward to the first greens of spring to paint next.

 

Red Pines is also hosting a fundraiser for Lake Onalaska preservation on Tuesday, March 17. Lots of fun planned with raffles and prizes. I donated one of my Brice Prairie Moments Books, A collection of paintings of life on Brice Prairie. Also available at Red Pines Cafe to purchase.

 

Inquiries cshoreartwork@gmail.com  

Sunny Days in Brice Prairie

On the Board 8x10 oil unframed $75

Last year I attempted to plein air at the Brice Prairie Conservation Annual Fishing Derby. I froze outside, then spent some time inside the heated tent where all the fun was happening. Got inspired by the hanging fish entries for the days event. Thought it made for an interesting still life.

Inquiries cshoreartwork@gmail.com

 Happy Fishing 

 

You can see more of my work on Brice Prairie at Red Pines Cafe and Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. 

Across the Prairie 8x210 oil framed $150 view at 

Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Brice Prairie

contact cshoreartwork@gmail.com to purchase 

 

Backwater Dock 8x10 oil unframed  available at Red Pines Cafe

Book of my art, also available at Red Pines Cafe $50

and then there's some more, cshoreartwork@gmail.com

Golden Moments 8x10 oil unframed $75

December Nibbles 8x10 oil unframed $50

February's Snow Moon

Snow Moon 8x10 oil unframed $75

 My February challenge, to capture the Snow Moon on Feb. 1, was complicated by snow. I had looked at the weather forecast, snow was again on it's way,  I started my pursuit to photograph on Saturday evening. With great luck I caught clear skies and the moon just as it was appearing from behind the bluffs in Onalaska. 

 I tried again for a moon set on Sunday morning but the winter clouds were already out. Fortunately when you go out to see the moon the sun is also showing off with a sunset or sunrise. A great twofer reward for going out in the cold . 

  

Drawn to the Light 8x10 oil unframed $75

 Thanks to Howard in Tuscon, AZ for the moon shining between the trees. Very Spooky.

 

Neighborhood Night Light 8x10 oil unframed $75

 Thanks to Sydney's in Sacramento, CA, The moon highlighted above the neighbors homes. 

 

 Next-March's Worm Moon, Tuesday, March 3, peak illumination at 5:39am  Central Time

 Set your Alarm for March 3rd Blood Moon, a lunar eclipse will redden the moon during the full moon phase. 

Share your photo of the March 2026 full moon with me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com, no photo editing please. I will choose one of the entries selected to paint an 8x10 oil, that person will be gifted the painting and featured in my blog. Please include your name, any title and location. 

Please submit by email cshoreartwork@gmail.com by March 4, 2026. Looking forward to seeing your images. Colleen

 

 

Here's some nice ice.

 

Ice Flow 24x12 oil and cold wax on cradled panel

The lovely city of Winona, Minnesota is celebrating this weekend with  Winona Ice Fest 2026. One of the features that caught my attention to paint was the Ice Climbing Wall. Here I tried capturing the flow of the man made feature for climbing enthusiasts.

 This painting will be on display at my upcoming show "From Great to Grand" at Blue Heron Coffeehouse in Winona this August and September. Put it on your calendar show opening reception,  Fri August 14 from 5-7pm.

Inquires cshorearwork@gmail.com  

 

Working on my Still Life's

Breakfast at Poggios 8x10 oil 

Winter is a busy time for me to paint. From getting outside plein air painting the snow to getting ready for shows. My upcoming show at The Blue Heron Coffeehouse in Winona, MN will have my display of still life's in the entry gallery. 

Loved the ambience of breakfast at my farm-stay in Tuscany, Italy. We could make our own soft-boiled eggs and they had the cutest cups for eating them. Every morning it brought a smile to my face.

Inquiries cshoreartwork@gmail.com 

No More Plein Air til it Warms Up

 On a nice sunny day (January 8) three of us artists, myself, Ellen and Betsy,  plein air painted at the Great River Landing Overlook in Onalaska.

I got my color notes and the gist of it, then completed in the studio putting in the train from a photo I took while on site.

Great River Route 11x14 oil unframed $150

Maybe February the cold snap will break. Watch for another Pop Up Plein Air  by following the group page Between the Bluffs Painters. Come join us to sketch, paint or visit. 

 

Inquiries cshoreartwork@gmail.com

Live Model Painting Sessions at the RAD

 Rivoli Arts District, a great addition to the arts community, has live models to paint or draw from. I haven't had the opportunity to try out my oil paints on a live model so I thought I'd better give it a try. For $15 you get to set up for 3 hours, the model takes a stretch break around every 20 minutes. then resumes the position. After plein air painting this is right up there with being challenging. I did do some adjustments at home in my studio this am.

I have to apologize to our lovely model, Julia, my skills aren't up to par, but what I lack I make up with bold brush strokes and lots of color. Very fun and I knew so many of the other artists it was a very comfortable atmosphere.

 Will have to go again. Thank you Sandra

 They have drawing sessions too! 

 

 

  

From Artesa website---

Life Painting Sessions/Open Studio at Artesã

(ONLY 8 ARTISTS PER SESSION - SAVE YOUR SPOT!)

Life Model Painting Sessions at RAD Gallery 3hrs-same pose.

Fee: $15 Artists/ $10 Students

Upcoming Dates & Times (Thursdays):
Jan 15, 2026 - 12:30-3:30 PM (Model: Julia)
Jan 22, 2026 - 12:30-3:30 PM (Model: Julia)
Jan 29, 2026 - 12:30-3:30 PM (Model: Julia)
Feb 5, 2026 - 12:30-3:30 PM (Model: Chelsea)

Location:
Artesã Studio, Rivoli Arts Building (RAB)
123 4th St N Suite #411 (RAD Gallery) , La Crosse, WI 54601

If you are joining us please email/Txt/RSVP us

📧 contact@artesagallery.org | 📞 (412) 862-6114 (Sandra)
RSVP: www.artesagallery.org/rsvp

A few more Under the Tree

 

Lily's Place 8x10 oil

Muffin's Place 8x10 oil

Creating  Christmas Gifts for a couple of members of a family. Special places where memories are made with a couple of favorite pets.

Inquiries cshoreartwork@gmail com 

Under the Tree

 

Maui Lisa

 I wanted to share some of my commissions from 2025 that have now been gifted.

Love the title the client came up with as they shared the memory of a sunset on Maui. 

Inquires cshoreartwork@gmail.com 

January's Wolf Moon

I spent the weekend chasing the Wolf Moon. Only managed to catch it once from Apple Blossom Park overlook in Minnesota on Friday. Tried Moon-sets as well and it was always overcast. With the help of AI I managed to narrow down time for our location in the Midwest. With a little more help from family in California and Arizona I had more photo images to paint from.  

Wolf Moon Rise 8x10 oil $75

Fridays moon rise over Wisconsin Bluffs. As I searched around the area I now found some great places to see the moon come up for future Full Moons

Moon Magnet 8x10 oil $75

Thanks to Sydney's friend in Sacramento, CA, he caught this great juxtaposition of the moon and water globe in their courtyard.

Moon Over the Catalinas 8x10 SOLD

Thanks to Howard in Tuscon, AZ for the moon coming up over the mountains catching the suns last rays. 

Inquiries cshoreartwork@gmail.com

Next up Snow Moon, Sunday, February 1

 

My goal to paint every full moon in 2026 as my personal nocturne challenge. Now the search is on as to where I'll capture if in it's full glory and figuring out when in the nighttime it appears. If it's cloudy out I'll just have to paint what the moon illuminates.

Previous Full Moon Paintings 

Last Super Moon of  2025 -Cold Moon December 3, 2025
 

Cold Moon of  December 8x10 oil 

New Year Happenings for 2026

 

Thank you for a wonderful 2025 

and supporting my artistic en-devours.

Painting is my passion as a visual artist. Working with oils in my Onalaska home studio and outside, plein air. I'm creating art inspired by my surroundings in order to connect and engage others to embrace the extraordinary. Always searching to discover new techniques to try on canvas.

                              Join me in 2026 for the following displays and events:

Driftless Exhibit at Winona Historical Center-Dec. 2025- Feb. 2026

My painting Goose Island Retreat is part of a curated exhibit showcasing what makes this area so special. Show ends Feb. 27.  Slaggie Family Lobby Gallery is free to visit.

I'm joining my artist friends from Drawn Together, a weekly drawing group, for a joint show at Elmaro Vineyard and Winery in the Crush Pad for the month of March.

 

Kinstone-Spring Open House –May

Celebrate Kinstone’s season opener Sunday, May 3 for an afternoon of music, food and programs near Fountain City. I’ll be painting onsite to add to my display in the gift shop. Check out my paintings featuring Kinstone. More at Kinstonecircle.com

 

Artists Along the Trail-Plein Air Event –June 

Sat. June 6, from 7am-11am, Plein Air Painting in Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, followed by lunch 11:30-1pm at the OWL Center, sponsored by the Friends of Trempealeau Refuge. Enjoy walking around the refuge and seeing what artists are creating, then join the artists and Friends group for a complimentary lunch.

 

 Artists from the Refuge-June 

Refuge Artists display at Elmaro Vineyard and Winery in Trempealeau in the Crush Pad for the month of June, closing reception Sunday, June 28 from 1-4. Plus I’ll be joining other artists to plein air paint during Sunday’s Street Market at Elmaro every Sunday in June 1-4.

 

From Great to Grand  -Aug.-Sept.

My artistic endeavor to capture the views, along the Great River Road and Grand Marais, through my paintings.  Opening August 12 through September 27. Reception (TBA) at Blue Heron Coffeehouse in Winona

Three Rivers-Three Artists - October

Painting friends Ellen Mc Donah, Kari Hogden and myself, joining together to paint and display our own interpretations of the Mississippi, Trempealeau and Black Rivers. In the Crush Pad at Elmaro Vineyard and Winery in Trempealeau for the month of October. Reception (TBA).                                                                                                                                                                                              

 Between the Bluffs Plein Air Painting Festival  -October   

I’ll be participating in the annual event for 2026 October 2-17.  Show opening Friday, Oct. 18 and weekend sale in La Crosse at Gallery 1802. Quick Paint Competition Saturday morning. More at betweenthebluffs.com. Experience dozens of artists creating their impression of the La Crosse area.

 

Also stop in at Red Pines Café on Brice Prairie. Featuring my oil paintings, of life on the Prairie, in their gift shop.

 

Inquires cshoreartwork@gmail.com