Pen Names

Nom du Plume, Chop, Signature, we leave our mark on our accomplishments, such as artwork and for history's sake.

















On some of my past artwork I've used :

Colleen Burke
Colleen Burke-Shore
Colleen Shore
and most recently just CShore
this creates it's own time line corresponding to when the artwork was created.

I think as we grow and age things get a little more abbreviated and less complicated.













Taking a break from painting, I went back to a collection of drawings that have inspired me. Some are from the weekly drawing group when we met at Halfway Creek Cemetery, Del's Bar and the International Gardens in La Crosse.











Others just places included are when I've had my sketchbook along while I wait. You never know what you might see to draw.

This grouping I used black pen. It's not as forgiving or subtle as pencil but it offers a greater intensity to the lines.
















Plus since I can't erase any lines, I need to be able to live with them. Just one of life's lessons I guess.

Here I began with some waiting room chairs. Then a man sits down. He kinda becomes a ghostly part of the drawing, since I didn't have the heart to ask him to move.

A new friend Kadoe, the therapy dog.







By the way I also have gone by the name Lena from Onalaska and another blogger name Hannah Dove.

You can just call me Colleen.

Paint what you know!

The Course Home 8x10

 Advice I've heard along the way.

They say it's best to create from what you are familiar with. Your surroundings, something you're passionate about, so I continue to paint what I know.

Golf at Drugan's Castle Mound.

Almost Home 8th Hole 8x10

Since we had obtained one of their memberships, we've been frequent golfers. Playing the front 9 holes on afternoons and the back 9 early in the morning.

Bunker on the Back Nine-8x10 

You get pretty intimate with a course as you walk for an hour and more contemplating the hills and bunkers between the holes.

Lovely Water Hazard-8x10 

Sometimes you get to search a little further in the rough or even in the woods. Or maybe a lovely water hazard.

Par Gardens-8x10 

The views are spacious along the fairways with expanding vistas. Well tended garden beds along the way featuring golf comforts and some very nice specimen trees.






It really is a great opportunity for subject matter. I'm glad I took my camera along with for a few extra shots besides a few mulligans.

Gettin' Series-ous

Barn 2-Drugans -8x10 

Focusing on a single subject matter can give you a new and interesting perspective. There's never just one best side, the perfect angle or the right time of day for lighting.

Barn 5-Drugans 8x10

By trying a series of paintings using the same subject matter from different point of views makes me look at my painting differently.

Barn 3-Drugans 8x10

From close up textures, to far away settings makes me see the details differently.



I so want to put in every detail of the weathered wood but the painting style I'm trying to achieve doesn't call for it.

Barn 1 Drugans 8x10

Still working on the large amounts of green foliage. It's difficult to not try and paint each leaf and instead create the desired effect with larger brush strokes.









The one easier part of doing a series is I can reuse the colors on my palette.

Barn 4-Drugans 8x10

Barn 6-Drugans 8x10

This was the last one in this series and I think I prefer the distant views for a quick paint. I'm now over half way with 57 small paintings.







Can anyone guess where this barn is located? Golfers may recognize this view from the 13th hole at Drugan's Castle Mound Golf Course in Holmen, Wisconsin.

KISS

Rolling Landscape- 8x10

This weeks focus was KISS. No, not the rock band, or a display of affection I'm referring to the old acronym "Keep It Simple, Stupid"

Mississippi Waters 8x10

I tired to select more simplified landscapes to let the brush strokes take center stage. A distant view on the Mississippi River.

Wisconsin Fields 8x10

This principle of design let me concentrate more on color and texture than lots of detail. Aa corn field somewhere in Wisconsin

Duluth Outpost 8x10

I think as things became less complicated they can become more relaxing to look and help in finding the rhythm of the landscape. North Shore buildings on morning in Duluth.

Halfway Creek Resting Spot 8x10

Letting shadows define the shapes and allowing the light to make it more interesting. Shown here at Halfway Creek Cemetery.

Brady's Bluff-Perrot 8x10

Majestic views are hard to pull off and maybe getting there is half the fun, as with the east trail at Brady's Bluff in Perrot State Park.








Looks like I'm loosening up a bit more and enjoying some better results. Here's to less is more.

Refreshing

Madison Art Fair on the Square

Sometimes you need a break.

A visit to Madison, Wisconsin's Art Fair on the Square is what the doctor ordered, you could say.

We joined up with Stoughton Art Collectors Terry and Jeannie for a stroll around the square. The diversity of artists was a real treat. What really stood out was the added dimension to typical wall art. Raising two dimensions to three with everything from found objects, mixing up the media and creative framing.

from her site

We were happy to see one of our local artists and neighbor among those on display. Laurel Grey Glass Works creates lovely falling leaves, wall art and always something new and creative using glass. Check out her site laurelgreyglassworks.com.











Another special stop was our visit to Abel Contemporary Gallery in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Set in a historic tobacco warehouse the remodeled space is graced with exceptional artists in a multitude of disciplines. Just outside of our capitol city or check them out online at abelcontemporary.com. Formerly located in Paoli, WI.


I'm now refreshed and inspired.

Savoring the Sunset

Sunset @ Big Bend 8x10

We all love a great sunset. However if you have ever tried to capture the event through photography or painting, you've discovered its quite difficult.

Sunset @ San Carlos MEX 8x10 

It's never as good as the real thing.
Maybe because they are so unbelievably awesome, they can't be duplicated.

Sunset @ Gilbert Ray AZ 8x10

Sunset on the Mississippi  8x10

Well I gave it my best from glowing silhouettes, reflections in water to luminous clouds.













To sum it up I've tried 4 more paintings bringing it to 45.

Back to Workeske

Sandhills of the South NM 8x10

Settling back into my routine of painting plein aireske.

I left off with 38 small paintings since taking a workshop.

Now warming up with 3 more studies from photos from past trips.




Sandhill's of the South

Buoys @ Point Reyes CA 8x10 

Buoys at Point Reyes

Belize Savannah 8x10

Belize Savannah





41 total trials, almost halfway.
I think I'm loosening up some what.