Umbrellas on a Rainy Day

Best Seat in the House 11x14

Gloomy days, like today, are great for painting vivid colors. Remembering sun filled skies, a bottle of wine and waiting for Blues and BBQ at Elmaro.

Just finished this one, on a spur of the moment, going through last weekends photos. Orange and Yellow really brightens my day.

Til the clouds go away.

Communing in Perrot

State Parks in Wisconsin opened this past week for camping.

We had the opportunity to camp and commune with nature and commune with people. It was a lot of sensory stimulation but welcome after so much time in isolation.

We felt safe and still choose to wear masks while distancing ourselves. I just wish people could have seen me smiling.

The weekend of respite inspired me to draw and paint. Drawing has always been my first love, maybe because it's so easy to do anywhere.

Pen drawings and a little color using markers.

I did pull out the paints, to attempt Plein Aire painting.

I still prefer to work in the studio, I think it's a control issue. Lots of frustration with bugs, wind, glare and random items falling into the paint.

Resting in the Pines 8x10

Out of the three paintings that I attempted this is the only one I didn't destroy.

I brought along a few of my paintings of the area to share with onlookers, playing the part of Resident Artist.

Thanks to campers from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Farmington, Waupun, Kettle Moraine, Baraboo, Oconomowoc, and Upper Pennisula to name a few, for stopping by and your kind words.

Before the Storm

Peonies Saved from the Storm 8x10

Since the rains were coming I collected those peonies that were in bloom, before they were washed away. And since I would not be able to paint outside it was time for a stilllife.

It seems everyone was painting their peonies or posting photos so I felt compelled to join in the show.

I'm happy enough with the results, all thought I couldn't seem to get that bright pink this variety is known for.

These buds for You

Bleeding Hearts 5x7

Spring reveals some beautiful buds. Those long missed ephemerals  enjoy their sunny spots until the trees began to unfurl.

Garden Bells 5x7 

Hickory Blooms 5x7 

I'm happy I caught their glory before the latest hail storm decimated my garden. I was just about ready to start painting some plein air in the garden. The Hostas are shredded and the wind flatten and broke everything else.

The Gift of Art

We reconnected with a close friend for beer on his deck this week and had another encounter with a friends and fellow artists from the past, which are now his neighbors.

The urge to hug and and reunite was overwhelming but we had to do with a socially distant chat which was at least close enough to see their smiles and hear some good news. After our brief visit they gifted me one of his paintings of this sunflower. Photo image was challenging since it was through glass

.

I call it a little bit of sunshine on a cloudy day.

Elaine a musician and Bill a painter find joy in their lives through their art. Even though they are missing her church organ performances and his art fairs due to gathering cancellations they did share a bit of great news.

Bill had been picked up as an artist represented by Wild Wings. He stands out from the many wildlife portrayals with his scenic barns. They have more than dozen of his paintings for sale and have created an upcoming calendar focused on his paintings.

In addition to Bill's success, his son Mike is also making his artistic way with his intimate drawings of fish and game matted with inset of little treasures of lures or shells.

Please take a moment and check out wildwings.com and search for the name Zierke. At local fairs you may also know his business name BEE ZEE Art.

Happy and Proud Huzzah

Mc Gilvray Trail

Creek Crossing 8x10

Single Passage 8x10

Spanning Years 8x10

Along the Way 8x10

The now pedestrian trail, once connected traffic from La Crosse to Trempealeau. Along it's path you cross over 100 year old bridges through the bottoms of the Van Loon Wildlife area. The historic bowstring truss bridges give you the opportunity to visit local wildlife along the way.

In Search of Happiness

Why do I create? Because it makes me happy. The need certainly surfaces the more bored I become.

I was recently asked to help out with a painting project for Perrot State Park and was happy to comply. As I'm waiting to start camping and traveling again, what better use of my time than to paint for one of my favorite parks.

Here is the location of where the painting will eventually be hung, on the backside of a new kiosk adjacent to the park headquarters.

It was fun to get back into larger scale paintings. Going from 8x10 inches to 4 feet by 6 feet, I did switch from oils to latex and acrylic since the drying time would have taken way too long and it helped keep the cost down. It is a much longer process to paint and immediate gratification the same day wasn't going to happen if I used oils.

Along the way I took photos to record the steps I take, each day and reflect on my progress. I would work about 3 hours daily or so completing a  specific area I selected to work on. I dedicated two weeks to complete the painting, since it would take over my entire studio and I could do nothing else in the meantime. So everyday, except one, I painted, then I could step away. It's amazing to me what can be accomplished when you have a goal.

Starting with a crisp white board, already primed, I began with a quick drawing of the placement of birds. I had roughly organized the layout from a composite of photos. I wanted to show bluebirds nesting in a natural tree cavity and it was also requested to show the birds in man-made assisted living.

Then quickly adding in color blocks and some texture in order to start visualizing how it would all come together. Some paintings just develop as you go along, fixing any problems along the way.

When everything seems to be in the right place, then I start to bring some more details into the subject matter.

Now that everything is in it's place I can start playing with the background. It's good to take a step back and contemplate the background. Keeping in mind this painting will be viewed from a distance.

Then I go over each item again to improve and correct. Adding anything else, like a worm for the baby bluebirds.

Then some final touches to the background and it's done. Sometimes you know you're done when you can't find anything else to make it better or if you're just tired of trying.

Next step delivery and they will treat the surface and install.

Bluebirds-In Search of Happiness 46x72