Braving the Winter

Like most of you we didn't go anywhere this winter due to Covid. Hunkering down, trying to stay warm and getting my creative on was about the only thing on my agenda. 

Robins, our harbingers of spring, sometimes hang out in Wisconsin for the winter. Local birding enthusiast Victoria Goetting, captured this Robin with her camera in February. Inspired by her photo and with her blessing I translated it into this painting. 

I appreciate how hard it is to capture images of our feathered friends and thoroughly enjoy the Coulee Region Audubon  Sighting page on facebook.

Chilling 8x10

Since it's been a long winter at home in my studio I find I'll be reaching my 300th painting this spring. This translates to planning a pop up gathering of my artwork. As soon as we have a break in the weather and the snow is gone, I'll be setting up outside on my deck for a safe way to view available paintings. You can get up to date information by following my blog or I also manage a facebook page called CShore (not Colleen Shore) that you can follow where I re-post all my blog information. 

For questions or purchasing my oil paintings please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Thanks for viewing.

Looking back it's been a very productive path starting with painting in oils after retiring in Nov. of 2019 and I began blogging my progress two years ago this March. Looking forward to meeting more people through my art and attending some workshops.

 

Note The exhibition of "The Moment 2020" hosted by the city of La Crosse includes my painting "Awakening". This grouping of artists works will be on display beginning March 8 at the La Crosse Public Library on Main Street

 Next week-More Birds

Winter Wonders

Snow offers a lot of subtle color choices when painting. One of the challenges I read other artists were doing was to limit their palettes to just three colors plus white. Forcing you to explore new combinations. So I thought what the hell as things are frozen over. 

I did this series of three from the photos taken the same day at Perrot State Park of Trempealeau Bay.     The resulting effects are quite different and interesting.

Warm Thoughts on a Winter Day 8x10

Here I used Raw Umber, Cadmium Red Light, Yellow Ochre with Unbleached Titanium White. 

Frozen Tropical Reflections 8x10

Choices here included some colors I don't regularly use. Turquoise, Transparent Red Oxide, Ultramarine Blue Deep with Titanium White.

Trempealeau Bay at Rest 8x10

Returning to my regular palette. So I wonder which palette do you find most appealing.

 

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on canvas panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com.

Frozen In Place

The place we live can get pretty cold. The past two weeks of subzero temperatures has become the norm as well as wrapping up in extra blankets and reading in bed. But if you were adventurous and felt like layering up there were some beautiful sites to see in this frozen tundra.

Horseshoe Ice Falls 8x10

One of my favorite sights are the ice waterfalls that form along the bluffs. At Perrot State Park they are easy to see at Horseshoe Falls.

Frost in Apple Valley 8x10

Another phenomenon is the hoar frost. The frozen crystals coat everything creating a magical fairyland feeling. This view is looking up Winesap Road in Onalaska, WI.

Nice Ice 5x7

What would we do with out ice. Sometimes it's especially nice in a Gin and Tonic. Pretending its summertime.

Looks like the polar vortex is over for a while. Time for a meltdown.

Next Week-more Winter Wonders

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on canvas panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com.

Ready and Waiting

My grand nieces are all ready and now just waiting for the arrival of their baby brother. They're excited to welcome him home sometime in April. They've teamed up to share a room so he can get his rest, which I'm sure he'll need lots of since he's going to have to try and keep up with his amazing sisters.

I added a Wizard of OZ twist to a photo I had of them when we went out for a walk one day. This paintings for the baby's room to remind him he's got these two  looking out for him.

Ready and Waiting 11x14

They sent me their rendition of  Harley the cat and Milo the dog. Thanks for sharing girls, now I have some pets portraits to keep me company.

Happy Valentine's Day

If you love this blog you can get up to date information on recent paintings and my pop up art show details by "Following" this blog. Simply view my blog in the web version ( if you're on your mobile device) and at the top select the blue "Follow" button or you can receive by email by including your address on the right side option, a confirming email with be sent to your inbox. Thanks for joining me on my creative journey.

Next week-Frozen, thawed you'd like to know.

Seeing Red

Red barns are iconic along the Wisconsin landscape. They really stand out, maybe because they are red. Did you know originally rust was a cheap way for farmers to add color to sealant for protecting the barn wood.

Old New Amsterdam 8x10

Hartford Haven 8x10

Schilling Stables 8x10

Red is the oldest known color used by man, dating back 40,000 years ago, derived from red clay. It will stop you in your tracks or add a flash as you walk away. From stop signs to Louboutin shoes red just stands out, it's even the first color babies see. Reds are derived from minerals, bugs to synthetics, some professional paints use cadmium red, a good reason why you'll see many artists using gloves as they paint. Note: Always be sure to buy children appropriate art materials for those budding artists. Aren't you glad you red this.

Other paintings from the past with red as a focal point.

Retreat on the River 8x10

Shepherds Path 8x10

Launch at Breezy Point 8x10

Tree House 5x7

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Thanks for viewing.  

A new sign for Perrot State Park

This year I had the opportunity to do another painting for a kiosk at Perrot State Park. This one features those wonderful creatures that come out after sunset. Owls, Bats, Racoons and Opossum featured with Trempealeau Mountain and Bay in the background. 

Creatures of the Night 40x60

Soon to be delivered and hopefully it will be installed sometime this next summer.

Who paints for You, hope you enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've included some photos of the process. You can see the Barred Owl was much bigger originally, reduced and changes as the days go by. Along with numerous other corrections and enhancements.

Last years signage

Being A Kind Human

This week has brought new hope for many. From small gestures to epic events all actions count.  A special acknowledgement goes to Karen Sherman for her creative contributions. Tried to capture another moment, with my paintings, feeding the birds with her at Goose Island.

Being A Kind Human 8x10

I wanted to share her political art collages that have been accepted by the La Crosse Historical Society for their collections.

From Karen Sherman:

“This is What Democracry Looks Like”

This photo collage is a collection of the Wisconsin 2011 grassroots resistance during Governor Walker's attack on workers's rights and the Republican agenda. The signs and people depicted are representative of the thousands who know politics matter. The attached mirrors reflect the viewer because we are all part of “What Democracy Looks Like.”

Artist's bio : Karen Sherman

Raised in Little Rock, Arkansas in the shadow of Jim Crow and integration as a southern Jew by a New Yorker and a holocaust survivor, I was taught as a child that politics matter and one can't be a bystander.

Photography has always been a hobby since my first Brownie camera and Polaroids with black and white film to colored film and my numerous Canon cameras. I was always finding those 'Kodak' moments to document, share and preserve

 

I hope the momentum continues forward-Colleen