Learning to Push the Paint

Marsh Study One 8x10 oil 

Tree Line Study One oil

Marsh Study Two 8x10 oil 

 At the end of June I attended a workshop offered by Kami Mendlik of St. Croix River School of  Painting. It was a wonderful 3 days of trying to absorb new techniques and approaches. As in the title of this post, we were learning to push paint. Thank you again Kami for your patience and sharing your passion for painting.

I'm excited to keep going with this approach and want to share some of my studies during the weekend. Some of the things I needed to change were, as Kami worded it, paint like your rich. So on goes the paint the colors in thick strokes just begging for a palette knife to cut into it. Even the method of mixing paints was new to me. She showed us how to whip it up without using any gamsol until it's consistency reminded me of butter.

I felt like a chef prepping my ingredients then wallah a recipe for success.

I still have a lot of work to do incorporating the new information in my brain so my hands and eyes see the tones and values. These studies are pretty rough, they don't have the finesse that will hopefully come later as I search for my style.

Down by the Riverside International Friendship Gardens

 It was a pleasure to help the Riverside International Friendship Gardens celebrate in June with joining the fun by plein air painting in the gardens. It's a favorite spot of Drawn Together to gather for our weekly drawing.Thank you to the volunteers that keep it so beautiful.

I needed a few more excuses to get outside and paint because of my upcoming workshop in Stillwater, MN. It's the first workshop in the last couple of years and I was really looking forward to learning from Kami Mendlik at the end of June. More on that in another upcoming blog. I'm still digesting the all the new information.

Below are the results of some plein air and some studio works that I've done featuring the gardens. Enjoy. Questions or perhaps to purchase contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com

Path to Pergola 8x10 oil 

Dragon's Greeting 8x10 oil 

Riverside Garden 8x10 oil 

River Birches 8x10 oil unframed $50

Seeing Double

 

Seeing Double 8x10 oil

It feels like summer is now in full swing since Riverfest is here. Enjoy and have a safe fourth of July.

This painting was done awhile ago as a commission for a gift to be given in June. Hope they're enjoying it now. Been wanting to share for awhile and since it's right on the river in La Crosse I'd thought it most appropriate. There's a double meaning to this one, the retiree worked in genetics.

Blooms don't last Forever-A few days left at Elmaro

The shows over for June, but you can still contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com for purchases.

 

You can savor these favorite flowers for a few more days at Elmaro or forever in your own art collection. Last two days in the crush pad this Tuesday and Wednesday they are open noon-6pm.

Spring Unfurls 8x10 oil 

Some of my favorite spring ephemeral along Brady's West Trail in the park. Blood Root a welcome sign of spring and interesting foliage. 

Pantaloons of Perrot 8x10 oil
Dutchmans Breeches, the wild cousins of the Bleeding Heart, hang lined up like pants airing out to dry. After friend John R. referred to them as Pantaloons I can't think of anything else to call them.

Stars of Spring 8x10 oil
The stunning return of Shooting Stars in May along west Brady's can only be a testament to the importance of prescribed burns to maintain the native flowers. There's a lot of detail in these precious little blooms. I went more expressionistic with the silver paint, just because of how they make me feel.

Golden Moments at Elmaro 8x10

The Hibiscus plants patiently wait for winter to end and return to their place on the patio at Elmaro. Plants on the patio join patrons for soaking in the summer sun.

 

Hope you can make it. Colleen

Last Weekend for a Spectacular View at Elmaro

 The shows over for June, but you can still contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com for purchases.

It's almost over, the last weekend for my Trempealeau Connections in Elmaro's crush pad. Be sure to sign my guest book it you can get out there. Sunday's the last of the Street Markets for June too.

Top of O'Brady's 8x10 oil 

What's Sunday in Trempealeau with out brunch at Sullivan's and a walk up and over Brady's Bluff to top off the day. This iconic view in the fall is one of my favorite. Although I bet winter is stunning too.

 

On the Verge of Spring 8x10 oil 

The sunsets in spring over the Trempealeau Bay waters. A golden moment to use the metallic paint again, to help capture that shimmer and glow.

Bay Vista 8x10 oil 

Trempeauleau Bay, a paradise for birds returning north and paddlers.As the waters recede the Voyageur Trail is revealed. You don't want to try a short cut on the path, it's like a maze out there. Tried once with Chris L.

Bay Refuge 8x10 oil  

Just before Trempealeau Bay empties into the Mississippi under the railroad bridge, a nice gathering spot out of the way of traffic for Herons and Ducks.

Not Bluffing-Only 1 more week for Trempealeau Connections

 The shows over for June, but you can still contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com for purchases.

In case you haven't had a chance to stop in the Crush Pad at Elmaro. Only one more week til my Trempealeau Connections show is over.

Brady's Bluff 8x10 oil

From the Minnesota side of the Mississippi, the line up of bluffs that over look Trempealeau are featured in these next four paintings. A beautiful morning in the spring to see the shapes of the outcroppings and goat prairies. Photos taken early spring from a wonderful gallery in Lamoille called Mississippi Mornings. A fun series that like to hang out together. To embellish these jewels along the ridge I tried some more gold and silver to the textures of trees.

Perrot Ridge Bluff oil

Bunnell's Bluff 8x10 oil

 

Second Peak Bluff 8x10 oil

Summerizing Sundays at Elmaro in June

 The shows over for June, but you can still contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com for purchases.

What fun to spend my Sundays in June during the street market at Elmaro. While painting and drawing I got o share my love of art with my surroundings and others doing the same.

My display will be up until the end of June in the Crush Pad. Trempealeau Connections will come down the morning of June 30 and it's been a pleasure. 

There's still one more Sunday in June but I'll miss it. Gotta great painting workshop to go to. More on that later.

 Sunday June 19

 Drawing from my surroundings on Sunday. A great way to connected with those at Elmaro.

Those red umbrellas always attract attention

 

Hope you tried the crepes by Jean Luc

You get the best reactions from people

Hanging around on the patio

Hamilton being wined and dined

 

Remembering the Flower Girl

 Sunday, June 12

I painted, enjoy seeing friends and meeting new ones. Here's some of the plein air paintings and a few other photos of the day. Thanks for coming out.

On the Patio at Elmaro 8x10

Beyond the Vines at Elmaro 8x10

These two biked all the way in from La Crosse

A wonderful day to hang out.

Unintended Selfie, trying to take a photo with new phone.

Sunday, June 5

Looks like great weather for Elmaro's Sunday Street Market, lots of artisan vendors, Crepes by Jean Luc sweet and savory freshly made and music by Crooked Willow.  

Wine and Rows at Elmaro 8x10 oil

Plein air paintings from Sunday, June 5. A little rainy so not many shadows. The vines are just changing everyday. Hopefully they'll be blooming this weekend.

 

Rain or Shine at Elmaro 8x10 oil

Celebrations at Elmaro 8x10 oil

Plein Air painting from Friday, June 3. The sun really shines on this white tent, a perfect place for weddings.

Devine Raisins 5x17 oil

 Inspired to paint in the studio the raisins from the vineyard still on the vine. Super sweet how they hang on.

 

Below are a few drawings I did on Wednesday. got some new markers I had to check out and play with

Nectar of the Gods at Elmaro drawing

Stair Way to Heaven at Elmaro drawing

Branch Managers at Elmaro drawing