Lake Superior Blues

Grand Marais Harbor Day 11x24 oil on cradled panel

 A chance to paint different waters. Lake Superior along the North Shore of Minnesota.

Harbor park gave me a view of sail boats waiting for their captains. Almost finished as a plein air on site but the boats moored kept shifting and so I needed a little time in the studio to add the last details.

 

Sky Scape 8x10 oil 

 First day at Sugarloaf and thought I'd capture the colors in the evening sky.

 

Questions cshoreartwork@gmail.com

Catching Up on Grand Marais

I've been back in my studio looking at my paintings from the time I spent at Sugarloaf, creating Plein Air.

There's a couple of paintings I think are complete enough, so I have let them remained as is, one of those I've selected to enter into the open class competition for Plein Air Grand Marais. I'm excited to have my artist friend Linda transport it back to the North Shore during the event. Now to let it dry, maybe varnish and of course frame up. I'll post an image in the weeks to come.

Two other paintings I'm still contemplating whether I should put them back on my easel. Time will tell and that's an important step. Stepping back and looking at it with fresh eyes before making adjustments.So they wait.

In the case of the rest I've gone in with paint and brush. Here's the resulting paintings. Started as plein air but finished in the studio.

 

High Falls Overlook 11x14 oil 

Along the Cabins 9x12 oil 

Sugarloaf Cove 11x14 oil

When I still had paint on the palette I took out some small 4x6 panels and put it to good use.

Daisies 4x6 oil cradled panel 

 

Tomato 4x6 oil cradled panel 

Fireweed 4x6 oil cradle panel 

 

Harbor Walk 4x6 oil cradled panel 

 

 

 

Questions cshoreartwork@gmail.com

Join Me Sat. Sept 6

 Artist Reception for Colleen Shore –Sat, Sept 6 from 9am-Noon at The Station in Trempealeau

Think of Others 11x14 oil on cradled panel 

View my collection of Feathered Friends and More. A series of original oil paintings depicting messages birds might want to give us. Birders and Bird Fans will enjoy the variety of ways birds are portrayed and the impact on our lives.

Artist Reception for Colleen Shore –Sat, Sept 6 from 9am-Noon at The Station in Trempealeau

During the reception I'll be demonstrating painting on site, outside plein air if weather permits, inside from a photo if it rains. 

You can see my collection of original paintings featuring Feathered Friends and More at The Station in Historic Downtown Trempealeau, at 11369 Main Street til the end of September 2025. The Station is open-Mornings except Wednesdays.

Questions cshoreartwork@gmail.com and more information at cshoreartwork.blogspot.com
 

more paintings on display

 

 Eight Paintings in oil, cold wax and collage. Cradled Panels 11x14, with finished edges in various colors, no need to frame this modern look

Escape to Wisconsin 11x14 

 

Eviction Notice 11x14

Do These Feathers Make Me Look Fat 11x14 

Messages 11x14 

Color of Red 11x14

Where's Aldo, I'm Back! 11x14  

Gone Fishing 11x14 

While out birding you're most likely to run into other birders. 

The following two paintings are from La Crosse and Winona respective birding groups.

Marsh March 8x10 

On the Hunt 8x10 

and More... A selection of unframed 8x10 original oil paintings. A common size for ready made frames. Remember no glass or matting needed. Subject matter birds found in the most unusual places. County fairs, National Eagle Center, Farms, Rehabilitation Center and as models for sculptures.

Golden Beak 8x10

Bald Beak 8x10 

Call of the Wild 8x10 

Soaring Over Riverside 8x10

Bird of Prey 8x10 

Saturday Night 8x10 

Morning Stretch 8x10 

These paintings are available for purchase through The Station in Trempealeau. Thank you for viewing. Colleen Shore cshoreartwork@gmail.com

Up On the North Shore-Grand Marais

 Excited to show you the results of my paintings from an excursion to the shores of Lake Superior. This past week I joined other artists from Outdoor Painters of Minnesota at Sugarloaf Cabins to capture the beautiful waterfalls, rocks, waves and harbors from Schroeder all the way to Grand Portage. 

 

I did over 10 paintings  and not need to access them. Which one I might enter in the open class at Plein Air Grand Marais in September and which ones should I work on more in the studio. 

Just a note to the people that were interested to see the results of my paintings at Harbor Park in Grand Marais, please email me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com for a first looks of the results. On the schedule first to evaluate is the Waterfall at Grand Portage State Park and I've already responded to you via email.

 

Disruptive Influence 9x12 

I was taken by the vibrant pinks of Fireweed, a native plant that is prevalent along the Hwy 61 roadside. It naturally loves the disturbed soils and takes advantage quickly growing like a weed. Instead of pulling over on the highway to paint and risking my life, I was happy to find a lovely cluster right in Harbor Park.

I'll be sharing more in my upcoming blogs.

Thanks for viewing Colleen

Questions cshoreartwork@gmail.com 

Grand Marais inspired paintings from 2024

Fish Market Parking Only 8x10 oil 

 Old and weathered but fortunately not forgotten. These buildings of fishing history, along the shore of Lake Superior, captured with my camera and interpreted in the studio. The dull grays with pops of orange and yellow were my inspiration.

Another Day Ashore 8x10 oil 

Waiting to Launch 8x10 oil

The sunrise, enhanced by the particles in the air from the wildfires in Canada. It only lasted maybe 30 minutes. I had to get up before the sun rose and get my palette ready. A quick paint and it was all over.
I attempted the sunrise again, this time on a larger panel that was very slick. Always trying different surfaces for different effects.

Sunrise at Sugarloaf II 11x14 oil on cradled panel

Another larger painting on a slick surface. Not much control for detail but sometimes that's what its all about.

Taconite Harbor 11x14 oil on cradled panel

Waterfalls were everywhere. 

Temperance River Falls 8x10 oil 

Painting during Drawn Together

This week during our Wednesday morning Drawing Together Group I decided to paint. One of my favorite subjects the boat houses by Copeland Park, but this time on the other side of the bank.

Even with the smoke hazed skies I found a little blue in the sky and lots of interesting lines to paint.

My beginning efforts are a lot like drawing as I set the composition and eventually fill in with color. Most was done plein air but I did finish up in the studio, making some adjustments and artistic  choices.

 

Clinton Boat Houses 11x14 oil unframed SOLD

 

In the beginning

I'll be at Moon Tunes tonight for the Irish music but I won't be painting. Bringing along the sketchbook instead.

 

Questions cshoreartwork@gmail.com 

Put it on your calendar, it's a great spectator sport too.

 

The Color Red

 You can see my collection of original paintings featuring Feathered Friends and More at The Station in Historic Downtown Trempealeau, at 11369 Main Street til the end of September 2025.

 

Feathered Friends and More is about-

Messages birds might want to give us, to celebrating the seasonal migration of warblers.  Birders and Bird fans will enjoy the variety of   ways birds are portrayed and their impact on our lives.

 

The Color Red 11x14 oil on cradled panel $275

Get Real, No Red Dye No. 2

 

When we try to replicate what we think nature needs we often impose our own misconceptions.

 

Please remember you should not dye your hummingbird food red. Its not needed and can be harmful.

 

Having  a red container or a decoration in red is enough to catch their eye.

 

Also use real sugar, no substitutes for hummingbirds.

 

This painting is available to purchase at The Station- Sunday, Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-Noon and until 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Closed Wednesdays.

 

Questions cshoreartwork@gmail.com

 

 

 

A Quick Quick Paint at Pump House

An invitation to paint and I'll be there. The Eastbank Artists held a quick paint at the Pump House for their monthly meeting. It was a real quick quick paint from 5:30-6:45. It was hot out so that's about all I could take in the heat and a plus we didn't have to have it framed for the presentation.

 I forgot my  Brown paint so wasn't able to create some of the darks in the original painting. So back to the studio the next day to give it the deeper shadows some depth.Hope you like the final result.

Art Library 8x10 oil 

Quick Paint Plein Air before studio work

Thanks Eastbank Artists and the Pump House for the  invitation.

 

Colleen Shore

cshoreartwork.@gmail.com

 

I'll be getting out to do some more plein air this week-

Sunday at Music at Halfway Creek in Holmen from 5-7 and during

Thursday at Moon Tunes in La Crosses Riverside Park from5:30-8ish

for Irish Music 

 

All signed up for the local plein air event. Put it on your calendar, it's a great spectator sport too.