"Evening"

I often paint nocturnal or evening type pieces. I also often kayak in the evening and well into the dark, starting out at sunset and coming in by moonlight or headlamp. The hard edges of day turn soft by night and realities kept hidden in the shadows. I like the unbusyness of night where my mind is free to wander and I can think clearly about my next piece.

"Northern Solitudes"

Work has been completed for my my show "Northern Solitudes" coming up this Friday June 8th. I have greatly enjoyed painting this body of work inspired by several trips to the BWCAW and other adventures in the North Country.

In the Studio

Took these shots in my studio...deep into work these days and loving it.

More North

I thoroughly enjoyed having my painting workshop at the Lutsen Resort. What a beautiful, calm and relaxing, not to mention extremely scenic place to paint and be inspired! And it was so great to continue the creative dialogue and energy after class as we shared hikes, photography, dinners, campfires and conversation. I'm looking forward to introducing more people to these workshops as they develop.

After the workshop I made my way across beautiful Highway 1 over to Ely to hike and photograph for even more northern inspiration for my upcoming June show. Paintings are well under way, they are stacking up in the studio and I am loving working on this series of the BWCAW. I am going to wait until closer to the show though to post these paintings anywhere.

As you can see...I also enjoyed playing with my new camera this week. It is not a new medium for me, but a revisited one. While I have no intention of going into photography...it is a nice diversion, as I was not trying to photograph for a professional purpose.

Connections

I am delighted to have connected with the group called "Friends of the BWCAW" We will be collaborating on a show this June. I do many trips in the BWCAW (Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wildernerness) and deeply appreciate the rich "wilderness" experience. Much of the inspiration and ideas for my work come from this very distinct area in Northern Minnesota. A man that I never had the opportunity to meet but have always greatly admired is Sigurd Olson. A voice for the wilderness, he fought hard along with other visionaries and organizations to define and maintain the BWCAW as a wilderness area, believing that these areas rich in intangible values are completely necessary for humankind. Friends of the BWCAW is an organization developed in order to protect, preserve and restore the true wilderness character of the BWCAW and the Quetico-Superior Ecosystem.

Attempts

I have attempted two paintings recently and have destroyed both of them. It happens. I've come to recognize and accept these unsuccessful attempts as growth, allowing my disappointment to at least have a reason and clearing my head for yet another push forward and another new attempt.

My joy at Christmas

My favorite part of the holiday season is hand painting the wrapping. I light my candles, turn on the sprig of christmas lights, pretend I am stuck in a cabin in the northwoods and I play. It's really fun if the snow is blowing outside! Which it hasn't actually done very much this year. This tradition I have created started because I didn't want to spend the money on wrapping and then it became so well liked by everyone, now they collect them. It is so satisfying to create these little pieces and customize them. I feel like a little kid coloring and I love it. The fact that they are so well received is just a bonus.

I don't always make my own gifts, but this year I did. Out of a large piece of leather I made little bags decorated with my old jewelry, customizing each piece to suit it's intended. I wasn't sure how these would go over, but I am a believer in giving something of yourself, something that you'd like to give...not what others want or expect. They were treasured by most...and it all made for a very good holiday season.

Now bring on the snow!!!

"Backroads"

"Backroads" was inspired by a rainy and foggy Monday. In this post I am attempting to show my progression of a piece. I started this piece at about 1:00 and finished it by about 6:00. Usually when a painting happens this quickly, I really like the piece, and it holds true for this one. They don't all happen this fast.

"Darksome" a noun, a dark color or shade, esp. in a painting.

This piece was inspired my trip to the BWCA this fall. When canoeing, I get a thrill out of a crossing in waves and big water, but I really love hugging the shore and getting glimpses into the deep woods and wondering. The darkish mystery of the woods reflected in waters underneath my boat intensify my curiosity. Wonder is an emotion that precipitates much of my work.

This piece was well received at the the Art on Main show at Alesci Gallery this past Friday and in fact sold almost immediately. The new owners agreed to let me keep it through the exhibit which I really appreciated.

"Without A Map"

I recently read a book by the award winning author Meredith Hall titled "Without A Map". I was captivated immediately and was unable to put the book down. I must first admit to literally picking this book by the cover. I read the title which attracted me "Without A Map"....I'm sure we've all felt like this at times. As an artist, probably even more so. So I decided to pull it off the library shelf and as I put the book in my hands, the cover revealed a gray moody scene of a road leading into a mysterious and foggy place, reminding me much of my work. I was drawn in and knew I must read this book.

"Without A Map" will piss you off, make you laugh and make you cry. It gets right to the heart of what it is to be a woman, our weaknesses and above all, our strengths.

At the back of the book and after the story has ended, Hall talks about a place very dear to her. As she describes the stark and haunting landscape and it's people, I got goose bumps as I realized she can only be talking about one place, a place I know too. Newfoundland.

I felt compelled to write to her. She said she didn't often have the time to respond to her e-mails, but my Newfoundland in the subject made her pay attention. She decided to peruse my website. This is what she wrote back to me:

“Wow. Wow. I spend a lot of time roaming around galleries and museums and sometimes—rarely—I have a powerful emotional response. I am stunned by your work. I love how subdued the light is, how fully you feel the harsh, wild, demanding beauty of Newfoundland. Maybe someday I will find a way to have one of your paintings on my wall. It would be an honor.
”Meredith Hall, Author, Without a Map

I am the one honored...this woman has lead a fascinating life.

Meredith's website:
http://meredithhall.org/

Ran off to the Prairie

I get bored....had to run off to the prairie for a bit. At least in my mind. This painting was inspired by many road trips to the prairies I have camped and hiked in. I know I'm supposed to be painting the BWCA right now, but this is what came out this week. The clearing is good.

Fall work

I've been working in the studio, painting the walls as well as pictures and will be settling into a month or so of painting from my BWCA trip. Wish I was at a cabin in the Northwoods for a month painting, with a nice fireplace and a view. A small quaint cabin.

Welcome Erin

I am delighted to have Erin working as my publicist and office manager. Her energy and enthusiasm along with her knowledge is greatly appreciated! I am hoping to have even more time in the studio to paint!! The busy stuff of business is quite interruptive to an artist.

North Shore Camping

I was running around Duluth and the North Shore this weekend. A very productive weekend that made me feel so good about my work and the direction I'm taking it. I delivered more work to "Waters of Superior", they have my work very nicely displayed, as does "Sivertsons" in Grand Marais, a new gallery for me. I have been feeling like I should have some sort of presence up in the galleries in and around this area that I love and paint so much. But up until very recently I was not represented. Now however, I am very well represented by the two established and well known galleries. I am very proud to be a part of both of them.

I also stopped in at the Historic Lutsen Lodge to look at the space where I will begin teaching workshops this coming year. What an inspiring and wonderful space to have workshops. Wow!

And then I found this campsite for future trips. Can't wait to camp on this spot sometime!

Quetico/BWCA

North and South
October 15, 2011

It’s been one week since I’ve returned from the North Country of the Quetico/BWCA territory. I spent six days in these stunning and expansive hinterlands with my son Max and his dog Zipper. We saw about 8 – 10 other humans total all week; we exchanged only a few words on the portages, and when passing another party of canoeist, a nod would often suffice, keeping the silence golden. The majorities of those who venture to these parts seek a true wilderness experience and probably would prefer not to see anybody. So mostly you are quiet when you meet, respecting each other’s desire for silence and solitude on the trail.

We traveled the Border country by canoe, much the same as the Natives and Voyagers did long ago in these same although probably unnamed waters of Agnes, Iron, Lac La Croix, Crooked and Basswood, including many small rivers and portages, changing camp and making miles everyday. Across a portage or around the bend a new landscape would reveal itself, changing from dramatic cliffs and narrow passageways to sweeping water or bog areas. We had a perfect week of weather, peak fall colors, starry nights, a waxing crescent moon, a hearty feel and pungent smell of fall in the air and a healthy dose of wind to make our big water crossings memorable.

We saw a variety of birds, eagles, some mink, otters and other small critters while canoeing the waterways or fishing the rocky shoreline from camp. Unforgettable was the extraordinary large, yet immature Bald Eagle we watched perched on a precarious dead branch, his head black, his beak still grey, with a beautiful variation of color and pattern of his feathers that were ruffling in the wind. He reminded me of a proud and beautiful Indian warrior. Shortly after we saw him, we came to a large cliff area where there are known pictographs. As we moved in under the massive rocks to more closely see the renderings…two Bald Eagles came in to circle the air above us, giving us a show that left us breathless. I couldn’t believe our luck at witnessing this scene directly above the pictographs. That evening right after sunset, two trumpeter swans made three passes across the salmon colored sky above our camp before retreating across the lake, and in finale, flew across the quarter moon reflecting off the water. I remember commenting to Max that it had been a five star day.

Pondering my own migration on the night of our last camp, I was fortunate to have been able to observe an Arctic Loon feeding in the bay, getting ready much like me, to make his way south. But surely to return again.

September

It's been a beautiful fall with pontoon rides and night hikes in the parks. Lots of inspiration has come from these little outings. This is a painting I did from a glorious evening spent pontooning on the St. Croix River with good friends, good food and some wine of course. Now I am off to the BWCA. Should be just right up there now for my kind of inspiration!

North Shore Workshop

We had a lovely and inspiring weekend on the North Shore of Minnesota where I taught a painting workshop. There will be more to come!

"Thank you for a lovely weekend, Mary Jo, for hosting this workshop, and giving me the great joy and privilege to study with you. You're a wonderful teacher (and a lot of fun to be with!). Thanks for the opportunity. I truly hope to have as many as you will allow!

Brimming with remarkable images (both natural and created) in my mind, memorable stories and joy in my heart. I grew a great deal emotionally and spiritually this weekend, and am very grateful.

Linda
Student on the North Shore Workshop weekend.

"August"

It's been a busy summer. Had a great show down in Lanesboro Minnesota at the Lanesboro Art Center. This summer also found me guiding a hiking trip in the heart of the Rockies in Colorado. That was a blast. I also spent some time in the Northwoods of Minnesota and have plans for a few trips this fall into BWCA. Love that area. And I'm working on other trips for women to join me on. I will be teaching a 2 day/3 night workshop late August up on the North Shore of Minnesota. I'm looking forward to sharing that area with others.

"Distant Shores"

I have painted this painting before, however it is a place I often long to be. "Away" from the noisy world of business and into a place of natural sounds, beauty, freedom and possibilities. Painting it again brought me back.

Goodbye to Winter

April 1st today, The weather is betwixt with rain and snow, winter and spring.  I'm sorry to see the snow leave, it's been a lovely winter with several trips to the North Country, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding and some winter camping. 

Spring is just beginning to show itself with tiny shoots of green popping up next to patches of remaining gray and crusty snow.

It's  good time of year to paint, and to reflect on where I've been and where the spring and summer will take me.