Gail Hayton - Fine Art Miniatures

Thanksgiving Time

2011-11-27T17:31:00.001-08:00

Time is flying by as usual. I have been keeping very busy with several commissions for Christmas presents. Since they are presents, I don't feel I can post them at this time. I would hate to spoil someone's surprise.

I was very honored to learn that my painting Eastern Market Morn won honorable mention at the Scarab Club Gold Medal show this past week. Competition includes some of Detroit's finest artists. It is always heartwarming to have a miniature stand up to the big boys!

Thanksgiving at our house this year was very quiet. My husband had some extensive surgery a week before Thanksgiving and wasn't up to much of anything. That was OK. In Michigan we have a bavarian town about 45 minutes from our home that is noted for great chicken dinners. We we fortunate to have our son pick up a carry out of chicken, mashed potatoes, dressing-the whole works! All we had to do was heat and serve. We spent the day in front of the fireplace eating and watching old movies. Quite relaxing.

This year I am thankful for many things, especially that my husband is on the mend. Yesterday we starting putting up Christmas decorations. I love the extra lights this time of year. The weather here has been quite dreary with pouring rain the last couple of days.

I hope everyone has enjoyed their holiday week and able to spend quality time with relatives.

Till next time,

Where Do I Begin?

2011-10-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

My backyard, wow, most leaves are down!

Wow, where to begin after not updating in so long? I am not even going to try to describe all that we have done since June. Well, we did finish the front lawn, actually just last week as every time we put sod down, it would burn up before it finally knitted to the soil. So, we gave up until a couple of weeks ago. Glad it is over.

My husband and I made several trips to both Mackinac Island and Elk Rapids to paint in front of my galleries. We met many wonderful friends along the way. We still have one more trip to Mackinac Island and will be staying on the island for two days due to a gift certificate from an artist friend.

Below are just some of the paintings I have completed over the summer. Till next time,

Hollyhock Heaven 3-1/2" x 4-3/4"

Carriage House 3-1/2" x 4-3/4"

Grand Fountain 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"

So What Have You Been Doing For Fun?

2011-06-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a while since my last post and we have been busy. Already this year we have spent time on Mackinac Island. My dear husband bought me a new bike ,on the island for mothers day. I love it! It is called a Biria, very unique design that reminds me a lot of the bike I had when I was a girl. We were having so much fun riding around on the island I did not take any pictures-go figure.
Weather the last few weeks has been strange. Lots of 50 degree days with buckets of rain. Finally, we got some warm weather and sun. With it came a ton of work around our house. Last fall we had an issue with one of the walls of our home and basically I had more bulldozers on my lawn than on the road. Bottom line-I lost most of my lawn and flower garden-uh!!! Three weeks ago we guilted our two grown children into helping us and we stripped off the old lawn/weeds and laid down new sod on about half the lawn. My back has been killing me ever since. Hopefully, in the next week or so we will have the job done. I can't wait.

In between all the yard work we spent a day in Elk Rapids and I painted for my gallery there, Twisted Fish. It was their Art Beat gallery hopping day. The weather was wonderful and I met many wonderful people. I always enjoy talking the Bob and "Charlie", the owners who have become friends over the years.

I will be camping this coming weekend in Mackinaw City and painting on the island at Victorian Summer Gallery ,Saturday and Sunday, as part of the Lilac Festival Celebration. I am looking forward to seeing the many friends I have made on the island as well as meeting new friends. The kids will get watering duty back home! I will be delivering Rain On Main, one of my latest pieces of Main Street, taken from a photo of a very rainy fall day. I was inspired to paint this scene because of the reflections on the pavement. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Till next time,

Gail

This and That

2011-04-21T14:44:00.001-07:00

Those of you who have been following this blog are aware that I was accepted as a member of The Scarab Club in downtown Detroit last summer. I was again honored, recently with acceptance of two of my miniatures and an award for The Blacksmith at the Scarab Club's current show entitled Working Class Heroes. My husband and I attended the opening reception shown below. It was very well attended!

I love the Scarab Club building. It is chocked full of wonderful murals, art and stained glass windows and screens.

The Scarab Club was founded in 1907 by a group of artists and art lovers who enjoyed meeting regularly to discuss art and socialize. The desire to form an arts organization in Detroit during the first third of the 20th century was partially intertwined with the birth of automotive design and the evolution of advertising art inspired by the burgeoning automobile industry. Although generally viewed as a heavily industrial city, Detroit’s artistic community thrived from the success of the automobile.
Many of the original founding members of the Scarab Club consisted of automotive designers, advertising illustrators, graphic artists, photographers, architects, and automobile company owners. Scarab Club members inspired each others’ artistic spirit by entering their artwork in the Annual Exhibition of Michigan Artists held at the Detroit Institute of Arts under the auspices of the Scarab Club from 1911 to 1928 and the DIA from 1929 to 1974.
Besides hosting various events, such as the costumed Scarab Club balls for members and others to attract the general public, the Scarab Club managed working artist studios that still continue today. Since its founding in 1907, the Scarab Club continues to be a driving force in the artistic community and is proud to serve Michigan as a cultural stimulant for artistic diversity in the 21st century.

The Blacksmith

Driving the Mules

Well, we finally got fed up with the weather around here and spent 10 days in Florida. We camped at DisneyWorld and just soaked up the sun and warmth. It felt wonderful. Driving home on Monday we faced SNOW in Michigan. What a shock going from 90 degrees to 32! Luckily, the weather is improving and soon all the seasonal galleries will be full of collectors. back to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Till next time,

Still Hybernating

2011-03-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

As I am writing this blog, my husband and I are parked in front of our wood burning stove vowing not to move. We have warned the dogs NOT to ask to go outside (we know that will only last so long) and are even sitting under blankets. Although daylight savings time officially starts at 2am, you would never know it by our weather. Today it has rained, snowed, sleet, you name it, we have had it. It is the kind of day where the damp settles into your bones and stays. I must be getting old!
I have been painting non-stop for the past month. I am currently working on 3 paintings to enter in Michigan competitions. These three are very complicated images that have taken forever. I really enjoy the challenge. I have also completed a couple of paintings for Mackinac Island and three for Twisted Fish Gallery in Elk Rapids, Mich. Aside from the weather on days like today, Michigan is a great place to live. This state provides a tremendous variety of images to paint from. I am never bored.
The big news from the Hayton household is that our son, Jeff is officially engaged. They leave home? I thought that was a myth! Seriously, he is marrying a very nice girl and we are happy for both of them.
My latest pieces are below. They are both acrylic and measure 3-1/2 inches by 4-3/4". A bit larger than my normal format. Who knew painting an extra inch or so could take so long. Go figure.
Till next time,

Thinking Warm Thoughts

2011-02-04T18:20:00.000-08:00

As I am sitting here writing this blog I notice that according to the icon on my computer, it is currently 19 degrees outside. This is a heat wave!!! Like much of the country we have been experiencing challenging weather. We have had single digit highs and freezing rain with several inches of snow. Such is the life of a Michigander every year! It seems like ages ago now, that our family traveled to Disney World early in January. The following pictures are the walk we took through our condo complex on the way to breakfast the morning we were leaving to come home. I am really bad about remembering to take pictures. This particular morning was cloudy, but warm by Michigan standards and a pleasant walk. While in Florida, our kids hit the parks every day while we just soaked up the atmosphere. Unfortunately, it never got warm enough to put the top down on our Jeep;maybe next time.

Since returning home I have been working long hours in my studio preparing for May on Mackinac Island when tourism begins in earnest. Today, I only have one finished piece to share as I have many 90% complete works of art. I do this quite often. Work on something and then throw it on the shelf for a few weeks. It helps me to see my work with fresh eyes! The piece below is called On A Clear Day and believe it or not, I did not embellish the colors at all-it really was that beautiful the day I took this shot. We were touring the fort up on the bluff and this is a view of the town and harbot below. Can't wait for spring!
I hope everyone is keeping warm and enjoying the solitude of Winter.

Till next time,

It's Christmas Time!

2010-12-13T14:30:00.001-08:00

Christmas is just around the corner and we are so relieved to be DONE with construction. Just in time!!! I thought you might like to see some pictures of what we have been up to. Below is what our family room looked like in October. Bare studs and concrete floor. The outside wasn't much better as we had a 5 foot trench around the perimeter of the house.

This is a picture of the same room that I took this morning. It is fast becoming my favorite spot in the house especially with a wind chill below zero today!! The other end of the room is a game area with pool table, darts etc. It is a room we always congregate in on Christmas day.

We even got as far as putting up a tree! I am so excited to not be living in piles and construction dust in every corner of the house.

In between everything I have been doing some painting. I completed a commission of the Island House Hotel for a nice couple that were celebrating their 30th anniversary. It seems that the Island House is where they always stay and holds many memories.

I also completed a painting of Vinnie, one of my friends faithful companions. This was a real labor of love as this dog is SO cool.. I have wanted to paint him for quite some time.

I promise NOT to post anymore blogs with reference to mold, construction or anything related.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season and that 2011 holds the best for you and your families. I want to thank all my collectors for making 2010 a great year and I look forward to seeing all of you again next year,

Till next year,

What A Fall!

2010-11-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

I have not posted lately due to circumstances WAY out of my control. Shortly after arriving home from Mackinac Island we had several days of pouring rain in our area. Funny thing. All of a sudden we had wet carpet in our walkout family room/game room. Horror of horrors-the walls were leaking. What a mess. Although this room is partly below grade, it is constructed with wolmanized wood. My husband knew we had to find out what was going on especially with fall and winter fast approaching. He ripped the drywall off the wall and was met with dripping wet insulation. I was met with instant asthma and allergy attacks and was exiled to live in the motorhome for a couple of weeks! Bottom line, we had to hire contractors to remove trees in our side yard, dig 5 feet down and rebuild the wall. Doing this meant destroying out front porch and front garden as well as the bulk of our front lawn. We had more vehicles in our yard than were on the street! We also lost the stairway from our second floor deck. What a mess. It is a good thing that I am not rich. I would not do well with hired help in my home all the time. I really like my privacy and found it very difficult to paint this past few weeks. Finally, we are somewhat put back together and painting the inside and laying flooring. The worst is over.
I have been able to paint a couple of pieces shown below and I am currently working on two commissions that I hope to complete this week. It feels so good to be back to my normal life. I hope!

Shalda Creek Gouache 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"

Drum and Fiddle, Acrylic, 3-1/2" x 2-1/2"

Till next time (sooner than later)

Gail

My Show on Mackinac Island

2010-09-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

Wow, I cannot believe it has been a month since I updated my blog. To say I have been busy is an understatement. Last Saturday evening was the opening reception for my miniature show on Mackinac Island. It was a very eventful weekend.
We arrived on the island Friday as I had some framing to complete before the show. The weather was already getting nasty and was the beginning of a rough weekend on the island. The ferry ride was more like going to the amusement park and the wind was buckling our umbrellas in the opposite way they fold. Not to be deterred, we went about our business and helped the gallery owner finalize the setup of the show.
Friday evening was the opening reception for my friend Bill Murcko's show at the library that hosts art events as well. We fought our way over in the wind and driving rain (no cars on the island) and talked with Bill, Betty, his wife, and their son who had flown in from New York. I took a picture of Bill next to my favorite painting in the show. I love the expression on the girls face in this painting. One wonders what she is thinking about!

The opening reception for my show was Saturday evening and the weather again did not cooperate. I had a friend that called to say she would not be attending the show because she was not about to get on the ferry -it was so bad out. We found out later that more than one freighter heading into Lake Michigan thought better about continuing their trip and were anchored behind the island to shelter themselves from the storm. Many people did venture out, however ,and it was a great time. Below is Bill Murcko attending MY show along with the mayor of Mackinac Island (in pink) and her mother (back turned away) who is the most spry 90 year old I have met in my life.
The gentleman in the baseball cap is Rev. Vincent Carroll, pastor of Little Stone Church. I am talking with his wife Molly, who is also an artist. They were kind enough to invite us to services the following morning. We attended and we quite surprised to be sitting in front of the governor of Michigan who was up on the island for the annual Mackinac Bridge walk.

Its not polite to point! My husband was taking the pictures. Hm, This was one of the better ones.

All in all it was a great weekend in spite of the weather. It is always good to get home, however, and I am settling back into my painting routine.

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend and didn't get windblown wherever you were at.

Till next time,

Mobbed On Mackinac

2010-08-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe we are back home from Mackinac already! We left a week ago and camped just South of Mackinaw City for three nights. The weather was beautiful Clear skies every day. It was unusually warm and humid, however ,making walking around and picture taking a bit of work. The island was very crowded as the sailors were coming in from the Chicago to Mackinac Island race. I am told this is the longest fresh water race in the country! There were hundreds of sailboats in the race. We had a beautiful campsite with a view of the Mackinac Bridge connecting upper and lower Michigan. We could sit on the beach and watch the sailboats moving silently under the bridge on their way to the finish line. On our trip to the island on Tuesday, the above photo was the scene in the harbor! This photo was taken from the fort above the harbor. That wasn't all the boats as they were still trickling in!
We had a wonderful visit which included dinner with our artist friend Mary Lou Peters and her husband and a visit to our artist friend Bill Murcko's studio on the East Bluff of the island. Although we visit the island several times each year we hadn't toured the fort since our kids were little. We took tons of pictures of war reinactments and interiors of the school house, kitchen and living quarters. I have several paintings lined up already. We stopped by the gallery while on the island and delivered three new paintings. I was pleased to learn that two are sold. One of those paintings is an evening view of St. Anne Church. This church was quite a challenge with all the detail in the building. The blotches in the sky are not in the actual painting-don't know where they came from. I have had a request to paint a similar scene, so I am going to become real familiar with the detail of this church.
All too soon it was time to return home and we are back to work. I am currently working on another fudge maker and a porch scene from the Grand Hotel. Its hard to believe that it is August already. The summer is flying by. I hope everyone is getting out and enjoying the season.
Till next time,

Nose To The Grindstone

2010-07-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

The last couple of weeks I have been pretty much living in my studio. Not that I am complaining! Once a day I will pop my head out the door to check the mail and remember what season it is. Also once in a while I will go outside long enough to let my neighbors know I am still alive. Our big splurge lately is to take the Wrangler out in the evening with the top down and soak in the summer night air. Um!!!
Last week we spent the day in Elk Rapids at Twisted Fish Gallery and next week we are off to Mackinac Island again. These little breaks are good for gathering reference material and recharging the batteries. I am looking forward, in particular to touring the new Manoogian Art Museum on the island that had its dedication on Wednesday evening. Mr Manoogian is well known in the Michigan area for his generosity and fabulous art collection. He also resides on the island during the summer.
The two paintings posted are only some of my completed works. The above is a view of the produce section of Doud's Grocery Store on Mackinac Island. It measures 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" and done in acrylic. The second painting is called Iroquois Autumn and is a view of the hotel patio area overlooking the ferry dock and downtown buildings. This painting measures 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" also done in acrylic.
Till next time,

Time Is Flying!

2010-07-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

Hi all!
I just can't believe it has been so long since I updated my blog. Forgive me. We have been on the run like many of you. Had a wonderful time on Mackinac Island for a couple of days and have also been to Elk Rapids and Sugatuck, Michigan. We are currently camping a few miles from our home. We have been here for two weeks almost a necessity to get a decent campsite. In the two weeks here, we have dodging severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. I LOVE thunder storms, but not in a motorhome! Unfortunately, last week one man was killed in a campground not far from here after his motorhome was thrown into a tree, I believe. One night while sitting here, the tornado siren went off, the wind rocked the motorhome and the power went out. I looked at my husband and said "get me out of here!!!!" Unfortunately, we only had our little ranger pickup truck with us. He threw our two golden retrievers in the front seat with us (it only seats two) and struggled to drive home as our dog kept on throwing the truck out of gear by running into the stick shift. It seems funny now, but at the time quite scary.

I have been working on several pieces, but wanted to share this one with you. It is called Blessing of the Animals. This is a ceremony that takes place once a year on Mackinac Island during Lilac Festival. I couldn't resist painting these two darling girls having their dog blessed by the minister. Notice he wears gloves. He also blessed turtles and horses.

This weekend we are having our kids and their boyfriends/girlfriends out for a cookout and fireworks show put on by the campground. Hope the weather cooperates.
Happy 4th of July to everyone and stay safe.
Till next time,

Mackinac Island Bound

2010-06-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are busy packing up the motorhome for a trip to Mackinac Island. We will be camping on the mainland and day tripping to the island. I will be painting outside at Victorian Summer Gallery on Saturday from 12 noon to 4pm. If you are in the area, please stop by and say hi. Look forward to seeing you there!
Till next time,

Painting At Twisted Fish

2010-06-06T17:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my husband and I took a drive up to Elk Rapids, just North of Traverse City, to paint on the porch at the Twisted Fish Gallery. Two times a year the galleries of Elk Rapids have Art Beat. This is a fun Saturday gallery crawl where everyone who visits each gallery can win some really nice prizes and meet and greet artists. Well, I hate having my picture taken, but the one above is me on the porch with Bob, the gallery owner. Bob and his staff always make us feel so welcome, it is a pleasure to visit them! I had a great time yesterday and met many collectors of my work. One group of lovely ladies took pictures with me. I felt like a rock star!
On the way home we ran into steady downpours. Later we learned there were tornado watches throughout the areas we drove through.

I just finished painting this black and white beauty today. I call it Cow Attitude. This piece is acrylic and measures 3-1/2" x 2-1/2". I don't often do animals, so this was a great break from buildings.

Later this week we will be on the road again camping in Mackinaw City and visiting Mackinac Island to paint and take photos. Ahhhhhh, the kids and dogs are staying behind. Can't wait!

Till next time,

From Freezing To Frying

2010-06-01T17:24:00.000-07:00

Has it really been over three weeks since I checked in? The calendar doesn't lie. It is amazing how time does fly. One minute I am complaining about late season snow and the next I am frying at a campground!
Although we have been away camping, I have been painting every day. It is a bit of a challenge in the heat and wind. I have worked on several painting and completed two that I have shown in this post. Below is my husband, who was not crazy about being included in my blog. We love to have a campfire every night and as you can see, our dogs also love it! Over the weekend we had both our kids and their girlfriends/boyfriends for a cookout. I would have taken pictures but it poured with rain about the time they all showed up. Isn't that the way it goes. We had a good time anyway as we all shoved together into the RV.
The painting below is called Beyond Mission Church. Mission Church is on Mackinac Island and it is listed as the oldest church in Michigan. Many weddings take place there every year. This piece is acrylic and measures 3-1/2" x 2-1/2"

The next painting is also acrylic and the same size. This painting is of the parsonage where the minister of Little Stone Church lives. Land and privacy are at a premium on the island, and as a result many residents have privacy shrubs and gates. I have always been fascinated by this house and garden and even more so after meeting Molly, the ministers wife. She is a lovely person and we had a wonderful chat last year when I painted in front of the gallery. Hope to talk to her again this year For those in the Michigan area, I will be painting at Twisted Fish Gallery in Elk Rapids, from 3:00 PM to 5:30 pm on Saturday. If you are in the area, please stop by and say hi!

Well, I need to continue to unpack the RV as we just got home a couple of hours ago.

Till next time,

Freezing On Mackinac Island

2010-05-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

Thought I would show one of my latest paintings that I delivered to the island on Friday. This is a well loved Indian chief who is affectionately called Duck. He is a well known figure who officiates at all the parades. This painting is 4 inches by 4 inches and is painted with acrylic on ampersand gessoboard. I had a lot of fun with this piece and am considering painting some of the reinactments at Fort Mackinac.
Friday, my husband and I made our first trip to Mackinac Island for the season. The weather was horrible. The ferry ride wasn't too bad considering the windy conditions but for some reason the coast guard was sitting outside the harbor-hmmm. We walked up to Lilacs and Lace, another store owned by Jack, the gallery owner. He has just expanded his store and gave us a tour. On the way over to Victorian Summer Gallery, about two blocks away, we observed some of the horses returning to the island.

This was the best photo I could get as these big boys were moving at a fast pace. They had just taken a ferry ride from the upper peninsula and were spooking out at every noise! Just before I took this shot we had to scatter as one horse actually jumped up onto the sidewalk and almost took out the trash container in the picture. The island in season has over a hundred horses that are used for everything from taxis, trash pick up even UPS deliveries. No cars are allowed on the island.

The gallery is not open for business yet this year and looks a little bare without all the flowers in planter boxes that will be present soon. I was so busy talking with the people in the gallery I forgot to take any pictures. I get engrossed in conversation!

After leaving the gallery we walked up to the Grand Hotel to see the tulips that are on display every spring. It was so cold that every one of them was completed closed up! I can't blame them. We quickly walked back downtown and parked ourselves in one of the restaurants for lunch. We waited as long as possible before walking down to the boat docks. The weather forecast called for 2-4 inches of snow on the island.

Hopefully it will be warmer when we return next month.

Till next time,

New Works

2010-04-24T20:49:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share my latest pieces completed this week. The above painting is West Bluff on Mackinac Island. The building on the right, is the Grand Hotel. The buildings on the left are some of the beautiful mansions on the bluff. This piece is acrylic and is 3-1/2" x 2-1/2"

Little Stone Church is a wonderful building with three stained glass windows in the front. I think in the future I may paint the windows from the inside! This piece is also in acrylic, same size as the first.

This final piece is greatly blown up as the original is only 1-1/4" square. I call it Pop Art Pansy.

I have several pieces partially complete and hope to post them soon.

Till next time,

Gail

Getting Ready

2010-04-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

Been a busy week in the studio painting and getting ready to mat and frames 30 pieces to deliver to Mackinac Island! I am looking forward to our first trip to the island sometime after May 1st, when the ferry begins to run from the lower peninsula. Last year we traveled to the island on the first day of the official ferry season. It was a sunny brisk day on the island. It is always interesting to visit early in the season as the tourists don't arrive till month end. It is fun to walk around and see all the carpenters and painters busy working to get businesses reopened for the season. Sidewalks are stacked with delivery boxes and the street strewn with horse drawn wagons full of demolition materials waiting to be carted away. That time of year the Grand Hotel has all their flower beds planted in pansies, about the only flower hearty enough to withstand the cold. As you walk away from the downtown area, the streets are deserted. It is a great time to takes reference pictures as I won't have to paint the people out!!!
My latest piece, is called Garden With A View, acrylic and is 3-1/2" x 2-1/2". This garden really does have a view as the water in the background is Lake Huron and beyond is a view of the Mackinac Bridge connecting the upper and lower peninsula. It is a place on the island I photograph quite often with the changing of the seasons.
Till next time,
Gail

.

Spring In The Air

2010-04-05T16:26:00.000-07:00

It has been a wonderful week in Michigan. I can't believe how beautiful the weather has been. Today is was over 70 degrees with clear blue skies. It doesn't get any better that this. Both of my dogs sat in front of the open windows in my studio and snorted in the fresh air. The only drawback was their barking at the neighborhood kids running around down by the lake. I enjoy my solitude. I hope that isn't an old people thing. A year ago this week we had a terrible ice storm that snapped tree limbs and left many without power. That is more normal for this time of year. But not this year. I feel like we jumped from Winter to Summer. Well, it is certainly motivating me to get a lot of painting done. Both of my galleries sell the bulk of my work in the Summer, so I need to push forward.
I have posted two paintings I completed this week. The flower garden I call Up Market. It is 3 x 4 in acrylic. I know, Up Market doesn't really apply to the scene. The street behind the hedge happens to be Market Street and it is heading up the hill. When I took the reference photo for this piece, I was standing along the shore of Lake Huron, with the Mackinac Bridge behind me. Just a breathtaking view for the person who lives in the house behind the garden.
The second painting is called The Grand, and is 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 in acrylic. I have done several pieces of the Grand Hotel and will probably continue to do so, because it is a popular subject on the island. The Grand has the longest porch in the world. We have stayed there several times, but really prefer and small B&B on Market Street, because it is less formal. My husband and I swore when we retired, we would never again dress up. Well, most of the time we live up to that promise. When staying at the Grand, one MUST dress formal by 6pm or not appear on the main prominade or porch. Its fun once in a while. They have a band playing during dinner and later you can go up to the portico which is a piano bar and watch the freighters traveling through the straits of Mackinac. It is a wonderful view!
Well, back to work. I think I am going to be putting in some long hours for a while.
Till next time,

On The Dark Side

2010-03-23T17:42:00.000-07:00

The name of my latest piece pretty much sums up how I have been feeling the last week or so. The weather in Michigan, like a lot of the country has been downright crummy! We have had nothing but black skies and snow and rain. I always feel colder when it is above freezing and wet outside. It seems to go right through me the older I get. I have been living in my studio keeping away from the weather. That is OK. If I was still working I would be getting up at 4:30 to face the crummy weather!
I always feel inadequate in my posts because my life is much the same from day to day. No events to describe in colorful detail or observations on life in general. I could lament about politics, but I think most of us are downright sick of that. Not that I am complaining. What that means is there are no crisis, illness or other problems in my life. Boring is good.
I am really looking forward to spring and we had a glimpse of it today. The sky was blue, and the sun was warm. For the second year in a row, we have a rabbit living under our porch and I have been watching him (and he me) from our lower level kitchen. He is obviously enjoying the warmer weather. He watches me with nervous attention waiting to see what I will do. When my daughter came home from work she exclaimed "baby bunnies!" I freaked out. I thought we had a clutch of little rabbits all living under our porch. I had visions of our golden retrievers chasing half dozen bunnies through our yard. False alarm. She didn't realize we had ONE rabbit, so she was all excited.
Daylight savings time has added time for me in my studio. I really enjoy painting in the daylight although I always use additional lighting. More hours in the studio and less time to snack! I have recently eliminated sugar completely from my diet and reduced the carbs. Till I get used to this new regiment I am craving sugar like mad. Keep painting Keep painting.
Till next time
Gail

A Week For Patience

2010-03-07T18:20:00.000-08:00

This has been a week for patience. I have just completed the above painting I call The Essence of Mackinac done in acrylic and is a miniature that measures 3-1/2 inches by 2-1/2 inches. When I think of Mackinac Island, this is the kind of image that comes to mind. This is one of the many historic homes on the island in all its glory! It is a piece I started several months ago and put on the shelf. Sometimes I lack patience. But as I said before, this has been the week for patience or is it patients?
My daughter had surgery on Tuesday and as I always suspected, it is easier to be the patient than the caregiver. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind being the caregiver, but I think it is exhausting. My daughter is 27, but had never been in the hospital before, let alone for major surgery. I stayed with her overnight in the hospital sleeping on a recliner they provided. I am pleased she is doing well, but she is anxious about every little ache or pain, so I must constantly reassure her. She has been quite content to be waited on hand and foot, so I finally started making her get up and do simple things on her own. I know it is better for the healing to move. I was unable to paint for a couple of days and it felt good to pick up a brush late in the week.
Today was quite warm for Michigan this time of year and I sat outside with my coffee this morning and just soaked up the sun. It felt sooooo good. I was energized for the entire day. I am really sensing the changing of the season and I can't wait!!
Plan on spending considerable time in my studio this week and hope to complete several other half finished pieces on my shelf.
Till next time,

The Ultimate Test

2010-02-15T16:29:00.000-08:00

Well, in the past couple of days I have been working on the above painting. I have been taking gouache out for the ultimate test drive! A lot of the paintings I do are highly detailed architectural landscapes. I have found it difficult to get the level of detail I have desired-thus one of the reasons for experimenting with gouache. I found this painting to be a challenge, especially since it is only my 3rd in gouache. All in all, though I was pleased with where the gouache is taking me. I had a very intense day in my studio as I really wanted to complete this piece and post it. Tell me what you think! It is called Autumn on Bogan Lane and is 3-1/2 inches wide x 2-1/2 inches high.
Cheers, from gloomy Michigan
Gail

More Adventures in Gouache

2010-02-13T16:18:00.000-08:00

I spent quite a bit of time in my studio this week and continued my adventures in gouache. One painting I turned into a frisbee out of frustration, one I finished (shown above) and I will complete another one tomorrow. All in all not bad. Its like anything else, there is a learning curve to working in another medium, not matter what the change is. Paint was too thin or paint sunk into the paper and disappeared. I'll get it eventually.

I am really getting anxious for spring. I don't mind the snow and cold, but the dark days without sunlight are making me want to sleep. The only advantage to this time of year is not having to spend time gardening. I like gardening, but it takes time out of the studio. So much for a balanced life!

Till next time,

Gail

p.s. the above painting is called Hidden Retreat and is 2 -1/2 x 3 -1/2

Adventures in Gouache

2010-02-01T16:41:00.000-08:00

Well, I felt like my art was at a bit of a standstill. I think most artists are never satisfied with their work. I have been struggling to get a softer, more detailed look with my acrylics with the emphasis on stuggling. Don't get me wrong, I have been fortunate enough to win awards for my work, but I am dissatisfied! Last week I decided to paint a gazebo scene using gouache (opaque watercolor) and the end results are posted above. I thoroughly enjoyed the process and found that I could get better detail with the gouache than acrylic. Some of my fellow miniature artists have given this piece high marks. Although it still looks like my work, it is more detailed. Let me know what you think!

It was very cold and damp in my studio today. Even my dogs were piled up against each other looking for warmth. My husband was doing computer work today, in anticipation of taxes ,while wrapped up in a quilt. No wonder retirees move to Florida! Anyway, I did start a second gouache piece, but its too soon to tell how it is going. I finally quit painting and wrapped up in a quilt of my own. Oh well,there is always tomorrow.

Till next time,

Gail

We're Baaaack!

2010-01-25T17:30:00.000-08:00

Well, all good things must come to an end, I guess. My husband and I arrived home from Florida very early Sunday morning. It was a smooth but long drive of 20 hours. We were staying at Disney World Old Key West resort for a week. We purchased a timeshare there many years ago and go at least once a year. Above is a picture of the condo and below is the view from the patio. As you can see many of the trees and tropical foliage were greatly damaged by the heavy frost that blasted through Florida earlier this month. I thought I was in a time warp with dead leaves flying around. Is it January or October-who can tell.

While in Florida we attended the Miniature Art Society of Florida show during the collectors preview day. It was fun saying Hi to Wes and Rachelle Siegrist who were working the show as well as Bev Abbott! Everyone's work looked great and the show itself was well assembled. Sales were brisk that day with collectors lined up Saturday morning waiting to pay for art!!! I was having so much fun, I forgot to take pictures, sorry about that.

Mid January is a great time to be at Disney World because the crowds are way down. Although we go every year, my husband and I decided to visit the parks a couple times just to soak up the atmosphere. I was wearing a pedometer during the week and was pleased that I was able to log 20 miles of walking. This is a real milestone for me as I have been recovering from 2 surgeries and at one point unable to walk even half a mile without considerable pain.

As you can see, the weather was beautiful. The one thing I dislike about Michigan is the lack of sun and blue sky in the winter months. I could get used to this Florida living!

On another outing to the park we visited the Germany Pavilion at Epcot where I said hi to Jutta, a full time Disney artist who paints miniatures on eggs. She is the reason I am now working in miniature! Jutta is originally from Germany and has worked at Epcot for a number of years. I buy her eggs and she buys my paintings. If you are ever at Epcot be sure to look her up and see her wonderful work.

I am back in my studio this week and working on a painting of a gazebo. I am thinking Summer.
I must admit it feels really good to get back to painting. Vacations can't last forever.

Till next time,

Gail

January Freeze

2010-01-09T15:29:00.001-08:00

Wow!!! I guess everyone is freezing right now. I am very content to work in my studio. Well, kindda. My studio has a huge window facing North with a cathedral ceiling and skylight. I can't keep it warm! When I walk in my studio in the morning, I swear I can see my breath. This room used to be my mother's bedroom when she lived with us before she passed away. She always complained about how cold it was. I thought it was an old age thing. Sorry mom, you were right. I am currently using a space heater to keep warm. Even the dogs, my constant companions, are staying out of the room.
Speaking of dogs, 2010 is starting out with more vet bills. Yikes. Renji, our younger golden (my son named him) cracked a nail running outside in the ice and snow. The nail split up into the quick. He was in tremendous pain. So, Thursday he went to the vet to be knocked out and the nail removed. Friday he refused to put his weight on the foot and ran around on 3 legs. Today he is finally starting to act normal.
Before Christmas I started this portrait of Duck, a full-blood Cherokee Indian who lives on Mackinac Island. Duck is quite the character. He leads most of the parades on the island riding a beautiful paint horse. Duck makes all his own deer skin costumes. He is very patient with people like me taking reference photos of him and I learned a great deal about him during his setting. My friend, Bill Murcko has done several portraits of Duck, in a much larger format and my challenge was to see what I could do in miniature. This painting is a work in progress. Yes, I know, most portait artists do the hard part, the face, first. Leave it to me to be backward. Actually, I had a good reason for doing so. This painting is on gessoboard by Ampersand, a surface I was not used to working on. Anyway, I hope to complete Duck's portrait week.

Sometimes I get confused at what season it is. Below, is a piece I completed just before the holidays. The piece is call Grand Misty Morning. It is an image of the stair leading out of the Grand Hotel. All the pots are part of a florist shop attached to the hotel. I really enjoyed working on this piece and I hope that comes through in the work.

Looking forward to the end of the week. My husband and I are going to Florida for a week and during that time, will be attending the MASF show. Even though everyone is complaining about the temperatures in Florida, they can't compare to Michigan. I will have new photos to show when I get back.

Till next time,

Gail

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-01T17:06:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Where does the time fly!!! My husband and I spent the day taking down the Christmas trees and nutcrackers. Although I am always a little sad when packing everything away, I look forward to the coming year. This will be the first winter I will go through without surgery in 3 years!!! I have been spending a great deal of time in my studio and enjoying the solitude. This year I decided to begin a new tradition by creating pendants for gifts. Below is one example of several I completed. Everyone seemed to like the results. The image size is 3/4 inch x 1 inch.

We had a great Christmas with the family. Both my kids and their boyfriend/girlfriend spent the day with us. Due to really bad weather some of our family was not able to make it. It rained Christmas eve and day and froze. My son's girlfriend fell twice. A possum that lives in our backyard somewhere must have gotten flooded out. He spent Christmas under our back deck attempting to stay dry. Poor guy.
We all spent the afternoon playing pool and Wii bowling. As you can see my son was really getting into it. I am the worst bowler ever.

The kids weren't the only ones having a good time. Our golden retriever LOVES pool.

Well, now its January-hard to believe. We will be heading out in a couple of weeks to Florida and while there, will be attending the MASF miniature show. Till then, you can find me hold up in my studio. Can't wait

Till next time,

Gail

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-20T15:33:00.000-08:00

Well we are almost ready for Christmas! Decorating is done as is the shopping. I took this picture this morning of our backyard. I really liked the dark blue snow clouds coming in from the North over the lake. According to the weather forcaster, I had better fix this firmly in my mind as it might be raining here by Friday. I never considered the possibility of not having a white Christmas as we have been slipping and sliding here for weeks.

While taking this picture the squirrel games began. We have four birdfeeders in the yard and the squirrels are busy chining themselves on the hangers robbing each feeder. While I don't mind their antics, they did cross the line today. Storing birdfeed has become a problem at our house. If we keep the seed in the garage, it attracts mice. Uck! Well, we decided the only thing to do was to buy a rolling trash can to keep outside and place the seed inside. To discourage the squirrels from investigating, we placed it right under the living room window. Much to my surprise, today I was met with two beedy eyes staring at me through the window. Mr. squirrel was busy destroying the hinge on the trash can. By the time I got the camera, he was gone. His buddies were still around though. Anyone with ideas for storing seed, please let me know!

I have been spending quite a bit of time in my studio this week. I started a new tradition this year and have painted bird pendants for some special people in my life. I will show them after Christmas. Besides pendants, I finished a painting of the Grand Hotel entrance on a hazy day. I am currently working on a portrait-my first of a Cherokee Indian that lives on the island. I had intended to show my WIP, but cannot as my dog ate the power cord to my scanner, and the new one has not arrived yet. No kidding-this was a $45.00 snack. You see, Jasmine, our 10 year old Golden, believes she should NEVER be left along. She gets quite angry and tends to snack on the first thing she can find. I am surprised she has not been electrocuted by now. Its animal house around here.

This will probably be my last post till after Christmas. I wish everyone a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas and a healthy and profitable New Year!

till next time,

Gail

Shamir has an operation

2009-12-07T15:07:00.001-08:00

Well, we are slowly getting ready for Christmas, but in the meantime, life goes on. My daughter's horse spent the day at Michigan State University Vet School. Shamir is 19 years old and is being treated for a tumor behind his front leg. Shamir has always had a mole in this location, but a few months ago it blew up into a baseball size tumor. This is his second treatment at the hospital. Medicine, even in animals has progressed in amazing ways. After knocking him out-strapped in a sling so he can't fall over, they place beads the size of peas inside the tumor to shrink it. Today they placed 12 beads inside Shamir. The great news we got today is that the tumor is shrinking so well that they don't think they will have to go in and remove the tumor. Best news of all is that tests showed it is not cancer!!! This picture was taken at the hospital just as he was waking up!! My husband had just given him peppermint candy (his favorite) and he is begging. In this picture he looks like a mule. In reality he is a very beautiful horse. For those wondering Shamir is an Arab. I don't know what his name stands for. We bought him when he was 4 years old and kept the name.
Hope everyone is having is a wonderful December. We are supposed to get snow the rest of the week!!!
Till next time,
Gail

Is It Thanksgiving Already?

2009-11-23T18:34:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has been another month, and I had promised to update this blog on a much more regular basis. Just completed more paintings for Twisted Fish Gallery holiday show and have shifted to island views. Seems very strange working ahead one or two seasons. The above painting was from a photo taken near Woodstock , Vermont. I love Vermont and would really like to secure a gallery in that area as an excuse to return. Woodstock has been voted one of the prettiest small towns in the US on more than one occasion. I agree. My husband and I went on a sleigh ride on a particularly brisk day. It was well worth freezing a couple of toes over.

I have been enjoying the serenity of fall and secluding myself in my studio. It is amazing that I don't seem to mind working for days at a time without leaving the house even though I am a very social person. Creativity occupies the mind.

Besides painting I have spent time shoveling out my house for the holidays. Shortly after Thanksgiving we start decorating for Christmas. My husband has a rather large collection of nutcrackers. I think they are strange things, but my husband loves his collection so I arrange it for his enjoyment. Complete with snow and lights!

I recently bought some Verithin colored pencils and plan on doing some small flower and fruit pieces in the evenings with my feet up on the loveseat. If I finish anything worthwhile, I will post in the future.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and PROMISE to update my blog in a week!! Honest

Till then,

Gail

Big Rabbit Ears

2009-10-26T17:39:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of me with Carol Andre taken about a week ago West of Traverse City. The tree reminds me of big rabbit ears. Carol and I had a great time paintings, talking and climbing over art supplies and golden retrievers as we were painting in our motorhome. Just a bit tight for space. It was in the 40's outside and sleet and rain prevailed most of the time we were there! Sadly, the morning this picture was taken, it was time for home.
It takes about 5 hours in our motorhome pulling a Jeep to get home. I have noticed the most amazing thing this year. About 2 hours from home, I start coughing, sneezing and wheezing. Now if this was 5 years ago I would say smog-no doubt. But, with manufacturing at a standstill I can't blame smog. I was talking to a friend of mine who lives in Mackinac City at the very tip of the lower peninsula. She said before the mid 50's, when the Mackinac Bridge opened, people from lower Michigan would come up and pitch tents at the tip of the state and get seasonal jobs to escape their allergies and asthma. Guess I should consider that next year!
Mackinac Island has pretty much closed for the season and I called my gallery guy to wish him a good trip to Va. where he spends the winter. Guess there was a bit of excitement about a week ago. The last ferry boat heading to the mainland lost its engine in a very strong wind and high waves. It took about an hour to get the engine started. Meanwhile, they were being tossed around and taking on water. Glad I wasn't on that boat. This does not happen often. Don't let it stop you from visiting the island.
I am currently working on winter pieces for a holiday show at Twisted Fish Gallery. The week has gone something like cough, sneeze, paint. Even the dog is scratching!!! Oh well, Winter is coming and we can all complain about that soon.
till next time (sooner)
Gail

Time is Flying

2009-10-05T17:58:00.001-07:00

Wow has it really been a month since I last posted!! The older I get, the faster time goes by. It has been a busy month. The above painting is one of two pieces sent to the MPSGS show in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, I did not make the deadline for MASF. My up North galleries are still keeping me busy. Can't complain!! I was very excited to learn I will have a show on Mackinac Island at the Victorian Summer Gallery next Labor Day weekend. I am very honored to be given this opportunity. Now the work begins.

Saturday, my husband and I made a quick trip to Traverse City (Elk Rapids) to paint during Art Beat gallery open houses at Twisted Fish Gallery. I met many wonderful people and had an opportunity to discuss exactly what a miniature is. Many people were interested to learn of the 1/6th scale guideline. This is becoming more important as of late, because I see a shift by artists to smaller format paintings. These are small paintings as opposed to miniature paintings. It is always fun to watch the amazement of people at the small size and detail of a miniature painting. I had several people tell me that my paintings looked like photographs. I told them that was the idea!

I currently have several paintings in process in my studio. I am finishing up a commission and two other paintings for Victorian Summer Gallery. I am also painting Winter scenes for Twisted Fish Gallery holiday show beginning November 1st.

Next week we are off to camp on Lake Lelanau, West of Traverse City. This is a beautiful inland lake that we camp on every year. I think this year it may be snowing!! During our camping trip we are going to meet up with Carol Andre. We have never met face to face but we talk quite often and have a lot in common. Really looking forward to meeting her.

Once back from camping it will be time to winterize the motorhome, and start putting lawn furniture away. I can't believe it, but Winter is coming.

Till next time,

Gail

Reflecting On The Porch

2009-09-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

This has been an especially busy week at our house. My husband has been dealing with a sick dog (seems she is allergic to some sort of bite) and a sick horse. The horse has cancer that is localized and the prognosis is good. It has required a couple of trips this week to Michigan State Vet Hospital, however. I have been holding down the fort and painting like crazy. How fitting that I should paint a piece having to do with reflecting. As the saying goes, a bad day in my studio is better than the best day I ever had when I worked full time. It makes all of the craziness of this week easy to put into perspective. I have the added bonus of being able to excape to a beautiful island when I paint. In my mind, I am there!!! Happy Labor Day everyone.

Mackinac Island-No Fudgies allowed

2009-08-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday my husband and I made a quick trip to the island to paint on Thursday in front of Victorian Summer Gallery. Wednesday was a gorgeous day spent taking reference pictures. Mackinac Island is a very tight knit community. The more time I spend there, the more accepted I am. That acceptance enables me to explore new areas not open to the general public,called fudgies, by the residents of the island. This trip I was invited to explore Father Tim's gorgeous lakeside garden. Father Tim is priest at St. Anne's historic church where many brides choose to be married. I also met Molly Carroll, wife of the pastor of The Little Stone Church, another historic and popular wedding site. Molly also is an avid gardener and invited me to shoot her garden whenever in town. The gardens on the island are exceptional this year due to the wetter and cooler weather in Michigan this year. I know what I will be painting when the snow comes! Thursday, I painted outside with one of my favorite artists Bill Murcko. Bill does incredible portraits in oil and I always learn something new when I am with him. Our painting was interrupted mid afternoon by showers. It really felt like a fall day in Michigan. Got a craving for chili and football games! We said our goodbyes and headed to the ferry. After a 20 minute ferry ride and 4 hour car ride, we were home.

My View

2009-08-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

This is the view from my studio window. I am very fortunate to be able to experience the seasons and serenity on a daily basis. Most days it is quiet. Sometimes I hear the laughter of kids out on the swim platform. Before I know it, I will be seeing yellow and orange leaves, and finally snow. The only thing that doesn't change is my love of miniature art.
I began painting in miniature about 14 years ago after discovering a wonderful German woman at the Germany pavilion at Disney World painting scenes on eggs. I became fascinated with art in miniature and have been ever since. I thought it would be easy to paint in miniature, but quickly discovered it is much harder (in my humble opinion) than painting large. Not any room for error and the fatigue factor hits quite quickly. On a typical day I can paint for about 6 hours. After that point my eyes are shot.
If you are ever in my area call or e-mail me for a visit of my view.
till next time,
Gail

Up North Adventures

2009-07-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

My husband and I left home Thursday morning to driving rain, driving in our motorhome. Traffic was horrible. Several times we had to panic stop-not an easy thing in a motorhome. Thankfully, we arrived in Elk Rapids, just north of Traverse City without any issues. As you can see from the photo, the day ended up being beautiful. Twisted Fish Gallery is a wonderful place with a beautiful garden full of sculpture. My husband collected seeds from Lupins? Charlie has a wonderful garden.

Late in the day we drove up to Mackinaw City to camp for the weekend. We had a campsite not far from Lake Huron, a beautiful site.

Friday we took the ferry over to Mackinac Island and spent the day touring stables owned by the wealthy "cottage owners" on the West Bluff. Several owners were gratious enough to give the tours personally and tell of the rich history of their houses and stables. We later sat up on the porch of the Grand Hotel and had a glass of wine and looked out over the Straits of Mackinac conecting Lake Huron with Lake Michigan. The day turned rainy, but we perservered and watched a parade of antique carriages down main street (no cars are allowed on the island).

Saturday was a special treat for my husband and I as we were invited to Bill Murcko's studio and home on the East bluff of Mackinac Island. Bill spends summer on the island and has a winter home outside of Detroit. He is very active with the Detroit Institute of Arts. Bill retired a couple of years ago and specializes in portraits in oil. He has very quickly excelled and is painting a new series for his second one-man shows in Washington D.C. One of his latest works in progress is on the easel next to Bill. Hope it wasn't a secret!!! Bill and his wife Betty were very gracious and gave us a tour of their gardens and view of Lake Huron from the bluff where their house sits. Betty, I discovered works with bats and has a huge bat house in their yard. I relayed the story of how we had to go through rabies shots because we discovered a bat in our bedroom. I know they do a lot of good getting rid of bugs, but I must admit I am a bit afraid of them!
We also visited with Mary Lou Peters who was the featured artist at Victorian Summer Gallery. Mary Lou lives in Mackinaw City and commutes quite often to the island. We had a wonderful time visiting outside while the tourists passed by.
We arrived home on Sunday and I am back to work painting.
till next time,
Gail

Heading Up North

2009-07-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

I just completed the above painting entitled Evening on the Boardwalk. This painting is available for purchase at Victorian Summer Gallery, Mackinac Island. Next Thursday, I will be painting on the porch at The Twisted Fish Gallery, Elk Rapids, Michigan-another fine gallery in Michigan. Please join me if you are in the area-would love to meet you from 12p.m. to 4 p.m. From there, my husband and I are taking our motorhome up to Mackinaw City to camp and take day trips over to the island. Next Friday and Saturday the island 4-H group is hosting the first annual Festival of the Horse. According to the schedule, many Mackinac residences will be showing off their antique carriages and amazing horses. It is definately a photo-op. Can't wait. Till next time.

Gail

Victorian Summer Gallery

2009-07-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

Today I shipped 3 new paintings to Victorian Summer Gallery on Mackinac Island. Mackinac is beautiful and an unending inspiration to paint. It is well worth the ferry ride to visit! Victorian Summer Gallery is located at the corner of Caddott and Market Street, on the way to the Grand Hotel, pictured in the painting above. When you stop there, say hi to Jack, owner of the gallery. He is a great guy who will take the time to educate his customers on all his artists. And tell him, Yes Jack, Gail is painting.

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a joyful 4th of July. Please take a moment to remember what this day means to all of us!
We are taking a well deserved day off from painting and house duties. We are currently camping for a couple of days. Fireworks begin at dusk at the campground with front row seats.