Freezing On Mackinac Island

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,

Spring In The Air

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,