Mobbed On Mackinac

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

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,

On The Dark Side

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