Still Hybernating

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

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!

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!

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

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

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,