Marsh Study No. 2

Same view, different orientation, a little more detail. Off to the right, just out of the frame, is the site of the ongoing War With Beavers. (They want to plug up the culvert; we don't want them to--very complicated. I admit to a disloyal fondness for the opposing team.)
I can't stand the thought that if Michigan Potash gets its way, an enormous potash-mining operation may loom on the horizon of this pristine spot.

Marsh Study No. 1

This month I’ve been sort of fixated on this view of my beloved marsh. And I experimented a little. This first, quick little study is my dad’s birthday card. The experimental part is that, unlike my other landscapes, it’s acrylic. Hmm.

Half-Hour Portrait

And here's the little sister, pre-compost adventure.

Framing!

Look at this sooo adorable boy. His portrait, along with his little sister’s were commissioned as a Christmas gift for their mom. Two of the best things about our painting session: 1) seeing a great dad at work, and 2) watching the little sister make a beeline for the compost pile (!) after being released from the incredibly boring business of sitting still. (It was not as messy as it could have been.)

And now look at the frames! This is one of my favorite treatments yet.   

Portrait Commission

If possible, I always prefer to paint portraits from life, but for long-distance commissions, I paint from photos. This is the first time I’ve ever painted someone trying to make their mouth disappear, but I like how this little character came out.