Island Lake Park and 694

Island Lake Park and 694

I'm getting ready for the Art and Garden Sale this Saturday.  I'm working with photos and inventory lists, stuff like that.  This is a painting I made back in '08 but never had it in a show because I thought I wrecked it when I put a huge tree on the left side that was too big and dark and threw off the balance.  The other day I cropped it so just a branch of the tree remains.  I like how the bridge turned out, and the suggestion of a car on the bridge.  Often I am on that bridge in my car wishing I was on the bench where I made this painting.

Imaginary landscape

Wasn't today fabulous? I walked near Island Lake and painted an oak tree. That painting is not ready to show anyone yet, but this what I painted on Wednesday when it was raining. I was so tired of all the gray outside I had to invent some color. This one is from my imagination but it reminds me of a park near my house.

Still life lesson

I managed to draw a little bit during class today. I like it when that happens. The para also made a great drawing.

Florida

I painted this while sitting in my father-in-law's backyard back in March. Finally we are having some similar weather here in Minnesota. I hope to have some container gardens around here soon.

Greeting cards

   

St. Ben's New Life and Old Moss

Island Lake Park Bridge

Side Lake Dock

Island Lake Fishers

Perfect Day

Locke Park Leaves

Orange Pansies

Shoreview Fisherman

Side Lake Beach

http://www.friendsofislandlake.org/

Here are the pictures I am currently using for greeting cards.  Contact me if you want to order.  They are $4 each or 3 for $10.  Shipping is $2 for orders under $20.  All orders placed before May 18 will be considered part of the "Friends of Island Lake: Plant and Garden Art Sale".
Use the link above for more information.

Comments on this blog are seen only by me until I publish them.  If you want to use the comment feature to give me your contact information that will work.  Of course I will not publish your contact information.  If I ever decide to make this more than a hobby I will get more professional about the ordering process.  For now I am just trying to help out this environmental cause.  They help to protect one of my favorite close-to-home painting spots.

Pine Springs Journey #1

There was no time in my day today to paint, so I am posting a watercolor I made last year but never posted (I think). This one will be in the Friends of Island Lake sale which is two weeks from today.

Pine Springs is where I lived when I was 4-6 years old. Now there is a bike path where the railroad tracks used to be. A common thing in Minnesota. The area looks nothing like I remember. There are lots of new huge houses and new roads. Of course there is change. There is always change.

We now have a new countertop in the kitchen. I am thrilled with that change. I spent the first half of today working at school. An example of a habit that needs to change. At least I now have a clean desk and some materials prepared for the coming week of classes.

And now I bring this post to a close and wonder...sleep?....or paint?...or?...

Next Show

Tonight I am assembling greeting cards using prints of my paintings. I plan to sell them at the Art and Garden Sale fundraiser for the "Friends of Island Lake". They are an organization that protects the environmental health of Island Lake in Shoreview, Minnesota.

I worked in a factory when I was in college. I find that many of my tasks in both my job and my hobbies seem to draw on skills I picked up working in that factory. Small changes in how the parts are arranged, or a change in the order of the steps can make a big difference in how long it takes overall. You have to pay attention to your brain when it starts to get bored or you will make silly mistakes. Sometimes my mind starts to wander and I start to make metaphorical connections between my task and some other aspect of my life, but I do not think I will go into that here.