Category Archives: Art

A Plein Air Day on the Leelanau Peninsula

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The Iris Farm on M-72

Muchacho Libre is my assistant this week “On the Michigan Wine Trail.” Well, not so much my assistant as the one who gets sand in my paint, but he’s cute, so he can stay.

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Muchacho the great assistant — err, maybe just a really solid playmate.

Thinking of his needs, I started the day with a hike in my beloved Pyramid Point. I hiked in with some watercolors and my sketchbook, stopping along the way to take in the beauty and make little studies for use in the studio later. Muchacho, for his part, was in his glory.

Pyramid Point

Pyramid Point

It was a joy to just pull off to the side of the road when something struck me and make sketches so I can jar my memory later.

Sketching the Leelanau Narrows

Sketching the Leelanau Narrows

But the ultimate joy in working on location is to pull up to a stunning sight, haul out the paints and plant yourself for a spell — and that is exactly what I did at the Iris Farm on M-72. A friend tipped me off to this glorious spot, and I spent several hours on a what turned out to be a gorgeous day, painting from my immediate impressions of what stretched before me.

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Another treasured day on my magic peninsula, right here in Pure Michigan!

Brightening the Building at Chateau de Leelanau

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Follow me as I transform the southern wall of Chateau de Leelanau’s tasting room in Suttons Bay, on Northern Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula, from a bare expanse of brown to a colorful mural!

Day 1: Friday, May 16
Today this is my canvas: the south wall of Chateau de Leelanau in Suttons Bay. Let the party begin!
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I was falling over exhausted, but giddy with the joy of it all. It’s thrilling! You know that feeling when you hurt all over and can’t stand up anymore, but you’re elated because you love the work and can’t believe how lucky you are to live your dream job? Yeah, that’s it!
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Day 2: Saturday, May 17
I have to admit I was equal parts anxious and excited to rock out this mural. Knocking on wood, so far it’s been a dream. Today, I met several Stephanie Schlatter Art fans, and I’m thrilled you introduced yourselves! And the painting — well, it’s going great! I’m just so blessed to get to do what I love to do under this sun we all share with the extraordinary backdrop of Leelanau. Humbled, tired, blessed and oh so very filled with gratitude!

Pausing to taking a photo for the recipient of this print! (See photo at top of page.)

And the results at the end of the day…
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Day 3: Sunday, May 18
Joseph Campbell famously said, “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” He also said, “Follow your bliss.” Today embodied both quotes for me, and I was completely jazzed about it! Did you get to honor yourself and your bliss this weekend?

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Day 4: Monday, May 19
So here’s the thing: creating  rocks. I have always been moved by the concept of there was nothing there, and then hands made something. It’s so completely satisfying. Is it good? Does it matter? It’s subjective, but I felt tremendously satisfied by the process of making, of letting creation flow through me. That moves me; I hope it moves you, too!

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