Barn Bluff, Redwing

Last month on one of the few warm days we’ve had this spring, I took a hike with Mike up Barn Bluff in Redwing, MN. Overlooking the Mississippi River Valley, the top of the bluff allows one to see more distinctly the islands streaking the wide river and the contours of the many hills surrounding the river plain.

At this point the grass was just starting to emerge, and the only things with much color were the evergreens. In the bright spring sunlight most of the color of the landscape was washed out. I did a sketch of the lines and forms before me, think a bit of Depression-era painters who tended to simplify shapes and lines.

A couple weeks ago I painted the same scene, making edits here and there, and having some fun using color to define the different shapes. I’ve left the painting kind of sketchy, partly because when I returned to it today, anything I added felt wrong and I ended up scrubbing it out. The painting was telling me it was fine the way it was and didn’t want me to mess with it.

Mississippi River Bluffs

Several weeks ago my husband Mike and I took a drive south along the Mississippi River, on Highway 61. Once you pass Red Wing, there are miles of bluffs that rise up off the river plain. With just the snow and bare trees covering them, the hill shapes were drawn so graphically – it was thrilling to drive along seeing all the forms and variations!!

This past weekend I explored that effect some more through painting.

Sunday portrait

This afternoon I was settling down to paint, thinking I’d do another landscape. But on last week’s New York Times spread out under my paints, there was a photo of the actor Javier Bardem that kept drawing my attention. Last night at a dinner party I’d seen a fascinating little self-portrait by an artist who became one of the first animators for Disney. Inspired, I decided to do a portrait, using Javier’s image as a starting point.

North of Hveragerði

Here is a painting I did this weekend, based on landscape I saw hiking in the mountains of southern Iceland.

Inspiration

This is my first post, and I find it appropriate that the first thing I’d like to share was actually inspired by another artist.

Last weekend I was at a retreat at St. Paul’s Benedictine Center where paintings by the artist Margaret Carroll were on display. I found them incredibly vibrant and exciting – certainly one of the most significant gifts to me that day, among many!

Taking my cue from Margaret, the next day I was inspired to try painting with a broader, freer palette than I’m used to. When I started I felt like I was going nowhere fast, but as I continued to work, I could see things coming together, and ultimately felt very energized by the result.

The scene is based on a sketch I did recently at Como Park Conservatory where I draw regularly with other art-loving friends.

Later I called Margaret who generously shared more of her experience and advice with me. I think the lesson for me is, the more we share, the more art there ends up being in the world. Hence this blog, and maybe someday a website too!