Kelley Gallery Miniature Art Show

You are invited to the 2010 Kelley Gallery Miniature Art Show. I am one of over 45 artists accepted into the exhibit, and I have three paintings in the show. You can see the paintings on the Kelley website, preview the show, purchase one for yourself!

A Fine Weekend at the Gibbs Farm Museum.

As a member of the Lake Country Pastel Society I painted at the Gibbs Farm Museum in August as a part of a class we were in. The farm is very interesting, with it's prairie, old buildings, and animals, giving us an abundance of subject matter. The museum director asked us to return to paint during their Apple Festival, and to exhibit finished paintings from class in their old school house. We were thrilled to accept their offer!

The weekend turned out to have perfect fall weather, and there was a big turn out. We painted, learned more about apples, informed visitors about the art of pastel painting, and were pleased to have some happy customers purchase paintings from the exhibit. I exhibited two paintings, and a visitor to the event purchased one of them. It’s always a special treat for me to meet the person who enjoyed my work enough to buy it.

Plein Air Painting Competition

I was one of 41 artists participating in the 8th Annual Plein Air Painting Competition sponsored by the Grand Marais Art Colony.

"Plein air" means "in the open air" so we all painted outside, on location, all week.

Completed paintings are framed and exhibited at the Art Colony, then judged and awarded prizes by a prominent artist.

This was my second year in the event. Artists are allowed 2 entries into the general competition, plus optional night paint and quick paint entries. Last year it was my goal to finish a painting to enter. I like to paint at night, and I was able to finish one to enter for that, too. I was pleased with my pieces and enjoyed seeing them exhibited with all the other artists' work.

This year, my goal was two pieces for the general competition, plus my night piece. Did it! At the opening reception I was honored to have two of my paintings chosen to win awards - First and Third Place in the Pastel category of the general competition!

Enjoy! And a special thank you to my painting PALS and the Art Colony for their support!

Reworking a Pastel Painting, "Serenity"

"Serenity" is one of a series I painting based on a view at a nearby lake. The series has been enjoyed by many, with people often telling me how it reminds them of summer evenings at their cabin. But no one ever loved it enough to give it a home.

One of the nice things about pastel paintings is that the "paint" never "dries". So I decided to re- work this painting, to capture something that was missing. Well, it must have worked, because one of my regular collectors saw it and bought it immediately at it's first public viewing! SOLD to someone who will enjoy it for many years to come. Thank you!

One View, Three Visions Plein Air Painters of Lake Superior Michelle Wegler, Lisa Stauffer, Cheryl LeClair-Sommer August 10 through August 27, 2010 Opening Reception August 20, 6 to 9 p.m. Gallery Hours Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Art Reach St. Croix + St. Croix Galleries 224 North 4th Street Stillwater, MN 651-439-1465 www.artreachstcroix.org

Winter into Spring II

Ahhhhh! Spring! I paint outside in all seasons, but it sure feels nice to stand and paint without hand warmers.

I painted outside on a fine April day. The location was conveniently located for me and my PALS. It is right off the freeway, and has the necessary amenities-it is at a highway rest stop! It will be included in a grouping with the paintings my colleagues painted that day.

"Green" Painting

So much is "green" these days: not just the grass and trees, but consumer goods as well. I still like the original green best, I think.

Here in full summer we are surrounded by green, which can be a challenge to paint. I found these hosta leaves to be interesting and tried my hand at them. I used a sienna toned paper to contrast with the green, and a square format to emphasize the abstract quality of the composition. It turned out so well I am planning to do more like it.