This is a picture of my easel with my painting on it. You can also see the scene that is inspiring me to do this painting. Can you see somethings that you’d like to paint in this scene?
20”’x16”, Oil on Linen,
Plein Air Madeline Island, 2026
When Lake Superior is calm, on a sunny day, we can often see deeper into the lake. Can you think of some things that you might be excited to see in the water?
While I was painting, a couple of kayakers were paddling through the scene. A lot of people explore the Apostle Islands with Kayaks, because they can handle being on the deep and shallow parts of the lake, so they can go where the big boats can’t. What kind of boats sound fun to you?
I was very excited when the sun came out on this scene, and got started right away. The sun would come and go behind clouds when I was working, so I had pay special attention to when the sun was out, because that was what was happening when this scene asked me to paint it. So I started with big shapes - even the picket fence started more as one shape. Think about a time you felt inspired and paid special attention to what you were working on.
You can see how much the painting has changed and the new colors that I mixed. Are there any colors in this scene that look like they’d be fun to try and mix up?
9”x12”, Oil on Linen
Plein Air Madeline Island, 2026
Now the painting is finished! There are a lot of fun fall colors in this painting. Do you have some favorite fall colors?
12”x16'“, Oil on Linen,
Honorable Mention
Plein Air Madeline Island, 2026
Inquire with Bell Street Gallery Bayfield & Madeline Island, WI
11”x14”, Oil on Linen
One day can be very different from the next on Lake Superior. What are some ways this painting is different from the one we just looked at?
9"x12", Oil on Linen
Plein Air Madeline Island, 2026
This beach is pointed west, and the sun seemed to set right at the end of it. I painted this one on two different evenings. The light was not the same on each night. So on the first night I was focused on the colors of and clouds. On the second night I was refining the shapes and colors of the trees and beach. What are some of your favorite sunset colors? Where are some places that you have gotten to watch the sunset?
12”x16”, Oil on Linen
Plein Air Madeline Island, 2026
This is a sandstone rock formation, and in the world of rocks, it is considered a softer stone. The waves and ice erode the rocks making a lot of very interesting shapes, and someplace there are sea caves! Can you see any little caves in this scene?
8”x8”, Oil on Linen
Honorable Mention - Quick Paint
Plein Air Madeline Island, 2026
Inquire with Bell Street Gallery Bayfield & Madeline Island, WI
8“x10”, Oil on Linen
This is a special kind of fishing boat used on Lake Superior - the waves can be huge and cold - so the boat has to be sealed up almost like a submarine. This one is getting worked on. Do you see the ladder?
This looks a lot like the boat I painted last summer, They’ve fixed it up and are back to work. Can you think of reason why I might think this is the same boat in the painting?
8”x10”, Oil on Linen
Being in Lake Superior, sometimes the mornings on Madeline Island can be foggy. It was so quiet, I could hear some dear eating but it was very difficult to see them. If you were a deer, where would you hide on an Island? Can you think of other animals that might be out in the field, down in the ground, or up in the trees?
8.5"x24", Oil on Linen
Now just the last little bits go in. Refining the shapes, reflections, and sense of light. I have been visiting this place since I was a little boy. What are some special places you visit with your family?
