Preparing for Warbler Weekend

 

I will be attending a St Paul Audubon Society Warbler Weekend at Villa Maria in Frontenac Minnesota and went back over previous journal entries of a variety of birds, not just warblers.  Taking the time to do a brief sketch after I've sighted a bird helps me to learn and remember the characteristics as well as being a kind of personal life list such as it is.  I'm hoping this weekend to see some new species of warblers I haven't yet actually seen other than in the bird fieldguide.  

Its spring migration time!

Easter Trip

 

Frontenac State Park, Minnesota

Villa Maria, which is surrounded by Frontenac State Park

After a long winter of snow, I recently saw the brown earth again in the fields of Iowa and by the time I arrived back in Minnesota the brown grass is showing here too.  I'll need to change the colors of paint now as well.  Maybe we're seeing the last of the snow sketches for this season.

Design Adventures

Mural handpainted by Job Wouters  Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

Recently I attended a Design Series event at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.  I had spent the morning helping a six year old boy form cursive letters and have recently been getting "calligraphic" after attending the Midwest Art and Lettering Retreat last summer.  Calligraphy is all about getting centered and having focus.  The young designer who was featured,  Job Wouters aka Letman, completed a wall size mural at the Walker.  The presentation was so much fun because of his combination of technical ability, youthful spontaneity, emphasis on "hand work".  He combines typography, calligraphy, graffiti, high fashion and humility.

Middle of March in Minnesota

Its actually very beautiful here in Minnesota even though it seems like the snow just keeps piling up.
There's a bit of open water and the Great Blue Herons have started coming back.  But outside my own window its looking like rough traveling again.  The perspective seems a bit askew above but the general feeling of the day is there.  On the early morning hike when the pictures below were taken it was much too cold to try an outside painting.  Lots of migrant ducks and Trumpeter swans were at this place along the Minnesota River Valley Refuge.

Hill of Snow

near Lake Hiawatha, Minneapolis, MN

This was another case of being in a warm car to paint the hillside filled with snow.  As I began this sketch the car radio was on and the announcer excitedly stated that white smoke had appeared at the Vatican and the crowds were thrilled so I decided to listen while I was working.  I believe that I had just about finished by the time Francis I actually came out to the balcony and they were able to know the identity of the new pope.  Meanwhile in Iran they were announcing that the new pope's name is Habemus Papam.  I read that later, on line of course, since I don't read the Iran papers.  Translations are one of our big challenges.  But whenever I look at this sketch in the future I'll probably be remembering the remarks of the people in Rome.  Maybe next time, I'll turn the radio off, since one of my goals is to be present in the location.  It was however kind of fun to feel like I was hearing a bit of history, as it was happening.  Time will tell how this all plays out in the future.

Four Views

I was in a place at the National Wildlife Refuge from which it was easy to look in lots of different directions.  I couldn't make up my mind what to paint, so I just did four small ones from the same location.  It was very beautiful and sunny.

click to enlarge

Days of Sunshine

My sketchbook is filling up with "snow" pictures.  Since we're in the midst of another storm this seems fitting.  Most of the time I paint from my "car studio", squished but warm.  For the picture along the Mississippi River (below) I was out in the wind and cold.  Being outside is more spacious than the car.  I work fast and furiously to maintain enough warmth in the extreme ventilation.  Its the sunshine and feeling of immediacy that gets me out there.

East River Road, St Paul, MN

Wabun Picnic Area, Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis

I've also been working again on a knitting pattern called wiggle wrap but this time with colors that remind me of the woods in spring.