Experiences

December 29, 2024

I visited the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum in Wausau, WI to see the exhibit "Survival of the Fittest".  They had 12 of Carl Rungius' painting on display.

A week on the Gunflint Trail

July 2024

I spent a week on the Gunflint trail during the summer of 2024.  I was staying a Historic Clearwater Lodge near the mid Gunflint area.  I had a few painting locations in mind and also wanted to find some new ones.  Below are some photos of the experience.

I had the opportunity to paint from the dock at White Pine Lodge thanks to owners Chris and Allison.  I had stayed at this lodge my first time ever on the Gunflint Trail.  It was know as Old Northwoods Lodge at the time.  This was a bucket list painting for me and I was very happy with how it turned out.

The following day I paddled out to the palisades on Clearwater lake.  I hiked to the top and had a great view looking back towards the lodge.  I had hoped I would have a nice day to make this happen for the last few years.  On this day it finally happened and it was breathtaking in more way than one:)

The photo below was taken by a guest that was staying at Clearwater.  I am in there at the top.

That evening I painted at the lodge.  This view is looking through some pines to the entrance of the porch.

Over the last year I have enjoyed working with a pallet knife.  The next day I found a perfect lily pond to paint at near the lodge.

I decided to turn this into a larger studio painting using a pallet knife after I returned from the trip.  Below is an image of the studio painting which was 36 x 48.

Approaching Plein Air May 14-18, 2024

I had the opportunity to take a class through the Grand Marais Art Colony.  The class was titled "Approaching Plein Air" and was taught by Brock Larson.  I learned so much from Brock and I believe this showed in my work.  Below are some photos from the experience.

Honeymoon Bluff

Painting "Spring Willows" with a pallet knife at the bay on East Bearskin Lake

Painting at Bearskin Lodge

Painting "Evening Rain"

Painting from the overlook at West Bearskin Lake

The South Brule River after a storm passed by.  Thunder could be heard in the distance.

We had an amazing sky over our campfire!

Painting "North Shore" at Artist Point on the final day of the class

Isle Royale 2023

This past summer I decided to bring my paints and canvas panels along on my hiking trip to Isle Royale with my brother and his son.  It was a good decision as it was one of the most unique painting experiences I have had.  We camped at 3 Mile Campground, Lane Cove, Chickenbone East, and Rock Harbor.  Here are some photos from the trip and of the work I completed.

The National Park sign at Rock Harbor

Canvas panel box on my pack

My paint set up weighed under 5 lbs. :)

The Isle Royale Queen taken from Copper Harbor, Michigan

Tobin Harbor on the way to 3 Mile Campground on day 1

Painting from the dock at 3 Mile Campground

View From 3 Mile Campground Isle Royale

Above is the view from the Greenstone Ridge halfway between 3 Mile Campground and Lane Cove.  It was all uphill to this point, and all downhill to Lane Cove.  The white speck you see in the Rock Harbor Lighthouse which is located across from Daisy Farm Campground.

Prime moose country on the way to Lane Cove on day 2

Arrival at Lane Cove Campground

I put my paints in a pill container and used paper pallets while there.

Lane Cove, Isle Royale

Shelter at McCargoe Cove, Isle Royale

Taking the boat from McCargoe Cove around Blake Point back to Rock Harbor

 Scoville Point, Isle Royale

Camping at Rock Harbor

The sunset before our boat to Copper Harbor, Michigan.  We didn't leave until 9:30pm so we had the unique opportunity of crossing Lake Superior at night and were treated to stars and a meteor shower.  Amazing!

Painting The Wild Places With Dave Gilsvik

May 16-20, 2023

I had another amazing experience while taking this class taught by Dave Gilsvik.  Again, the class was held at Bearskin Lodge on the Gunflint Trail.  The ice had gone out on the lakes the day before I arrived and there was still snow in the shaded areas.  The weather was a variety of sun and rain and I did my best to paint in all conditions.  We even had haze from forest fires unfortunately occuring in Canada.  Below is a painting of the bay at the lodge.  This was after the rain had stopped and we had a surreal sunset.  The mosquitos were out in full force but Dave built the group a campfire to keep them tollerable.  I was able to finish the painting with the help of my nocturne light. 

View of Wampus Lake on Clearwater Lake Road

Cedar tree from the dock at Bearskin Lodge

The view from Clearwater Lodge!

On the final evening, a fellow classmate and I hiked to the West Bearskin Lake overlook on the Caribou Rock Trail.  At the beginning of my painting, it was raining and cloudy.  We even brought tarps just in case.

I waited to paint the sky and was rewarded with the amazing view below.     

After painting at the overlook, we headed to meet the group at Poplar Haus.  Poplar Lake was absolute glass!

And if that wasn't enough to fill an amazing day, some of us also had a great show of northern lights over East Bearskin Lake!

Outdoor Painters of Minnesota Paint Out

Art Shanty Project at Lake Harriet

February 12, 2023

Painting The Wild Places With Dave Gilsvik

May 2022

This past May I had the unique opportunity to participate in a course taught by Dave Gilsvik. Dave is a renowned painter of the North Shore and Boundary Waters of Minnesota. The class was held at Bearskin Lodge on the Gunflint Trail. We painted at the Lodge and also ventured out into the wilderness. Below are some of the amazing painting experiences I had while taking this class.

VIEW FROM HONEYMOON BLUFF

I worked on this moose painting each of the 4 nights while staying at Bearskin Lodge.  It is titled "Near Gunflint Lake".  I completed the painting in the studio when I returned home.

 

Ash & Smoke from the Greenwood Lake fire in

August of 2021