Sand Dance, 9x12 oil on board |
June 5 - We just might get our first trip to Lake Michigan
in for this year. The blankets and picnic supplies are beginning to be found.
The maps and G P S ready for use. The next step is where to? The shorelines are
calling to us, “We are beautiful!”
Morning Shadows 18x24 oil on linen We nestled in to this welcoming slope at Hoffmaster State Park |
We stifle a little laugh at our childlike giddiness as we go
through the process we know so well. Will the sun be out to bake us or just warm
the dunes? Do we need all this food? ...
And what about eating out? Should we leave at dawn like the many times before
or let the morning sun sneak in and wake us hopefully in time to beat the
morning rush hour traffic?
All this planning is just to see the beautiful Great Lake
Michigan. My family has been doing this for low those many years of my
childhood. The family albums are full of little children, including me, sitting
on a blanket trying to sit and smile at the Kodak camera. At least I didn’t say Kodak box camera. Well,
any way, you get the picture the dunes are calling again and with a lot of
driving and a little luck my batteries will be charged for another painting
season.
June 11 - P.S. Well, we did go the lake and yes we did get
the weather report: a cool day in the
mid 60’s, so we planned sweatshirts and jeans. As we got near the lake the sun
came out shooting the temp up to the low 80,s! What happened to the mid 60’s?
If you know us you know we don’t give up, so we did get to the sand and water
dressed for cool weather as other beach goers were in more comfortable swimming
attire. The sand was hot as the morning sun beat down. We made our beach
blanket nest and settled in for a little surf sound nap.
Cooling of the Dunes award-winning 24x20 oil sold during busy month of May. |
Soon we were aware of the increasing sounds of happy
children swarming the sand playing beach games. A few teacher types stood guard
as the end of the school year party blasted into full swing. A wet boy, arms
out stretched yelled, “Free hugs” as he flew by. His friends ran from him howling
back, “yuk, change your wet shirt.” The hunger for a hugs boy retorted, “Here?
in front of the girls? No, I’ll change in the bushes.” We watched the kids
just be that great preteen sub set of the human family. The most memorable
moment for me was not so much the beautiful sandy beach but how we all lived
that day in our own special way enjoying Lake Michigan.
Spring Marsh Song 36x36 acrylic, sold through Shiawassee Art Center |
It sure was a surprising and fun way to recharge the
creative batteries and we got a chance to peek into the funny lives of those
free and happy children on their end of school year treat at the beach.
We are taking a bit of a rest from the current exciting art
show season. The winner at Shiawassee Art Center for Best Abstract is still on
display until June 30 (see last blog, May 17). Rise Up was a joy to paint and even more exciting to
receive a thoughtful judge critique for the win. We had excellent experiences
with both the SAC member show and the Riverwalk Theatre show including positive
responses and some sales.
Great Escape 18x24 oil on canvas sold early in June |
Go, look at the art about you this summer.
Joel
Joel Ellis Art, www.joelellisart.com paintings@joelellisart.com