Slowly but surely it'll get finished

                In the Shade of the Pines, pastel, 18 x 11, ©Mary McHugh 2012

HI everybody,
I am getting the itch to paint again and finished this painting today. It took over a period of four months to complete!  This is a view from the north end of Price Lake near Cable, WI. I am feeling pretty good, and have kept busy this winter with surgery, working, and ski team stuff, but not much actual skiing. Today was a beautiful day so I went skiing briefly and hope to get out again.
                     
I also started a new painting so I thought I'd show you below what my paintings look like when they are in their early stages. This is pastel on uart paper with a turpenoid wash.

Superior Artists Show at the Washburn Cultural Center in November. Plein Air show at Drummond Library January- March.

   'Urban Life', pastel, 8.5 x 7, ©2011Mary McHugh

   'Glow', pastel, 8.5 x 11.5, ©2011Mary McHugh

HI everybody
Today was a big CC day with our Sectional meet. It was heartbreaking again that our awesome boys team didn't make it to state for the second year in a row.  My daughter also didn't make it, but that was a long shot. We did have three boys from our team qualify for state as individuals. That was amazing.
I finished up four paintings last Sunday and can now post them and start some new ones! yeah!
Please try to stop by our new show in Washburn at the Cultural Center. it is the old bank building and the reception is Nov 3, from 5 to 7. 
I'll be laid up for awhile, going to have surgery this coming month too. Sending peace and love to all who are visiting my blog.
             

  'Misty Willow', pastel, 8.5 x 11.5, ©2011Mary McHugh

   'Hollyhocks and Barn', pastel, 5.5 x 11, ©2011Mary McHugh 

Fall Fest in Cable yesterday.
I enjoyed a chilly day of visiting with the fall fest crowd. Thanks to Linda and Mikael for helping with set up and take down. Will post again with pictures of recent paintings.

Four more framed and ready

Three are from painting on location on Monday mornings with some friends, and one is from a demo at my WITC community ed teaching experience this summer.

The first one is outside the Firefly Trading Company near Cable, WI

               'Good Morning', pastel, 10.5 x 10.5, © Mary McHugh 2011

The next one was painted near the Silverthorn Lake near Seeley, WI

            'Monday Minuet', pastel, 7 x 7, © Mary McHugh 2011

The next week we went to a friend's house to paint in her lovely garden and this is what I came home with. 

    'How Sweet It Is', pastel, 7 x 7, © Mary McHugh 2011

This fourth painting is from a demo I started in class. It is the rose garden in Duluth, when the peonies are blooming. Last summer I spent 30 mornings in Duluth getting radiation treatments.  Sometimes I would grab a sandwich with the friend that drove me that day and we would eat by the lake in this garden.

       'Lunchtime in Duluth', pastel, 7 x 7, © Mary McHugh 2011

Two studio paintings from July

I have been busy and feeling pretty well with lots of paintings to share from July. Here are the first two, using reference photos from last fall. I'll have more to post soon, paintings I did with my plein air friends, and demonstrations at the Washburn class. This first one was started as a demo in Washburn.

                  'Last Symphony in Birch', pastel, 11 x 17, © Mary McHugh 2011

         

                    'Last Symphony in Maple', pastel, 23.5 x 16, © Mary McHugh2011

New Paintings from June

HI everyone,
I am happy to report that I am feeling better and starting to enjoy summer. Here are the new paintings that I created in June 2011. The first two are from an outdoor painting session at my friend Mimi's garden in early June.

                           'June Poppies', pastel, 7 x 7, ©Mary McHugh 2011

                       'Poppies and Chickens', pastel, 7 x 7, ©Mary McHugh 2011

This is from an outdoor painting session in mid June at my friend Mary's lake home.

  'Marengo Lake', pastel, 10. 5 x 7.5, ©Mary McHugh 2011

This last one is from a photo I took on a canoe outing in 2008 on the river with the kids.

.  'Quiet River', pastel, 13 x 11, ©Mary McHugh 2011

Finished "Sailing Class"!

                       ' Sailing Class' ,  pastel. 24 x 18, ©Mary McHugh 2011


Today was my deadline to finish the big painting for the Superior Watershed show at the Great Lakes Visitor Center near Ashland, WI.  This was inspired by a photo (taken by Linda, my sister -in -law ) of my nephew's Mikael's sailing class in Bayfield, WI. I have been working on it since mid April. I could easily keep messing with it some more.  It is one of those paintings with lots of detail and the sails, clouds, water, and the people are not satisfied until I mess with it at least a dozen times. But it needs to go out the door and hitch a ride to Ashland today!

My show at Firefly has begun too so there are two options  if you want to see my work. Please join me for an Artist’s Reception on Sunday, June 12 from 3 - 4 PM in the “Art Around the Corner” gallery at Firefly. Firefly Trading Company is located one mile south of Cable. WI  on Highway 63.  For more information, visit their website at fireflytradingcompany.com or find them on Facebook.  Firefly is open everyday in the summer; Monday through Saturday from 10 – 5 and Sundays from Noon to 4.