Commissions, Residencies, and Good Fishing

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Emilie Lee under New Work, process, travel

As I write this, I am waking up on my first day at the Jentel residency in Banner, WY. I’m here for a month to work on one of my six foot wide prairie paintings, and I’m looking forward to turning off my phone, unplugging from the internet, and taking a digital detox while I focus on this amazing opportunity to paint with no distractions. Before I go, I wanted to post a quick update and share my work from the past month. I’ll post again at the end of the month before I go to the American Prairie Reserve for a week of plein air painting and research in September.

APPLETON FARMS COMMISSION, IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS

This is the final painting for the Appleton Farms commission I wrote about in several of my earlier posts. The painting is 18″x11″

This is a drawing I did on location at the farms, which provided all the detailed information I needed to complete the commission.

PLUM ISLAND COMMISSION, NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS

I spent three days on Plum Island making studies for a commission. This is a hidden gem on the North Shore of Boston. Thirteen miles of protected sand dunes, beaches, forest, and marshes provide an important habitat for many species of migratory birds and other wildlife. There are also public beaches for surfing, swimming, and fishing. The painting I am working on depicts a sand dune in the foreground of the view from my client’s house. Below are three of the studies I made while researching different options for the commission idea. We settled on the sand dune in the end.

Plein air study for commission on Plum Island

plein air study on Plum Island

HUDSON RIVER FELLOWSHIP, WHITE MOUNTAINS, NEW HAMPSHIRE

After visiting Plum Island and delivering the Appleton Farm’s commission in Ipswich, I drove north to drop in on the Hudson River Fellowship. For five years in a row, I participated in this month-long painting residency, and for three years following that, I’ve tried to drop in for a few days. During these summers, I really honed my landscape painting technique, made new friends, and felt challenged by the motivated and skilled artists that this fellowship brings together. This summer, I could only manage one day, but I was grateful for that.

Painting at Jackson Falls was pure bliss during one day with the Hudson River Fellowship. There’s nothing like taking a break from painting to jump in the cold water and pick wild blueberries!

It was a treat to paint with my friends Leeana Chipana and Mary Jane Ward atop Cathedral Ledge.

I spent many years obsessed with climbing this impressive granite cliff in North Conway. When I was 15 I climbed my first multi-pitch route here, and afterwards made a series of wood-block prints inspired by the experience. I always think of this place as one of the important creative forces in my life.

RABBIT ISLAND, LAKE SUPERIOR, UPPER PENINSULA MICHIGAN

On July 20th I went to Rabbit Island, an artist residency in Michigan’s U.P. Each year, 3-5 artists are selected to spend several weeks creating work on the 90 acre island, which is located in Lake Superior, 4.5 miles from the mainland Keweenaw Peninsula. (The deadline for 2016 applications is August 26th, by the way!) Artists live in a simple lean-to structure, cook over a coleman stove or a campfire, and create work in the outdoors. There is no running water or electricity. While I was there, I overlapped for one or more days with three of the artists – Beau Carey, a painter from New Mexico, Noam Enbar, a musican from Tel Aviv, and Josephina Munoz, an installation artist from Chile. We also did a lot of fishing, painting, projects around camp, and spent time exploring the mainland.

I was thrilled that Beau Carey took the time to pose for me on the last day of his residency.

On this day, I was so excited because after 8 days of hot sun and no wind, we finally got a bit of a storm!

This is one of my favorite spots to hang out and paint along the shore. Photo by Ports Bishop.

I love the challenge of painting these waves and the striking transparency of Lake Superior’s water.

Gouache and graphite on watercolor paper toned with graphite powder and shellac.

Amit Goldstein posed for me while she meditated in the shade. Painting with a live model is a form of shared meditation, and this morning was so soothing, listening to the water lap against the rocks and trying to interpret the dappled light.

I knew that after Rabbit Island, I wouldn’t have time to work on commissions until November, so I brought one with me. I spent a few days working on it in the outdoors setting on the island, and antother 5 days working on it in a house on the mainland.

A detail from a finished section of the Plum Island commission. I will finish this in November, so stay tuned!

Rob and I spent a day orienting artist Josephina Munoz before leaving her alone for three weeks of total isolation.

Catching Lake Trout out by the Huron Islands, at some points during this trip the water was 800 feet deep!

The Mountainfilm Experience

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Emilie Lee under exhibitions, Inspiration, New Work, Prairie, travel

opening night at my gallery exhibit

After spending three weeks on the American Prairie Reserve in quiet isolation, I was joined by photographer Eugenie Frerichs and composer Jessica Kilroy. Jessica was making field recordings on the prairie to use in a musical composition, and Eugenie was documenting our work. For several days it rained so hard that the roads became thick with slippery “gumbo” clay and impossible to navigate, delaying our departure by an extra day. Even then the prairie gave us a challenging escape through axel deep mud, our vehicles fishtailing down the road for twenty miles until we reached the highway. Three hundred miles later, we were in Bozeman for some quick meetings, then we set off for another 800 miles to the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival where I had the honor of being the artist in residence this year. After an all night drive which included some fun surprises like a flat tire, we arrived in Telluride on May 20th just in time to kick off the weekend festivities at an event where I gave a presentation about my work. From May 22-26 I had over 25 of my paintings and drawings from the prairie on view in an exhibit at the Stronghouse gallery. Jessica Kilroy’s audio installation allowed visitors to listen to a loop of music she composed that incorporated the sounds of meadowlarks, rabbits, prairie dogs, and percussion made with bones and rocks.

In Telluride was initially overwhelmed by the crowds after having been alone on the prairie for so many weeks, but after a few days my social skills were revived and I felt energized, uplifted and inspired by my interactions at this amazing festival. Mountainfilm brings together incredible stories about social and environmental activism, as well as outdoor adventure. The lineup of films, talks, book readings, art exhibits, performances, and parties was non-stop and I found myself among an incredible crowd of aspirational people using their talents to discover and define stories that matter. While many films had impact, the one I personally found to have the most critical message was Racing Extinction, which will arrive in theaters later this summer and should not be missed. The acidification of our oceans, alarming rate of species loss in the Anthropocene era, what this means for the future of the human race, and, most importantly, ways we can address the issue as individuals, is profound and I came away from this film with a renewed commitment to use my work to celebrate relevant conservation efforts.

With that being said, I received an incredible reception at my gallery opening and was reminded of how much my work has already stood in the service of ambitious conservation projects and how it influences people’s appreciation of wildness. Several visitors told me how my paintings made them feel at ease, which I took as a sign of success, since this is one of the primary emotions I felt on the prairie, and one of the ideas I wish to express through my work. I returned to New York City excited to move to the next stage of my project–six foot wide paintings of the prairie landscape–that will document on canvas this remarkable social and environmental effort.

Since my last newsletter I’ve had a number of exciting opportunities to write about my work. These can be seen on the National Geographic Explorers blog, Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation blog, the RISD XYZ magazine (in print), the latest Alpinist Magazine (in print), and on Telluride Inside & Out. To see a full list of articles and events where I’m sharing my work, please visit my home page.

REMINDER – I am teaching plein air painting in Central Park starting this Tuesday! This class meets every tuesday afternoon for the next 8 weeks. Additionally I am teaching two weekend workshops — June 27-28 and July 11-12. You can learn more and sign up on the Grand Central Atelier website.

Jessica Kilroy and I on Main Street

Drew Ludwig, the man behind Mountainfilm’s art scene

Painting Ben Moon in the gallery

Freddie Wilkinson and Taylor Rees both posed for me

visitors to the gallery listen to music composed by Jessica Kilroy on the prairie

Prairie paintings on view

plein air paintings from the prairie. I had maps and other APR and ASC brochures available at the exhibit

visitors to the gallery could listen to Jessica’s music on the headphones while reading about our work and viewing the drawings

Taking a break in Utah on our road trip

FLAT TIRE!

Our exit from the prairie involved some seriously muddy roads

Jessica and Eugenie getting some fun shots on our last night at the Prairie Reserve

MOUNTAINFILM PORTRAITS

In addition to sharing my prairie project, I sat down with Mountainfilm contributors to paint these portraits from life. Each one took 2-3 hours, you can read more about this project here.

Jessica Kilroy

Freddie Wilkinson

Eugenie Frerichs

Max Lowe

John Dickey

Elizabeth Streb

Ben Moon

Josh Bernstein

Jenni Lowe-Anker

Capturing the Sounds of the Prairie with Jessica Kilroy

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Emilie Lee under Inspiration, New Work, Prairie

For three weeks, I was alone out here on the American Prairie Reserve before I was joined by photographer Eugenie Frerichs and musician Jessica Kilroy. I first met Jessica at the Rabbit Island Residency in 2013 where she was recording sounds in nature to use in a piece of music she was composing. When one morning I saw Jessica’s smiling face emerge from a cold wet bivouac after a miserable night of rain, I knew we would be a great match if we ever worked together on a creative project. She has a unique set of strengths derived from her diverse experiences as a touring musician, songwriter, composer of film scores, wilderness guide, hotshot firefighter, rock climber, and high angle wind power technician. She’s capable and tough, with a can-do attitude and an ambitious creative spirit.

photo by Eugenie Frerichs

We started chatting about the prairie six months ago, tossing around ideas about the kind of inspiration we might find out here for painting and music. I had never been to Montana, so my expectations were formed by youtube videos and online research, but Jessica is a Montana native and I thought that her interpretations of the place and it’s spirit would be undeniably authentic. Together, we decided on a vision for a gallery exhibit with my paintings on the wall and Jessica’s music filling the air.

photo by Eugenie Frerichs

During my three weeks painting alone, the importance of the prairie soundscape has become even more apparent to me. Each morning I’ve been waking at dawn and driving a few miles out into the open grasslands with my morning coffee. These peaceful hours have been filled with the songs of meadowlarks, owls, and coyotes. As the sun climbs higher in the sky, crickets join the chorus and wind whistles through the grass. The day slips by while I’m lost in concentration at my easel, but the sounds of the prairie have been a constant companion. When darkness comes, the wind dies down and the bass notes of frogs fill the air. It truly is a remarkable experience to enjoy a place so free of human-generated noise.

When Jessica arrived, she hit the ground running and captured a rich variety of sounds, including birdsong, a rabbit thumping it’s foot, percussion made with rocks on the gumbo clay, cricket chirps, and an owl. She is using these to create rhythms that will accompany vocals and instrumentation in a song inspired by the prairie. By the end of this visit, Jessica will have a track recorded to share with my paintings at Telluride Mountainfilm on May 22 at the Stronghouse Gallery. However, this is just the beginning of a larger vision she has to produce a whole album of songs that weave together sounds recorded on the American Prairie Reserve with lyrics and music inspired by this landscape. Her work will highlight the importance of an unpolluted natural soundscape and the role of audio frequencies in a healthy, balanced ecosystem. A portion of the proceeds from album sales will go towards the American Prairie Reserve. When exhibited together, my paintings and Jessica’s music will give the viewer an immersive experience in the prairie. Ultimately, this work will celebrate the significance of this unique moment in conservation history and inspire a new appreciation for this iconic American landscape.

You can follow the progress of Jessica’s work and learn more about soundscapes on her website, soundcloud, and Instagram. To hear some recording of her previous work under her band names pterodactyl plains and Flitcraft follow those links.

Using portable field recording equipment, Jessica Kilroy records sounds like these rocks to use in her musical compositions. Photo by Eugenie Frerichs

High in a cottonwood, Jessica Kilroy capturing the sounds of leaves rustling in the wind. Photo by Eugenie Frerichs

Since my last post, I’ve finished a few more paintings to share. Coming up next, I’ll be talking about this project and my influences at Twenty (by) Telluride this Wednesday night at the Sheridan Bar. On May 22, Jessica and I will be at the Stronghouse gallery in Telluride during the Mountainfilm gallery walk.

In addition to sharing my work at Mountainfilm, I make an appearance in one of the films that is premiering at this festival: Rabbit Island, filmed and directed by Ben Moon, tells the story of an artist’s residency in Lake Superior founded and run by my partner Rob Gorski. Jessica Kilroy’s field recordings are featured in the film and we will be there to see it May 23rd at 3:15 PM and May 24 at 9:15 AM at the Nugget Theater.

Taming the Tempest

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Emilie Lee under exhibitions, New Work, press

It was a nice surprise to open our mail a few weeks ago and find this picture of me in the latest Patagonia catalog! The picture was taken by Ben Moon during a storm that was testing our mettle on Rabbit Island with near freezing temperatures and driving rain in late July. I love how this picture captures the tough side of plein-air painting. There’s usually a bit of suffering involved in creating this art, but the thrill of working in a storm far outweighs the discomfort of the cold and wet. This is the fourth time I’ve been in the Patagonia catalog – previous images and articles focused on my involvement in rock climbing, bio-fuels, and composting, but I’m proud to be representing the painting life this time! In fact, the entire issue of the catalog is dedicated to artists, and worth checking out.

NEW WINTER WORKSHOP: COPYING THE MASTERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO LANDSCAPE PAINTING WITH EMILIE LEE
Jan. 13 – March 17, 2015 (10 weeks)

Fee: $450 (installment plan available by credit card only) Sign up online here

I know I just got through telling you that landscape painting is all about being tough in the outdoors, but hey, it’s winter here in NYC and besides the fact that it is freezing outside, the sun goes down at 4 PM! In light of this I am offering a studio workshop as an alternative way for us to continue studying landscape painting and stay sharp for spring.

In each session, artists will choose from a selection of master paintings to copy in grisaille, limited palette, or full color. This is an ideal workshop for those who have little or no experience painting outdoors.

By copying existing paintings, we will learn how a successful painting has been composed and how to approach complex subjects such as foliage, moving water, forest interiors, and clouds. We will focus on identifying value hierarchy while looking for elements of design and composition. Besides being an extremely helpful way of preparing the artist to work outdoors, this exercise will train your eye to be more efficient at recognizing values independently from their color, and giving you more control and organization on your palette. Think of this as “pre-season training” for landscape painting! When spring arrives, we will be ready to take what we’ve learned from the masters and apply it to the living landscape.

Artists will complete one copy in each studio session. Among the artists we will be focusing on are Ivan Shishkin, Frederick Church, Sanford Gifford, William Trost Richards, and Albert Bierstadt. Artists will be welcome to add to this list or bring in their own ideas for master copies.

This is a copy I did in grisaille of a painting by Ivan Shishkin. I wanted to understand the value structure of the tree trunks and how to achieve the feeling of depth in a forest interior.

the original by Ivan Shishkin

This is my latest painting, a self-portrait painted from life in the new studio. Last year was a bit rough for me, mainly because I had to move my studio three times and my apartment twice. It felt like New York City was trying to spit me out and I began questioning why I fought so hard to live here. Without planning on it, I poured all those turbulent emotions right into this painting. My intention was only to paint a self portrait that incorporated a landscape, but the result became a much deeper narrative that reveals my inner emotional landscape. I can happily report that I’ve emerged from this storm into a more stable life, but making this painting has been a unique experience in reflection and vulnerability.

Fortitude, 30″x36″, oil on linen, 2014

have paints, will travel

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Emilie Lee under New Work, travel

I’ve been on some amazing trips over the past six months and I always try to bring my paints along, so here is an update with the places I’ve been and the paintings I’ve made while traveling. Enjoy!

MYKONOS, GREECE

JUNE 30. Two of my Greek friends just got married, and they invited a whole gang of friends from NYC to come on their honeymoon in Mykonos! We started planning the trip a year ago and it was an incredible adventure to discover Greece with Greeks who knew all the secret spots. The trip was not without a touch of anxiety, however. The morning after the wedding in Thessaloniki, I left my oil paints in a hotel, and spent the first few days on Mykonos mourning my absentmindedness… I was forced to experiment with my watercolors – a hidden blessing, perhaps? Then I was saved when a friend who traveled after us brought my paints to me. Anyway, that’s why theres only a few small oil paintings from my time in Mykonos. It could also be because we were busy hiking through ancient ruins, sailing, exploring beaches, staying out late, and enjoying the food!

Painting on the beach in Mykonos

reunited with my paints!

6″x9″ sketch from Mykonos, July 2014

exploring the ruins on Delos Island with the gang

Clean lines and colors in the local archtecture

Mykonos, July 2014

Portrait of the Groom, Leonidas Trampoukis. 4″x4″ oil paint and sand (it was VERY WINDY on the beach that day!)

Portrait of the bride, Eleni Petaloti … 4″x4″ oil on panel … less sand here because I was smart enough to put this one in the car right away! I gave these two small portraits to Leo & Eleni for their wedding present.

PELION, GREECE

JULY 4th. After Mykonos, I traveled to Volos where my friend Joel has been living for the past 9 years. Joel’s wife Anna is from Athens, and together they decided to settle down in this area where they are raising their two sons and restoring an old stone house in the mountainous region known as Pelion or Pilios. Joel is an architect and a stone mason, and the house is a work of art, honoring old world tradition and full of personal details like custom woodworking and stone carvings, all made by Joel himself. It was really wonderful to see this project in progress and to see what Joel and Anna’s life is like in Greece. During this part of my journey, I explored a very different landscape in the mountains. While Mykonos is extremely hot, dry and windy, the mountains of Pelion seem to be gushing with spring water everywhere I looked. The forest felt like a jungle, which reached right down to the pristine white beaches of the Agean sea.

The view from Joel’s house in Paleskastron, Mt. Pelion region, Greece July 2014

exploring the village Agios Laventios, Mt Pelion region, Greece, July 2014

9″x12″ oil on canvas, Fakistra beach, Mt Pelion region, Greece.

painting in Agios Laventios … these villages are all built on steep mountain sides and usually have one avenue for cars and the rest is accessed by narrow cobblestone pedestrian walkways like this

painting on Fakistra Beach … happy to be in the shade! Temperatures were in the 90’s

this is Paleokastron, the tiny settlement where my friends Joel & Anna are restoring an old stone house

Joel & Anna’s house in Paleokastron

A typical view looking out over the village roofs of Agios Laventios, the Pagasetic Gulf in the Agean Sea and the city of Volos. This mountainous area is the mythical home of the centaurs, unusually lush and green for Greece.

PLUM ISLAND, MASSACHUSETTS

June 1. I had a few days to paint on Plum Island, a magical spot north of Boston that is largely protected by the Parker National Wildlife Refuge. A few years ago, I sold my first big commission to a couple who have their permanent home here in Plum Island. I got to see my painting hanging in their house and spend a few days exploring the marshes and wetlands here. This trip was a real teaser, I only had a few days to paint, but I plan to go back later this summer for more!

The refuge is accessed by these boardwalks so that hikers don’t disturb the nesting birds

It rained one morning, so I did this sketch from the car …

then later I made this painting using my memory and the sketch as reference. fun challenge! The birds are plovers, which were nesting in the marshes.

RABBIT ISLAND, MICHIGAN

May 26th. Rob Gorski and I spent a few days on Rabbit Island doing some spring cleaning and preparing the camp for this summer’s artists in residence. The Keweenaw peninsula endured one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record this year – for the first time since 1979 Lake Superior froze solid! When we were there in late May, the ice was still breaking up, which is quite unusual. We spent 3 days on the island witnessing the melting icebergs. I made a few iceberg sketches out there, and I took a fearsome plunge into the water, which was about 34 degrees out there! You can see some of Rob’s pictures and read more on the Rabbit Island blog: http://www.rabbitisland.org

Rob navigating the icebergs on our way out to Rabbit Island

He left me on an iceberg!

A tiny iceberg sketch

Yeow! that was cold!

A rare springtime treat of wild fiddleheads. I stir fried them with garlic and olive oil, served on pasta it was a nice lunch!

Spring cleaning

OSA PENINSULA, COSTA RICA

February 2. These paintings are from a midwinter trip to Costa Rica! I went with my yoga teacher Christine Hoar, who is also an avid surfer. This was a very active vacation – we practiced Ashtanga yoga every morning, followed by at least two surf sessions! The surfing was super and I also did these paintings, which were quickly snapped up as souvenirs by other people on the yoga retreat. It was a very successful vacation!

Surfing in paradise

waking up at 5 AM to paint the sunrise

up & at ’em! early bird gets the worm!

Holiday Exhibits and More

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Emilie Lee under exhibitions, Inspiration, press, travel

Here in the city, the chill of winter is setting in but memories of Rabbit Island are still stoking my creative fire. While my collection of paintings from that trip have been away at the De Vos Museum of Art exhibit, I’ve been busy working on some commissions in my studio. Recently I published another story about Rabbit Island on the Stio blog and I hope you check it out! As an ambassador for Stio, I share my writing on their blog throughout the year, you can find links to other articles like this on my press page. Big thanks to Stio for keeping me warm and dry!

Taking in the endless expanse of Lake Superior! Divide Henley by Stio.

PAINTINGS FOR SALE:

I always have small paintings for sale in my studio and I usually sell them through word-of-mouth. If you are interested in buying something, my small paintings are all between $200- $800 (sizes range from approx 5″x7″ – 9″x12″) These are all plein air paintings that I’ve done on my travels and excursions out of the city. Each one comes with a story behind the day I created it! I’ve tried to organize an album of available paintings here, and I hope that before too long I’ll get a real online store up and running. Meanwhile please email me if you are interested in learning more about a painting or buying something: emilie@emilielee.com

Salmagundi Club Thumb Box Exhibition, 47 5th Ave, NYC:

November 18 – January 3. Reception is Thursday, December 5th, 6-7:30 PM. All paintings in this show are under 108 square inches. Here are the three paintings I’ll have in the show:

Consternation, 8″x10″, oil on linen, 2013

Straightforward, 8″x10″, oil on board, 2013

Afternoon Melt, oil on archival bookboard, 8"x10"

Afternoon Melt, oil on board, 8″x10″, 2013

Group Show at the First Bank of Greenwich, Cos Cob, CT.

Reception is November 20th, 5-7 PM. These paintings will be on display (and for sale) at the bank throughout the holiday season:

Lee_GreenwichPointParkinGray_oil_6x10_500

Greenwich Point Park in Gray, oil on linen, 6″x10″, 2013

Sunset from Red Hook, 5″x12″, oil on board, 2013

wave study, 8″x6″ oil on linen, 2011

Stay tuned for more exhibits coming up this holiday season!

Report from Rabbit Island

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Emilie Lee under New Work, travel

Rabbit Island, a 91 acre oasis of wilderness in Lake Superior, first came to my attention in 2011 when a friend emailed me about a Kickstarter campaign. An artist residency was planned for the island and when I read about the fledgling project online my heart skipped a beat as I realized how much I would love to go there. The Great Lakes have captured my imagination for many years and this summer I had the chance to be one of the artists at work in this magical setting.

Under the creative vision of Rob Gorski, the residency has been developed with considered restraint – the only shelter from the elements is a 3 sided cabin that serves as a communal kitchen and dining area. Artists sleep in tents, cook on the campfire, and swim in the frigid water. The intention is to leave behind all distractions of modern life and live close to nature. We tried to cultivate an ethos of simplicity by keeping our off-island imports to a minimum. For instance, processed food and beer cans were discouraged in favor of a “less is more” approach. We were constantly asking ourselves “what else can we live without?” This being the third summer of the residency, we were essentially part of a beta testing phase and learned so much that will help shape the experiences of future residents.

I shared the island with a colorful cast of artists, musicians, writers, scientists, and chefs. The atmosphere was abuzz with creative energy, and adding to that dynamic was the presence of a New York Times journalist and photographer who were writing a story about us. I felt some conflict between my desire to find solitude, and the excitement of the activity around me. In my normal routine I spend a lot of time alone but I recognized the value of this opportunity to work alongside such a diverse group. I loved seeing what fascinated other people about this unique environment and imagining how it would manifest through each individual’s creativity. While I was out painting, completely absorbed in my canvas, I could occasionally look up to see one of the other artists at a distance, equally absorbed in another kind of work. Once when I was walking back to camp, I passed Jessica Kilroy, who was standing on a wobbly rock, shifting her weight side to side and listening intently to the hollow clunk underfoot. I knew she was collecting field recordings to use in her music compositions … I had never thought of it on my own, but now I heard a melody every time I wobbled across those rocks! This is just one example of the kind of energy that was sparkling around me this summer, and I encourage you to visit the Rabbit Island blog to read about all the different projects that took place.

I spent my time making small plein air paintings, choosing my subjects based purely on a fascination with light and form. The warm sandstone bedrock of the island as it disappears under the deep turquoise waters crashing over it was a fun challenge for me to decipher. As a group, these paintings are a collection of intimate moments, each one exposing a piece of Rabbit Island’s character. To me, they serve as windows through time, bringing me back to the moment I was painting in quiet meditation surrounded by waves, wind, rocks, and sky. Those afternoons spent in focused awareness were precious for their lack of distractions. Even though we had cell service and I was able to use my phone daily, it was often out of commission with a dead battery. If I were to repeat this trip, I’d give myself a true digital detox and I might even give up the ability to take photos altogether, that way I’d be forced to use my drawing and writing skills to record my memories.

Exercising smart-phone restraint has been a popular topic of conversation around me this summer. They are such powerful tools to connect us, and as an artist it is an invaluable way to promote my work and share the journey behind how I make it. My instagram feed has allowed me to stay in touch with my friends and find inspiration in their adventurous lives. Maintaining this sense of community has been a positive gain, but at times I feel overwhelmed by information and I struggle to find the presence I need to fully develop my thoughts. On the morning we were packing to leave the island and re-enter the outside world, I considered how I could simplify my life and bring more presence into my daily routine. I realized there were quite a few things I could live without – in material possessions, habits, and thoughts. So, in keeping with the “less is more” motto we had on Rabbit Island, I’ll be doing some spring cleaning this fall!

Some of my paintings from the trip:

Page from my sketchbook

Art’s Rock, 150 Miles to Canada. oil on linen, 8″x12″

The Hot Tub, oil on linen, 8″x10″

Lake Superior Greens, oil on panel, 5″x7″

Rainbow Water, 5″x7″, oil on panel

Headwind, oil on linen, 8″x12″,

Late Afternoon, Rabbit Island, oil on panel, 6″x9″

Main Camp View, 5″x7″ oil on panel

Moss, oil on panel, 5″x5″

A tree I had admired for a while every time I went swimming and looked back at the shore from the water.

and some photos to help tell the story!

Wind, Waves, Rocks, Water.

Ben Moon in his element, thriving in the storm!

A rare day of hot summer weather.

This is more typical. Here I am wearing every single warm layer I could find.

Ben Moon and Rob Gorski enjoying the rare treat of freshwater surfing … and the fact that they were definitely the first people to ever surf this break!