We spend our summers sailing "up north" on the Great Lakes and I enjoy walking in the remote places and watching the clear lake water ripple over the rocky shorelines. I find rocks so aesthetically interesting and I study them up close to see how the light plays on the surface and how the water has worn them smooth.
Many of my photographic studies involve shorelines because I love the spaces where the lakes meets the land. And these photographs inspire many of my current artworks, sometimes in surprising ways.
South Benjamin Islands
Fayette
Presque Isle
I can't say exactly when I started painting rocks, but it has become a regular thing in sketchbooks and for finished paintings. This practice has become aligned with my collection of handmade watercolor paints, which tend to be more textured and granulating and perfect for capturing the feeling of the rocks in shallow water.
This group of paintings was done on cold press watercolor paper with various handmade watercolor paints. The Lake Huron Shoreline painting was a gift to my friend Will Schippert, who had it framed for his home.
This is an ongoing series and this page will be updated as new paintings are added to the collection.
Please contact me for inquiries.