"Tea for Two" -- oil on canvas -- 40x60" -- Margie Guyot

Fortunately I had anticipated a long string of interruptions when I started this painting. I'd started this right at the beginning of May, when gardening season started. That's when everything else gets shoved aside so you can get your flowers and veggies started. I used to feel guilty about leaving my art, but have made peace with it.

So I painted the blossoms first. I knew they'd only last a day or two. Used a Hawaiian-print shirt as a "tablecloth". I loved the colors, yellow and blue, of the fabric. And if you're familiar with my still lifes, you'll recognize my frog teapot set. They're so much fun to paint!

I guess the theme of this painting has to do with the Joy of Spring!

"Lilacs - Norwood" -- plein air field study -- oil on canvas -- 9x12" -- Margie Guyot

3 weeks ago we had snow flurries. This week it hit 90 degrees! The poor lilacs are burning out fast, so I've been trying to paint some views. I found these growing on the side of a ridge in Norwood, overlooking Lake Michigan. I was SO happy to have a nice shade tree to stand under!

"Lilacs" -- plein air field study -- 9x12" -- oil on birch panel -- Margie Guyot

A friend and I were driving to a concert on Sunday when I spied these in Eastport. Monday morning I drove over and painted this view. That's a little gravel road that leads down to Torch Lake. I took the liberty of moving the lilacs closer to the road.

The oil color I'd bought a few months ago, Vasari Ruby Violet, has really helped. Purples are hard colors to mix. The Ruby Violet has been a very handy color! I found out about it from one of my teachers, Scott Christensen.

I love painting in the early morning or late day -- I think the shadows really help create excitement.

"Thawing Ice - 3/04/10" -- plein air field study -- oil on canvas -- 12x24" -- Margie Guyot

Spring is slowly arriving here in NW Michigan. Ice patterns out on Lake Michigan have captured my interest this winter. Today I went to one of my favorite little parks, Banks Township Park, just south of Norwood. It's one of the few parks I can drive into without getting stuck. I perched my Soltek easel on a side of the hill overlooking the shoreline. Every time I go there, the ice looks different.

The diagonal "stripes" in the foreground were caused by the strong winds, blowing the snow along the beach.

I loved the almost turquoise-looking water that showed up in spots. Lots of chunks of ice floating around, blown in by the wind. A few diver ducks were present. Although it was a balmy 40 degrees, I was grateful to have on my heavy down coat and hood, gloves and winter boots. That wind was cold! I'd forgotten to change pants, though. I had on a pair of jeans that have a little rip - and that cold wind was blasting through.

That's the Leelanau Peninsula in the distance. I'm glad spring is on the way, but I must admit I'll miss painting the ice.

Check out the snow on this palette! I could barely paint with it by the end.

"Snowy Afternoon 2/26/10" -- plein air field study -- oil on canvas -- 11x14" -- Margie Guyot

It was only snowing lightly when I left m house, bound for Charlevoix. A photographer from the Petoskey News was going to meet me at the Charlevoix Circle of Art and I couldn't stand her up. Originally the plan had been to meet at the Circle and then head out for the ice at Norwood. However, a blizzard was in progress, so we decided to stay more in town.

I parked next to the Circle of Art and set up my Soltek right next to the building. Anything to keep out of the wind! I also tried setting up the BestBrella to try to keep the snow off my palette. But it was useless. I just vowed to paint fast as I could.

This view is looking north, down a small alley in Charlevoix. The photographer came and got a charge out of my crazy outfit. I had on my neon-orange polartec pants from LL Bean and my wolf fur trapper hat. And my heavyweight down coat that makes me look like I weigh 400 pounds. Rather eccentric. Oh well. At least I was warm.

"Waves - Norwood Beach 2/19/20" -- plein air field study -- 10x20" -- Margie Guyot

It was a rare sunny day here in NW Michigan and it had me inspired! Not wanting to waste time showering, I pulled on snowpants on over my pajamas, threw on my heavy down coat, loaded my gear into the car and drove to Norwood Beach. The wind was brisk, raising tremendous whitecaps. And the wind had created some deep drifts in the snow since the last time I was there. It was about knee-deep in places as I headed out to my favorite spot.

The ice beyond the big pileup clumps looked treacherous. The crashing waves were causing the ice to undulate. Really cool to watch!

I was glad to have received my box of 10x20" stretched canvases in the mail. Painting in that format is rather new to me -- and I think it's just the thing for this type of landscape.

Wore my balaclava and new hat, which was a great combination. My face didn't feel cold (for once!). The new hat has a wide brim, is very lightweight and has a strong chinstrap. No fun having to chase your hat across the ice!

"Norwood Beach, 4 PM, 2/13/10" -- plein air field study -- oil on canvas -- 9x12" -- Margie Guyot

Doesn't this scene look like something a polar bear would be seen in, roaming around? I loved the way the open water reflected the pale viridian hue of the sky. And the snow was reflecting the pale violet-gray tones of the clouds.

Notice the odd olive-tone of the distant water on the horizon? That's the way it was. Very strange. Usually the water at that distance is a very deep blue-ish/brownish color. Go figure. Hey -- I just paint 'em as I see 'em. That's the Leelanau Peninsula in the distance.

The ice was about 3 feet thick where I was standing (I think, anyway). I wasn't worried about breaking through. Even if I did, I figured the water wouldn't be more than waist-deep at that point. I could hear the ice moaning all around me. Moaning is OK -- cracking sounds isn't!

There was a buildup of ice chunks in front of me that I'd have liked to have set up on, but it was super-slippery. Maybe I should buy a set of those new cleats that you screw into your boot soles. I did order a new pair of Pac boots (said to be good up to minus 100 degrees Farenheit). Maybe I'll put cleats on those.

"Early Afternoon -- Norwood Beach 2/13/10" -- plein air field study -- oil on canvas -- 11x14" -- Margie Guyot

I love coming to this site! It's always looking different, from day to day -- and from second to second! Compared to the weather we'd had earlier in the week, it was practically balmy today here. Still, I was glad I had on my sub-zero boots, snow pants, balaclava, etc. Walking across the ice is rather treacherous. So easy to slip! I wasn't worried about falling through the ice so much. Having grown up in Iowa, I know what ice sounds like when it's about to crack.

The ice was making all kinds of moaning sounds. Quite interesting! I loved the way the wind had blown the snow into patterns, as you can see here in the foreground. The sky was fascinating. Constantly changing. I almost felt like I was trying to chase it with my brush.

Freezing Lake Michigan - February

"Ice Chunks 2/11/10" -- plein air field study -- oil on canvas -- 11x14" -- Margie Guyot

"Ice Flow" -- plein air field study -- oil on canvas -- 9x12" -- Margie Guyot

The weather forecast called for a 60% chance of snow, but my friend Janet and I decided to risk going out to paint anyway. The day before, we'd both bought balaclavas at a ski shop in Traverse City, so we were excited to be able to try them out. And wow -- were they ever worth the bucks! We painted right on the ice at Norwood Beach (south of Charlevoix), with a stiff wind blowing the whole time -- and our faces didn't get chapped!

I probably wouldn't have gone out to paint if it hadn't been for my friend Janet. I'd probably have stayed in the studio, working on a still life.

We discovered this great spot the other day, following the suggestion of our friend, sculptor Todd Warner. We've painted there twice already and the ice changes constantly. What had been open water two days ago was frozen yesterday. In these two little field studies I did yesterday, the small chunks of ice were practically frozen together into a solid sheet by the end of the painting session. The wind was relentless (of course!) and it would have been nice if I could have used my BestBrella. But I was certain the wind would have caught it and sailed it out into the drink for sure. I didn't feel like throwing away $100.

Finally I remembered to bring along a thermos of hot tea to a winter painting session! So in between paintings we had a little "warming break". Little things mean a lot, as they say, and a cup of hot tea out on the ice is fabulous.

The ice made interesting cracking and moaning sounds the whole time. And even though it was quite thick (and safe) where we stood, it was quite slippery, so we had to watch our movements. There were coyote tracks in the snow, running all over the place. I bet it would be quite an interesting place to be, some moonlit night.