"Banks Twp Park - Ice Chunks"

"Banks Twp. Park - Ice Chunks" -- plein air field study -- oil on canvas 8x16" -- Margie Guyot

It was another glorious, sunny day here, so I decided to venture up to Banks Township Park.  Pulled on my long underwear and ultra-heavyweight down coat.  And this time I wore hiking boots with ice grippers.  Unlike Barnes Park (see previous post), Banks Park lacks a steep hill, allowing the icy winds to sail right along. 

See that distant little point sticking out?  That's where I hiked to paint.  There's a rocky point that juts out and after my experience of falling into a crevass, I wanted to play it safe and stick to the rocks.  And I was so glad I'd bundled up.  The wind was brutally cold out there.

Things always are exciting out on that point.  I set my gear down and walked all around, looking for the most amazing spot.  What I loved was the little area of ice chunks that had floated into a cove.  Everything was freezing shut again.  The colors were subtle, but I was fascinated by this view.  Again, I'm looking south, towards Elk Rapids and Traverse City. 

One of the advantages to using a Soltek easel is the sides flip up, allowing the palette surface to be shaded.  Trying to mix colors on a palette that's in bright sunlight is pretty difficult.
After finishing this one I hiked around a little, but when my boot fell into another small crevass, I decided to quit when I was ahead!

"9 Mile Point - 3/06/10" -- plein air field study -- oil on stretched canvas -- 10x20" -- Margie Guyot

Spring is coming. The ice out on Lake Michigan is starting to break up and pile along the shoreline. This spot is south of Bay Harbor, between Charlevoix and Petoskey. There's a pull-off area along US 31 for parking. I was thankf...ul for my snow boots and heavy down jacket. Although it was about 40 degrees, the wind howling off the lake made it feel a lot cooler. I was struck by the patterns of jagged ice that ran diagonally along the shore. As I painted, big chunks of "icebergs" floated in. It was getting to be late afternoon and I just loved the blue shadows. Painting snow colors is quite interesting. If you've never had to paint them, snow colors are surprising. Snow isn't white, but ranges from lilacs to blues to yellowish-grays. Mesmerizing.

"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.

"Banks Twp. Park 2/21/10" -- plein air field study -- oil on stretched canvas -- 10x20" -- Margie Guyot

A beautiful sunny day here and the temperature rose above freezing. Still, I was glad I had my heavy down coat, balaclava, hat and gloves! That wind coming off the lake was still pretty chilly. I parked in the lot at Barnes Township Park and pitched my easel on the little hill overlooking Lake Michigan. A low cloudbank was in the west, but otherwise it was blue skies. The ice was breaking up and I loved this view. Snow has melted enough to catch glimpses of the boulders along the sandy shoreline (in the foreground). In the distance you can see the Leelanau Peninsula.

"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.

"Barnes Park - 2/08/10" -- plein air field study -- 11x14" on canvas board -- Margie Guyot

It was one of those rare sunny days here in NW Michigan, so I wanted to go down to the little park south of my house and paint the ice pileup on Lake Michigan. I was dressed warmly -- it was only about 20 degrees -- but my poor face got SO chapped! The wind was whipping off the lake, making it fairly miserable to work. But I loved this scene!

Having grown up in Iowa, I never saw scenes like this. Lake Michigan is only 1/2 mile from my house and I never tire of looking at it, in all seasons.

Notice the icebergs in the distance?