Evening at Central Beach

Was back up at the Dunes recently...camped in the Dunewood campground at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. I love that area and just being on the lake. Lake Michigan is pretty magnificent. I could stay at the beach all day, just painting, reading, daydreaming, snoozing, studying the clouds.

The campground is nice as well. As much as I like camping I had not stayed in that particular campground when I have been up at the Dunes....it is a really beautiful....plenty of sites(both drive-in and walk-in), clean bathrooms, private spaces,etc...Because of all the damp weather in June, the mosquitos were pretty bad but we survived!

When I was here in 2004 it was as an artist-in-residence through the National Parks residency program. It was a great experience. They put me up in a house right on Lake Michigan...at the end of a road up on a dune...2 decks, sliding glass doors on 2 sides of the house. It was a short walk to Central Beach. Unfortunately, that house is not used any longer. They still have the residency program but they put artists in a house elsewhere in the park. I think it is worth pursuing for any of you who might be entertaining the idea of applying (artists,musicians,writers...) It is a great opportunity...sales, networking, quiet respite for creating.....I have been back a couple of times since then and look forward to returning.

Anyway, this is a 5" x 7" study in oil. It is available for purchase, I do have a Paypal account if that is convenient for you...if you are interested please email me at rtist6162@aol.com. Feel free to contact me as well if you have any questions about the artist-in-residence program. I hava also done a residency at Hot Springs National Park...another great park.

"For money you can have everyhing it is said. No, that is not true. You can buy food, but not apptetite; medicine, but not health; soft beds, but not sleep; knowledge, but not intelligence; glitter, but not comfort; fun, but not pleasure; acquaintances, but not friendship; servants, but not faithfulness; grey hair, but not honor; quiet days, but not peace; The shell of all things you can get for money. But not the kernel. That cannot be had for money". Ame Garborg, writer

Thanks for stopping by, Helen

This is a 16" x 20" oil on canvas painting. I began it as a plein air painting when I was an artist-in-residence at Indian Dunes National Lakeshore, but for some reason I left it unfinished and just went back to it recently. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. Quite often, as in life in general, it is a good idea to walk away from some things and return later to get a fresh perspective on whatever it is at hand. In this case it was a painting that I wasn't getting resolved for some reason until recently. I think that time probably gave me more clarity as to what I was wanting to accomplish and I guess I wasn't as concerned about whether I had a finished product - I just wanted to experiment a bit. This is much more impressionistic than is typical for me. It was fun to create. I think the colors of early evening are so beautiful - they really make the sand, dunes, sky, and water really come to life. I think you get a real sense of the richness of the light in this scene. The National Lakeshore really is this colorful and beautiful.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is a great destination whether for a few days or an extended stay. Its proximity to Chicago gives one many opportunities for a variety of activities. The site is quite a treasure in general and certainly for us here in the midwest. One can enjoy activities on Lake Michigan, get a workout climbing the dunes, explore the bogs and fins, camp,hike, enjoy the varied wildlife and then head off to the city for additonal activities.

I do plan on posting this painting on e-bay if anyone is interested. You can search under the title "Evening Glow on the Dunes".

"Joy is not a matter of what's happening around you, but inside you". Steve Miller

Thanks,

Helen