All Things Fine Art

Working with other artists has always been a joy in my life. There is a special language and connection between folks who are creative and express their love through art. As an instructor, I've been blessed to open doors and help these wonderful people reach for their personal stars. It's been rewarding.  

Photo by Lori Axtell, photographer, Mackinac City, MI, 8/2013

 Painting at a students cottage on the beach overlooking

the Straits of Mackinac during a recent workshop.

Another important aspect of my artistic life has been working and teaching en plein air. I've been strongly committed to this venue for learning. Over the more than 30 years of my teaching career I have introduced many many hundreds of artists to its rewards through my workshops. It's been a wonderfully rich journey and I'm grateful to have had this opportunity. This summer artists in Williamston, Okemos, Marquette and Mackinaw City joined me working outdoors (see previous blog posts). 

Unfortunately, the wear and tear of life is making it somewhat difficult for me to teach and paint in this manner, at least in the way I have in the past. My frequent foray's into the countryside with a class full of eager students is becoming less often and more difficult as is my working outside solo.  For this reason, I've been leaning more and more towards working in the studio and teaching studio classes instead of plein air. That's not to say, of course, I miss the out-of-doors experience but feel that my subject offerings have broadened in the classroom and I bring the plein air knowledge I've gained over the years with me which benefits my students.  The switch from teaching atmospheric subjects under the sky to the wider breadth of media technique, color, composition and most specifically, expression in the classroom is exciting and opens new doors for me and my students.

I'm looking forward to a new "school year" in East Lansing and Williamston this fall as well as some thought provoking and exciting workshops that are in the design stage for next spring and summer.  See you then?