September 1, 2008

A Grand Time in Grand Marais


I have returned. I spent 9 days in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota in the little coastal town of Grand Marais. I participated in a plein air competition held at the Grand Marais Art Colony. It was exactly what I needed - a perfect vacation by the lake, cool weather and a full week of painting.
This was painted out on the rocks of Artists Point that create the harbor in town. Lots of visitors walk along the rocks exploring and watching the waves. One thing about painting in such a public area is that you get to meet some really lovely people. On this particular day a charming older man walked up to take a peek and told me I inspired him to pull out his paints when he gets back home. He had a British accent, said he was from Ottawa and was visiting his grandson while here. We talked of painting, photography, his two favorite paintings which he described with such passion and detail, his career as a cartographer - hand drawing maps, the colors in the pine trees at dusk and how he found romance late in life as he and his lady friend sat and watched the sky turn all the colors Tom Thompson used to paint in his landscapes of Canada. He said she was a strong woman, she could help him carry an 85 lb canoe and he figures they have one more canoe trip in them before they say enough. When his son and grandson came back, he tipped his hat to me and said goodbye. I feel priviledged to have met him, I think I could have talked to him all day. He certainly made my day memorable and stole a little bit of my heart, I think.

On the Rocks
8x10 Oil on Raymar Canvas panel
$320 plus $15 S/H

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Thanks for your visit!
©Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

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