You know, I'm not really a boat person... I don't know much about them and was never really exposed to them as a child...but here in Red Wing, MN, in the quiet of the early morning, I felt a longing for what every other boat owner seems to already know. 

The secret peacefulness of the morning, especially here at this marina was so tranquil and special, it seemed almost holy, even.  I was starting to understand what was perhaps so alluring about fishing, besides the fish!  As I painted the serenity of this scene, I was totally alone, surrounded by quiet, except for the gentle sounds of nature, a frog croaking, a wave gently lapping on to shore, and the birds happily serenading me...that must be what all those fisherman really love!...could it be?

And so, once again I reveled in the joy I felt to be an artist, a plein air painter, to be exact.  How beautiful to stand at my easel at a time when I would usually be in bed(!) and have the opportunity to capture the quiet of this morning.

This particular day, my painting friend Sue and I were wandering through a horse pasture someplace in rural Zumbrota, MN, looking for the perfect scene to paint.  Of course we had permission to be wandering here, and we felt as if we had stepped into not only another world (being city girls and all!) but also another era...this landscape was so pristine and untouched by development I was completely expecting Laura Ingalls Wilder to walk around the corner!  This day was a breath of new life for my soul...to be so far removed from my usual life and having the privilege of attempting to capture on canvas this space and all I felt about it.
And so that experience was part of the plein air event in Zumbrota, celebrating the 100th anniversary of it's covered bridge, concluding with a "quick paint" of the bridge itself. 
Later on, in July, I ventured over to Red Wing, MN, to partake in a week of plein air painting in that quaint town bursting with charm, never-ending flower pots , historic buildings, beautiful marina scenes, and flowing rural landscapes.  Although the temps were precariously close to 100, it was an awesome week!  Those paintings still remain in the Depot Gallery downtown.
The next week, I ventured back to Door County, WI, where I am represented by Fine Line Designs Gallery, to join in the plein air "quick paint' sponsored by the Peninsula School of Art.  What a cool art school!!  It was a lovely opportunity I hope to partake in again!  I don't have images of these events to post here because the paintings sold at the events, but that's a good thing!