In times of feasting....

Ok so....I lied. ONE more painting before Christmas because I've been quite busy painting and I feel the need to update! This painting is called "The Watermelon Feast" and is for my show this summer called "A Taste Of Summer." Still working on the dates for it but I should know after the New Year. 

I'd like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and best wishes in 2012! Take care and drive safe everyone!

Beach Trip

To cheer us up in a time of snow and ice (though it hasn't been here long) I painted a picture for a show I have next summer. This show is called "The Taste Of Summer," and will be held in the Houghton Lake area. More details as I figure them out! 

I probably won't be on again until after Christmas with all the traveling and everything else. Hope everyone has a very merry holiday! 

Exploring The Vineyard

A captured moment of a group of friends meandering through a vineyard. Each has a sample of wine in their hand which they swirl as they make lively conversation. Vineyards in autumn are lovely aren't they?
This painting will be included with my "Lovely Leelanau" series to be show at the Traverse City Opera House in March.

Pour Me Another Glass!

On our honeymoon in Leelanau my husband and I visited a winery called 45. The staff was awesome, the building very unique and the wine was scrumptious! We visited with them for a while while test tasting and learned many new things about wine and the process of making it. Then we wandered the grounds and took in the beautiful views. So in tribute I'll be doing some paintings of 45. In this picture is one of my favorites of theirs. I highly recommend stopping by if you're ever up by Leland. They won't disappoint you!
This painting will be feature in my show "Lovely Leelanau" at the Traverse City Opera House this March. Everyone is welcome but if you'd like a personal invite email me your info!

Apple Harvest

        I found this orchard in Leelanau this fall and felt the need to capture it as a painting. This painting is going to end up doing double duty if it doesn't sell at the first show.Therefore, it will be in my March show in Traverse City called "Lovely Leelanau," and if it doesn't sell it will also be included in Simple Roots. I like how this painting turned out. I think the colors in it are quite good.

Waiting To Be Milked

My newest painting for my Simple Roots series. I finished it late last night and immediately went on to another painting. Guess I was on a roll.
Also, in other news.....IT SNOWED! Now it is finally starting to feel like Christmas!

Morning Shadows

I painted this barn yesterday to take a break from the preparation of next years shows. They all have to do with water in some form and I wanted to paint with green! This barn is located in Grand Traverse County and I happened to catch it with the fantastic shadows as I was driving one morning. I recently realized it is also the barn featured in a pamphlet about the area. Who knew? This painting will be included with my show "Simple Roots" this next year.

Lovely Leland

Another painting for my Lovely Leelanau show in March. A different view of "Fishtown." I think I like this one better than the other. I think the angle lends something to it. Come see my show in Travserse City at the Opera House in March! Opening reception is the 8th, come chat!

Everyone Loves Getting Mail

Hopefully everyone had a good Thanksgiving! I really enjoyed being able to celebrate with family and friends this week. It was very refreshing. 

I received my first Christmas card today! I love getting mail! It's so rare anymore it seems, unless its a bill and who wants to hear that they owe more money? Not me! 

So hopefully this week I'll get out some Christmas cards of my own. My grandparents quite like getting one of my designs in the mail. If you'd like to send out a unique card for sale this year I still have a few packs for sale. They're $10 and come in packs of 5 with envelopes. Just email me at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com and let me know which design you'd like! 

Fishtown Dockside

I have a show coming up in March 2012 in the Traverse City Opera House. My work will be featured for the month and I've started churning out the paintings that will be hung in the lobby space. I'm calling this show "Lovely Leelanau" and it will showcase several well know aspects of the area. This particular painting above is of the end of the docks in "Fishtown." When I visited the area earlier this year I fell in love with it and came up with my series which will include 20 paintings. Mark your calendars and I'll see you in Traverse in March!

Voila!

Ta da! Finished painting! I certainly hope he likes it. Towards the end I figured out what I didn't like in some areas and touched it up a bit.
I'm still taking commissions for Christmas presents if anyone is interested. I've been making quick work of many of them which I hadn't expected. So if you''d like to give a painting to a loved one this holiday season you can email me at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com

Half Way

So I've been working steadily on commission projects and here's one of them halfway completed. Not sure if I like the color of the water or not....so that may be changing. I'd like to thank everyone again for the commission work I've received. I appreciate the wonderful comments!

Beginnings

I've been quite busy with commission work lately. I'm so glad people like what I paint! Thank you everyone! This piece is for a current client. I just finished penning in the outlines this evening and plan to start adding the "life" of the painting tomorrow. This is how all my paintings begin and I sometimes find it baffling how much they can change once I add some color and shadows. 

Working Farm

This barn caught my attention on my recent visit to my grandparents house. It's located outside of Battle Creek and has aged well. Acres of field surround this barn and all manner of equipment was piled up to the left among the trees. I chose to leave those old skeletons out and bring in the contrast of the blue tractor peeking around the silo. This painting will be shown with my Simple Roots series but is also available for sale. Contact me at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com to talk about purchasing it.

Julienne Tomatoes

So I finished my painting of Julienne Tomatoes. I think it turned out pretty good, however I believe some more paintings of buildings for practice might be in my future. The top painting is the finished piece, the one below it the beginning stages. I hope the tomatoes like it!

Glen Arbor, Good Eats

After my husband and I got married we escaped to Leland for a few days. While we were perusing around, we came across this neat little cafe in Glen Arbor.  I loved the color of the building which I believe is the reason we picked to eat here. Simple minded maybe but my husband loves my reasoning :). They had good food and good service. When I go back up north I will definitely look into eating here again. This painting will be included in my series "Lets Do Lunch." I believe this is my longest running series as I only add to it when I find an interesting place that truly captures my attention. 

Autumn Flock

Last weekend my husband (that still sounds weird) and I went to visit my grandparents. They live in the middle of farm country and it's always very peaceful going to stay for a few days. I just couldn't resist going for a drive and seeing some of the surrounding area. That's when we came across this flock of curious sheep. I stopped the car at the side of the road and got out to take a few pictures. Every single one of them turned to look at me. So I had to wait until they lost interest to take pictures of a more "normal" setting. This painting will be shown with my Simple Roots show next spring. However, it's also for sale and if you'd like to purchase it you can contact me at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com.

Coming soon to a sky near you...

So I woke up this morning and went out to my car......to find it had SNOWED last night. Now, being a Northern Michigan native I understand that Oct-June is fair play for winter. However, I'm just not comfortable with the idea of snow yet. It's too soon! Of course it always seems to be. Even if it holds off until January. So now I guess I get to look forward to fun activities like this one in the picture. I painted this scene last winter when all I saw out my little window was SNOW. Nice fluffy white stuff. I think I'll go make another cup of hot coco now....

I'll Come By River I Suppose

I went out for a drive today and passed a place on the river that rents kayaks and canoes by the hour. Since it's the end of the season they were renting out crafts at half price. I thought to myself: "If it was warmer than 39 degrees out I might take them up on that." Sadly, I think kayaking is over for the year, at least until I get out my winter clothing. Gloves would be lovely for cold morning kayak trips.

Send Some Christmas Cheer

One of the things I most look forward to as the holidays draw nearer is the cards and letters I receive. I display them around my Christmas tree so that I can sit back, enjoy a cup of coco and remember how much I am loved even if the life of an artist is fairly solitary in the winter.
I'm certain that other folks feel this way and Christmas is a wonderful time to remind them that you love them. So, for the last two years I have made my own Christmas Cards to send out. The designs in the picture were the favorites and so I have them in packs for sale. They come in packs of 5 with envelopes and are $10 a pack. If you're interested in purchasing some you can email me at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com and let me know which design you'd like. Alternatively, there is also a few packs for sale at the Hanni Gallery in Harbor Springs. Now is a great time to get them! 

Julienne Tomatoes

I have been married for almost a month now and I'm almost done with my thank yous! This painting (which is not yet finished) Is accompanying a thank you note as a gift to our wedding caterer. This little deli located in Petoskey MI is FANTASTIC. The name of the establishment is Julienne Tomatoes and you can fine out more about them by clicking here. Not only did they serve great tasting food, they also set up our cupcake table, helped us switch the courtyard over from ceremony to reception, helped us clean up and boogied (albeit behind the scenes) to many a song. I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone visiting the area and if you stop in for lunch I recommend trying the "Gotta Try It" sandwich!
This painting will be included in my "Lets Do Lunch" series which, at this point, doesn't really have a finishing date. I paint interesting restaurants when I see them or have a meal at them. I believe I only have 5 paintings completed for this series and I need several more before I can do much with it. If you have suggestions I'd be happy to hear them!

Published Locally

Yesterday I was excited to see that the Northern Express out of Traverse City, MI had published an article on me and my work. You can click on the link above to read all about it yourself. Thank you!!!

To Catch A Fly

This past August my now husband and I visited Elk Rapids, Mi. As we crossed a bridge I spotted this man fly fishing near the river. When I painted the scene I decided to change the background a bit. I think it's more peaceful and tranquil than a downtown scene. Perhaps I'll paint him again in the future from a different angle and see if I change my mind about having the city in the background. This painting is available for purchase in my Purchase Gallery tab at the top of the screen. You can also purchase it by contacting me at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com!

Perched

My father took me out on his boat as a farewell to summer a few weeks ago. We slowly trolled the river and when it met up with the lake we made a circle and headed back. As we came back to the river-mouth I saw this little guy perched upon the river marker. I thought "that would be a neat scene to paint" so I snapped some photos of him as we floated by. This painting is for sale, please check it out in my Purchase Gallery tab at the top of the screen or contact me at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com!

Ahh....Sweet Peppers

This little painting is currently hanging above my work station in my studio. It's a part of my Simple Roots series.

Ready To Go

I drove past this barn a few weeks ago and really honed in on this tiny section of the farm. I liked the meeting of the new and old sections of barn, the piles of dirt out front and the contrast of the green tractor. I really like the rusted doors. Not sure why that's my favorite part but it is! This painting is included in my book "Simple Roots" now available on blurb.com!

Bales

This painting called "Baling Season" is featured in my new book Simple Roots. The actual barn is located between Cadillac and Houghton Lake MI. I was out for an afternoon drive looking for painting material when I spotted it and HAD to paint it. It's also up for sale on Fine Art America under my name or you could purchase it by emailing me at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com. More information on this painting can be found under my Purchase Gallery Tab at the top of the screen. 

Simple Roots; Artwork From The Farm

I recently put together a new book. This one is called "Simple Roots" and is a collection of paintings of rural life. It's now available to buy on Blurb.com  and there will also be signed copies for sale at my next few shows. I think it's a great idea for a holiday gift.

Mailing Out Some Christmas Cheer

Its about that time of year again! Well...maybe it's a little early but the orders have started coming in! I have my Christmas Cards for sale again. This year in six designs. They come in packs of five, with envelopes, for $10 a pack. If interested in ordering please contact me at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com.
Also, if you'd like a commission done in time for Christmas please submit the order now. I'll accept as many as I can.
Please note also that I now have a page where my unsold work is up for sale. To purchase, send me an email at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com about the piece you'd like.

Seattle

Well I had a wonderful weekend. I got married AND I got to go on a honeymoon...of sorts. It was fun and the weather was beautiful! Got back to work this week when I got back home and am trying like mad to get this commission done on time. I think it's turning out well. However, I have decided I HAVE to take a trip to the coast and go on a whale watching tour. Then, perhaps, I would be able to draw them better. Google Images just doesn't cut it sometimes for reference pics. Also....I've always wanted to visit Oregon. What a good excuse to go see it!

A Far Away Place

This is a current commission piece I am working on. Its a conglomerate of the views and things to see off the coast of Washington. I hope to have it finished this next week when I finally get some time to breathe. 

Glowing Embers

This is my newest painting for my series "Simple Roots." My mother and father have a sizable garden and this was most of this years tomato crop. They make all kinds of things such as spaghetti sauce from the tomatoes and it always kept us fed all winter long when I was a child. (It still does, I just don't live there anymore.)
This painting will be included in my new book "Simple Roots" available from blurb.com this November. It will also be included in my show which I hope to have next spring....if it doesn't sell first :)

Pet Commission

Ta Da! Fluffy Kitty commission complete! I think it turned out well, personally. The owners of the painting seem to be excited. So I'm glad :).
Now...to start on the next one. I wish I had more studio space so I could have multiple big paintings going at once. Something to look forward to I guess. Also, I'll have more time to paint after the wedding next weekend. SOOOOO EXCITED!

Fluffy Cats

I've been doing commissions lately. LOTS of them. I'm happy to have the work, but goodness! There's still quite a few waiting to be painted. This is one I"m currently working on for a family in Ohio. Photoshop quit working mysteriously on my computer so it is unedited.

Have A Little Faith

Another of the Christmas cards that I've been getting ready for this year. I think the more of them I've been working on the more I change the rank of "favorite". This is the newest edition and therefore, currently my favorite. Its a different take than something you'd find in Hallmark. I guess I'll just keep going and see what else is churning around, hidden inside my brain.

A Little Bit Of Christmas

This is one of the Christmas cards I've been working on for this year. I call it "Ornamentation." Everyone has a story of some cat somewhere climbing the Christmas tree. This one happens to be my kitten Clio. She's quite the ball of energy with a never ending curiosity. I can't help but think that this year she'll make her own trek to the top of the tree. This is simply in anticipation of it. :)

Crazy Busy Life

Sorry I haven't been posting. My life has been in all different directions lately. I HAVE been painting though! I had a show in Traverse City last night that I felt went quite well. Met lots of interesting people.
I've been working on commission work which always seems to come in clusters. Never just a steady stream, more like absolutely nothing then BAM! tons of work.
I've also been working on Christmas cards which I plan to start selling in October.
And I'm getting married next month. Many things to do.
So thats my life right now....happy but hectic. I hope to get back to my art more seriously very soon.

The Harvesters

This is one of those special moments in life where everything you see here in this painting came from my memory/imagination. No photo references, no plein air painting. However, the later would have been a ton of fun.
This painting will be for sale at the Traverse City Opera House this September. Remember to mark your calendars for Friday Sept 9th from 6-8pm for the Artists Reception! See you there!

Just Like Coming Home

This barn was painted using pictures a friend from the Sault sent me. I hope she enjoys the painting as I absolutely LOVED the material she sent me to use for this. It was a different barn scene which was nice.
This painting will be shown at my show in Traverse City this September and will also be included in my book "Simple Roots" available from blurb.com this November!

A Work In Progress

For the past few days I've had a little song stuck in my head. "Let's go fly a kite! Up to the highest height! Up to the atmosphere! Up where the air is clear!" I believe it's a song on Mary Poppins and I really have no idea why it suddenly came to me. At any rate, this painting is the result of that. It only took me the better part of the morning to do and I really like it. I haven't taken a picture of a work in progress for a while so I figured it was time for another. The painting will be for sale at The City Opera House in Traverse City in September. Come meet the artists at the reception on Friday September 9th from 6-8pm!

Finishing Up

I was on my way from Houghton Lake to Cadillac when I came across this scene. If the main road hadn't been closed, I never would of had to find my own way and therefore, never discovered the beautiful farming land in that area of the state. I wound for about two hours on backroads, trying to find my way on what should have been a 45 minute trip. Oh well, much good came out of it. This painting will be included in my Simple Roots series. It will also be shown at a show in September at the Traverse City Opera House. Come meet the artists on September 9th from 6-8pm! 

Country Comfort

I pass this barn every time I drive up to my parents. It's set back just off of Old 27 around Gaylord. It has intrigued me for months and I finally stopped to make a sketch and snap some pictures. The grounds are a bit run down and overgrown but the barn is still in pretty good repair. I believe it's even still in use though perhaps for nothing more than housing farm equipment. There was no livestock to speak of but there was acres and acres of golden hay fields past the fallen down fence waaaay off to the left. I plan on doing another painting from a different angle with those included. It was all very pretty and the colors were striking and quite bright to be found in nature. All around the barn was shrubs and weeds and it just had a very comfortable feeling. It will be included in my series Simple Roots. 

Kayaking with Grandpa

I was inspired to do this painting from a recent trip to Harbor Springs. I was walking down the street and passed in front of a grandfather and his grandson on their way to do some kayaking. I thought it looked like fun.
When I uploaded the photo I lost a lot of the coloring in the sand, lake and sky. I think I need to take a better picture!

Paddling A Mile A Minute

This year, for the forth year now, Indian River held a biathlon. My fiances family competed in it and I took pictures again. What can I say? Its more fun to watch! The energy these people have is amazing! The first man crossed the finish line in slightly over an hour!
So this painting is bound for a show at The City Opera House in Traverse City MI this September. I've been invited back for a group show and am quite excited about it. You should stop by and meet the artists! The show is up all month but the Meet The Artist Reception is Friday, September 9th from 6-8pm.  The Opera House is located on Front Street in downtown Traverse. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Bright Sunny Colors

This particular barn is located in Sault Ste. Marie MI. I noticed it several times while living there but it wasn't until a friend of mine sent me a picture of it did I really feel the need to paint it.
Now, I believe I may have gone overboard with the colors but it certainly does make the picture quite bright. I tried to go for a sunset feel but failed to pick a direction of light. There's shadows going every which way. Despite this, I love this painting. I still think it will be included in my barn series book.

Expansion

I put in work today at a wonderful little gallery in St. Ignace. It's called the Voyageur Trading Post and is run by two wonderful people. Many talented artists are showcased here. Stop by and browse as you enter the U.P.!

A painting of the St. Ignace Lighthouse. To buy please contact or visit The Voyageur Trading Post!

A Little Jam On Your Toast?

I recently went on a camping trip to the Keweenaw Peninsula with my fiance. We traveled all the way to the tip and stayed in Copper Harbor for a few nights exploring the lake shore, coves and the little oddities the town had to offer.
This little shop is called the "Jampot" and is located in Eagle Harbor. It's run by an order of monks and they make fantastic jam! The painting is to be included in my new series "Let's Do Lunch."

Mighty Mac

Another painting as a result of a trip to Mackinaw. This is the famed bridge that everyone comes to see. Opened to traffic in 1957, its the third longest suspension bridge in the world. And I grew up a half hour from it!
My parents and sister run the bridge annually in the fall race and as I'm not as fit as they are I walk it.
The last time I painted a picture of the bridge was 6 years ago and I figured it was time for an update.

Always Home

I recently released a book focused on Northern Michigan. It's titled Always Home and is available through blurb.com. In it you'll find my watercolor renderings of my favorite spots in Northern Michigan. It'll also be for sale and preview at my next show which takes place in Mackinaw this Labor Day Weekend.