Let 'er fly!

I've been working with Huron Pines quite a bit this past year and I've gotten into some really interesting areas. The next event I'm doing with them is the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo. This year it's in Warren, Michigan at the Macomb Community College Sports and Expo Center on March 9th and 10th. 

I'll be sending several different prints along with Huron Pines as they travel down to the expo and in the end I'll split the profit with them 50/50. So be sure to stop by and buy a few for the fisherman in your life!

I really enjoy working with Huron Pines and preserving Northern Michigan for future generations. The land and all its trees, fields, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds are important to me. They show up often in my work and I am inspired daily by them. The chance to get outside, soak up some sun and hike a dune is perfection in summer. The same is true in winter of snowshoeing through snow laden pine trees. The sun breaks through their branches and your breath hangs in the air before you. I can't imagine not having that. So, in short, I feel the need to help preserve it for others. 

To find out more about the Fly Fishing Expo, click here. 

To find out more about Huron Pines and how to get involved, click here. 

Thanks! 

Something New

The other day I received an unexpected phone call from my Uncle. (He doesn't talk on the phone much.) I was thrilled, hearing from him and he asked if I would make the table cards for his wedding reception. Of course! So this is my "quick sketch" of what I came up with for them. Their colors are plum and hunters green and the theme of their wedding is love birds. I tried to incorporate all of that without muddling the space, because of course you'd like to see which table you're at. 

I do commission work like this if you're looking for something special to spruce up your event. Just contact me by email at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com or you can call me at (248) 977-0732. 

Painting Berries

Yesterday I attended a watercolor class put on by my artist friend Mary Lou Peters. She was a gracious host and held the class in her own home (on Lake Michigan!). We all had a great time, the conversation was superb and I learned  a different way of doing things when it comes to watercolor painting. 

Mary Lou uses watercolors to interpret the northern Michigan landscape and all sorts of other subjects. Her work is for sale on Mackinac Island, and several other locations. She has also put out a few books. To visit Mary Lou's site click here. 

Also, don't forget to bid in the February Art Auction for Manna Food Project! 100% of the proceeds go to help feed hungry families here in Northern Michigan! 

To bid, click here. 

Huron Pines Annual Meeting

This weekend I had the great honor of being the guest artist at Huron Pines annual meeting. 

Celebrating their 40th year, Huron Pines works to conserve our natural resources here in Northern Michigan. It's truly been a great experience working with them. They're a great group of people working for a wonderful future and I hope we can continue to work together in the future. 

If you'd like to purchase one of my paintings and you mention Huron Pines I'll donate half of the profits to their cause. 

To learn more about Huron Pines and what they do, or to get involved, click here. 

February Manna Food Project Auction

I want to thank everyone again for bidding in last month's Manna Food Project art auction. The money raised was donated to help feed hungry families in Northern Michigan. 

Above is the work of art I'll be auctioning off in February for Manna. The painting is 5"x7" and is pen and watercolor on paper. 

To bid in this auction please click on the following link: 

February Manna Art Auction

Thank you! 

Winter Pilgrimage

This painting is the product of me digging through old photographs.

 Near where I grew up, The University Of Michigan owns several hundred acres that they turned into a biological station. In the spring, summer and fall months the place has bio students walking around, studying the native plants, trees and whatever else it is they study. In the winter however, the little village is a ghost town and therefore the perfect place to do a little snowshoeing or cross country skiing. Last winter, however, there was hardly any snow and so the day after Christmas we simply went for a walk. It was a bright sunny day and I loved how the shadows fell across the path. 

This painting is 7"x5" and the bidding starts at $35. To buy this painting bid in the Daily Paintworks auction by clicking here.  Alternatively, you can call me at: (248) 977-0732 or email at sarahtuleart@yahoo.com. 

"My Secrets"

I'm often asked at art shows what materials I use during my painting process. I thought perhaps it might be interesting to some if I shared "my secrets." 

Above is a picture of my pallet (which needs to be cleaned) that I bought from Cheap Joe's Art Stuff. It has a removable mixing trays and is is also very easy to transport. Cheap Joe's is a fantastic art supplier and I've been buying from them for the past three years. 

Also pictured are my three favorite brushes, a #8 round brush by Loew-Cornell, a #4 flatbrush from Wal-Mart, and a 3/4" flatbrush by Royal & Langnickel. I also use a small tipped Faber-Castell waterproof pen and your average pencil and Pink Pearl eraser. 

As for paints, I am loyal to no company but do favor Grumbacher, Venezia, and Windsor&Newton. I like nice bright pigments that spread easily without separating. 

The pickiest I get with my materials is the paper that I use. I buy 15"x22" 300lb cold pressed paper blocks by Kilimanjaro and cut the paper down to the size I need. This has become my FAVORITE paper and will probably be the only one I buy from now on. I buy it through Cheap Joe's. 

My paintings are often a mix of images I have taken and my imagination. When I go out for a walk or a road trip or a vacation I take a MILLION photos. I edit/delete some of them when I get home and sort them into folders on my computer desktop. The folders are labeled with titles of show and series ideas I've had. Then all I have to do is decide what I feel like painting that day and sit down to do it! 

Speaking of sitting down, most people are surprised at my actual work space. That's right folks, I paint at the dining room table! I yearn for my own studio space be it a spare room or a gallery space downtown but how else am I going to get there if I don't keep working towards it? Someday! 

If anyone has any other questions please leave a comment below and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. 

Thanks for your interest in my art! Its the motivation that keeps me going!