The cool summer has been great for painting.

The set up at Sibley has been very convenient.  I can have my easel and table on the new paving stone path.  It is cold when I start and hot when I finish.  The light changes as I switch between three different canvases.  My sessions usually go from 8:30- 12:30.  I treasure each day as the summer slips by.....

Today I finished the middle painting, so I will adjust tomorrow.

Painting in a flurry of brushstrokes.

My paint brush is on speed dial.  I have been trying to paint as fast as I can when the combination of light and flowers is peaking.  Every day things grow and die but the emphasis is on growth.  Each painting gets at least an hour as the light is perfect and then I switch paintings.

The garden is a metaphor for life and like the flowers, it doesn't last long.  I found out my Aunt Lorraine died today.  It seemed like only yesterday she was sending us coconut treats from Florida (we were kids and loved that candy).

The Garden is peaking.

The garden is peaking  and the weather has been fantastic.  Every day things change slightly or in some cases -things change radically(in terms of growth).  Rocks are hidden, new flowers emerge and the challenge is on...     it all ends too soon.

My main worry now is running out of canvas, out of paint and most of all, out of time.

A Perfect Day.

The last two days were finally perfect conditions to paint.  There is an intensity of light and you can almost see the plants growing.  It is 

with a little bit of panic that I try to paint the experience.  I almost hate to quit painting because I know it won't last.  

Nature is impatient.

These days I am painting at two different sites.  One is the garden at Sibley Park and the garden is peaking right now!  The energy, color and sense of growth is visible.  I have a slight panic set in as I try to capture this experience before its gone for another year.

 The other site is Minneopa State Park.  I have been working on waterfalls.  In just a few days, the water has been reduced to a trickle!  Both landscapes are changing daily!  Nature doesn't wait for me to finish paintings.  Now if I could only get a few more sunny mornings.

The changing landscape.

I found out what changes about rocks and water in a landscape painting.   After about 2 weeks of painting at the park, the amount of water that is flowing over the rocks has been cut by at least a third.  

 It does make you think about natural resources.

 I talked to a park guy and he said by August the water is just a trickle.   hmmmm....  The large waterfall of Minneopa is already almost gone.

Fighting the weather.

William Bukowski

Minneopa II (detail)

oil on linen

30" X 40"

The weather has been challenging to deal with this summer.

The days have been cloudy, rainy, windy and sometimes sunny.  I am way behind on Sibley painting because of the clouds.  When you paint from life this is the greatest problem-not being able to control the weather.  It is hard enough not to be able to control when flowers bloom and when plants grow and die.  I need light.  

I have been working in the shade and on cloudy days with the even light.   The complexity of the image makes it hard to develop light patterns.  It can be very hit and miss. 

The Growth of Art-New Gallery in Mankato

There was an opening of a new gallery in Mankato in late June.  It is in a historic building on North Broad Street-the Wesley Building.  The gallery is now called "School of Art".

They put on a show called, The Growth of Art.  I had a painting featured in the show called Full Sun, Full Garden from last summer.  The show was an interesting mix of sculpture and painting from the area.  The show also featured florists who matched real flowers with artwork.  I hope to add more pictures.   Mankato can always use another art gallery, let's hope this one can survive.

The return of Erik.

Every summer for many years, former painting student Erik S. comes back to Mankato to paint.  This year he joined me at Minneopa State Park.

 His sensibility in painting is decidedly American and especially the Luminist style of painting the unspoiled American landscape.  So he liked the place. 

 Two days isn't enough to really take it all in, but it is a great way to spend a couple of days.

Sibley with the new path.

William Bukowski

oil on linen     30" X 40"

Sibley Park(in progress)

The newest Sibley Park painting is a bit of a throwback.  The view is from a safe distance and I am relying on brushstrokes to carry the "green-ness".   The space is layered and so far the paving stones haven't caused too much trouble.  My next painting here will be closer to where I ended last summer.  

It has been cloudy in the morning so I am a little behind.

Back to Sibley Park in the morning.

For the past 5 years, Sibley Park has been part of my summer mornings.  This summer, the park decided to "improve" it with a large donation from a local company.  The improvements included paving stones on the path and a vintage street light.

Hmmmm....  The flowers beds have really improved but so far the other additions are a little distracting.

My first painting of the summer is more of a warm up.  The path, the fountain, the background trees and the new street light........I am going for lyrical....

The State Park- a popular place.

William Bukowski               Minneopa I                   oil on linen   (in progress)

I have really enjoyed painting at Minneopa State Park.  One of the aspects of painting at a State Park that I didn't anticipate was the amount of people that come by to see what is going on.

I think some people expect me to try to sell them something and some people expect me to give them an art lecture.  Who knows what they really expect.  Some sneak a picture and don't say anything.

Nearly finished with the first of the Minneopa work.

There were quite a few people at the state park on Independence day this year.  I drew quite a crowd at times.  The sun wasn't shining as brightly as I would have liked, but there was no wind and it was relatively bright.  I am looking forward to the next painting and picking away to finish this one.

Destination: Minneopa State Park

William Bukowski

Minneopa I

oil on linen- in progress

The painting has been going well, the paint flies off the brush and lands in just the right places.  I can see 3 or 4 more paintings from where I am standing and can imagine working larger.  Painting from life in such a place is really a joy and a privilege.

Reality and Illusion

This is a picture of day 3 at Minneopa State Park. The image blends into the landscape.  My painting is done in a diagonal fashion without thinking about it to much.  There are three secrets to this kind of painting.  1. you have to find the rhythm of the image and 2. you have to find the mark you want to make.  3.  you have to study the light and pick the combination of effects that work. 

 It is compressing the 2-3 hour experience into one image.  It implies light and movement and wind but that is the illusion.  

The most fun part of this painting is painting the waterfall.  It seems like a cliche, but it is hypnotic when stare at moving water.