"Faded Glory -- F150" -- plein air field study -- 11x14" oil -- Margie Guyot

While visiting Cal, an artist friend of mine on Route 31, just south of Charlevoix, I spied this view. I don't know whose old Ford 150 it was, but it didn't look like it was going anywhere soon. In back there is an old granary building. My buddies Cal and Mike were painting peony bushes and maple trees, but this faded-out, old red truck was crying out to me to be painted.

I painted this whole thing with a #8 flat brush. Where was my doggone small brush? That's the good thing about my Ultrex "Ultra" flat brushes: they hold their shape and don't mush out. So I was able to hold the brush on its side to get a narrow edge. The bad thing is that they're not made anymore. Boo-hoo!

That hot, dark green shadow in front of the truck is a mixture of cadmium yellow light and ivory black. It makes a very deep, intense green. Some artists are afraid to use black, but I always have it handy on my palette. As long as you don't use it straight, you're generally safe. It can be wonderful, mixed with things.

The thunderheads were growing huge. I longed to do a 2nd painting of the clouds. Oh, for a second set of arms & another easel! But the temperature kept dropping, the wind was getting stronger and I had no jacket. That's what I get for cleaning out my Explorer! It was back at the studio (along with my little detail brush). Getting too old to do too much suffering for my art (ha ha).

"View of Grand Traverse Bay" -- oil on masonite panel -- plein air study 11x14" -- Margie Guyot

I'd been very busy for the past few weeks, working on my garden and yard. So this is my first painting venture out into the landscape since the weather turned nice. My good friend Jerry and I went to a Nature Conservancy area that's in between Traverse City and Charlevoix, MI. It was a long walk through the deep woods to get out to the beach. As soon as I saw the bright sky and glistening waves, I knew what I wanted to paint. I loved the way the waves crashed into the shore. Loved that long, swooping, diagonal line.

I haven't really painted "surf" pictures before. So this was a bit of a challenge. Didn't know if I could do it, but I think it came off fairly believeable. I really loved the colors of the water. Farther out, the water looked a deep teal. Closer up, it was more of a viridian & white mix. And the ochre-toned bottom colors would show through along the shoreline.

This will be donated to the Crooked Tree Art Center in Petoskey. It will be in the D'Art for Art Annual Charity Event on July 17, 2008.

The distant hills are those of the Leelanau Peninsula, a beautiful place where much of the state's wineries and cherries are grown. The Grand Traverse Bay dips down out of Lake Michigan.