Ritamarie Balcerzak
I find the challenge at the Port Wing Plein Air Painting Festival to be quite enjoyable and motivating. I use fountain pen inks for most of my drawings.
My submitted image being posted for this 2024 event is called “Birds I View.” It’s an abstract work of acrylic and fountain pen inks. It was inspired by a poem written by my sister-in-law, Mary Rapps Risley titled :”Lessons From Birds..” I agree with her we can learn much from them. More of my art works may be viewed on Instagram @ceeceezak.
Pete Border
I am a semi-retired resident of Sint Paul. I started painting in 1985 and have been making art ever since (with a large gap to raise some children). Mostly I work in oils or acrylics, but I have recently taken up encaustics and some printmaking. This is my third year at Port Wing.
Jane Brunner
Having retired a few years back I began doing more artwork. I seem to have very eclectic taste when it comes to subject matter. So, I move from portraits, to animals, vacation spots, etc. My taste in medium is also eclectic and I try to experiment. I struggled with the idea of Shakespeare’s “jack of all trades, master of none,” but I can’t seem to help myself. It’s all so interesting.
I’ve never participated in a Plein Air event, and am nervous and excited at the same time. Looking forward to the challenge; as well as meeting other artists. I expect I will be inspired by them and their work, as well as the beautiful area in an around Port Wing.
Gretchen Burke
Local pastel artist from Ashland, WI who enjoys painting from life to capture moments of beauty in nature and travel.
Ann Christensen
Living along the shores of Lake Superior inspires me all year long to get out and paint. The wonderful colors of pastels can be layered and pushed and pulled to explore the beauty of the natural world. Forest, water, skies, flowers and grasses are all fair game!
Don Christensen
I live in Washburn and have been painting with watercolor for the past several years. I love painting outdoor subjects. My favorite form of art is doing a watercolor sketch book while traveling.
Jean DeRider
Artist bio coming soon
Allison Eklund
Allison Eklund is an artist, arts advocate and attorney from Roseville, Minnesota. Painting primarily in oil, she most enjoys plein air and studio painting memories from wilderness horseback expeditions and painting trips with members of Outdoor Painters of Minnesota. Serving currently as Events Director of OPM, she is the organizer of Plein Air Grand Marais and Plein Air Duluth as well as Winter Plein Air, a painting retreat to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness every winter. In her parallel life as an attorney, she enjoys volunteering with Springboard for the Arts by offering free legal advice to artists in Minnesota.
Mike Enz
I retired two years ago and have been discovering the joys of watercolor and ink as I travel. I’ve had the opportunity to meet amazing people while sitting in parks and street corners which adds to the experience. This is my second Plein Air experience and I am excited to see everyone ‘s result.Artist’s bio coming soon
Pamela Enz
Recently retired designer living in White Bear Lake, Minnesota allows me to paint and sketch whenever I want. I do mostly open air watercolor and ink because it is portable and allows me to record my travels.Artist’s bio coming soon
Chris Garrity
I am a graphic designer and illustrator who likes to think he can do a good painting once in a while. I’ve done a number of plein air events with my friends who are way better than I am, but we have fun. Had a great time last year and am looking forward to my 2nd go around at this event.Artist’s bio coming soon
Anita Gille
Artist’s bio coming soon
Kathy Gilmore
Kathy Gilmore has been an artist her entire life. She received a Fine Arts degree from Illinois State University. After a career in Social Service Evaluation and raising a family, she has returned to art making. Kathy has an intense interest in the natural world which informs her practice. She is currently pursuing this through the medium of watercolor. In 2016, Kathy received the People’s Choice Award at the Port Wing Plein Air Painting Festival.
Dee Ginther
Artist’s bio coming soon
Bob Haddow
Plein air and Port Wing are perfect partners for painters who also play pickleball.
Linda Hildebrant
Have been drawing and painting for most of my life but had never participated in a plein air event until recently. I work primarily in charcoal, graphite, watercolor and acrylic paint and pastel. Working outside poses an interesting challenge. Wind, hot sun, glare and rain can help or hinder your skills and abilities. Attitude has to prevail and I’ve found the natural beauty of Port Wing and the communal spirit of the festival to be inspirational.
Sophia Honer
Sophia Honer is a 13 year old artist from Minneapolis, MN. Sophia enjoys creating art in many forms including painting, sketching, sewing, clay and jewelry making. This is her second year entering the Port Wing Plein Air Art Festival.
Linus Honer
Linus Honer is a 15 year old artist from Minneapolis , MN. He paints and sketches the world around him using acrylic and pencil. This is his second year participating in the Port Wing Plein Air art festival.
Julie JAO
Julie JAO paints Wildly Expressive Art for Wild and Expressive People. Working in a variety of styles and media she captures the energy of the moment whether painting figures or trees. This year in Port Wing she will be hunting for untamed and unconventional scenes that juxtapose chaos and order.Artist’s bio coming soon
Linus Honer
Artist’s bio coming soon
Cherry Hanna
https://www.cherryhannafineart.com
I‘m glad to join so many generous and talented artists for my third year in Port Wing!
The vistas are amazing and it is close to home, but these wonderful people and their encouragement, are truly my draw. I paint expressions of peace and nature, in oil, watercolor, pastel, and some acrylic. A live subject finds a way into most compositions. The spirit sometimes ‘chooses’ me and then seemingly titles itself. The rain, an afterthought, not the empty dwelling, in ‘RAINS IN THEIR SEASON’ stirred author, Sharon Durken, to take it home from last year’s event. My art inspired her telling ‘the rest of my story’. Awesome!
Will be so great to meet up with everyone. See you there!Paintings and prints are available though my website.
Sophia Honer
Artist’s bio coming soon
Jon Hove
Artist’s bio coming soon
Dana M Johnson
I love to work outdoors, even with the often unpredictable elements of sudden weather change or bugs, it is all part of the experience of plein air painting. My home is the South shore of Lake Superior, where I do most of my painting. I also enjoy working with kids, and introducing a new generation to the fun of getting outside to paint.
Neil Johnston
When I move from my familiar studio space into the outdoors to paint, I am challenged by the vastness of the space, the naturalness of the light, the smells, colors, and the textures of the visual space. Getting out of the studio forces me to recalibrate – to move from an internal way of seeing to an outward form of seeking. This transition is profound for me and on many levels, fuels my painting and is full of surprises and challenges. When we look, we feel. Taking time, sitting, breathing, smelling, looking, and observing these spaces and places, is a powerful exercise to help one identify where one truly is. I enjoy returning to Port Wing to explore, re-charge, learn, and to celebrate the invigorating challenge of painting the landscape. I am a visual and musical artist, and my studio is in Shoreview, MN.
LaRoy Kuta
Artist’s bio coming soon
Lynn Krueger
Artist’s bio coming soon
Phil Kvamme
This is my first year at Port Wing. My dog Lucy and I look forward to painting on the beautiful shore of Lake Superior. Painting has been part of my life since attending Moorhead State University. Now after teaching and a 45 year career in radio I’m jumping back into concentrating on art. Living on the Gull lake chain in Nisswa Minnesota, subject matter is right out my window or over the pontoon railing.
Donna Lanni
Artist’s bio coming soon
Elizabeth Lexau
Elizabeth Lexau is a nature-inspired artist based in Northern Wisconsin on the south shore of Lake Superior. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, she is drawn to the dramatically changing moods of the lake, the Apostle Islands and the surrounding Northwoods. She works primarily in pastels.
Sara Malec
Artist’s bio coming soon
Linda Mark
Linda Mark is a pastel artist specializing in plein air painting since 2011, Linda thrives on the adventure of outdoor creation, from battling unpredictable weather to unexpected run-ins with nature – yes, even the occasional snake! With a soft spot for landscapes and a genuine fondness for painting water, her work reflects a deep connection to the natural world. She is eager to continue exploring the inspiring and beautiful landscapes of the Midwest.
Caren Martin
I have been painting off and on (mostly off) since I was in elementary school. Oil paint is my medium of choice. Landscape is my preferred subject. Seems like water, rocks, trees, sky, and the play of light draw me to their constant beauty and ever-changing characteristics. The oil painting process reveals both inspiring, pleasing surprises and disappointments alike—depending on the day! Painting in Port Wing is a highlight of my painting experience
Susan McDonald
Artist’s bio coming soon
Clare McDonough
Hi! I’m Clare. I am an acrylic, oil, and mixed media artist. My work spans realistic, abstract, and expressive, and each piece starts with an emotional response to something I see. Whether it be a canoe resting on the shore, the sun snaking through the forest, or the stories an old car could tell, I am inspired by the beauty around me.Artist’s bio coming soon
Joanne Meierhofer
Artist’s bio coming soon
Aram Melis
I am a studio artist, based in Madison, WI, specializing in printmaking, painting, and ceramics. This will be my third time participating in the Port Wing Plein Air festival.
Rachel Melis
Rachel Melis’ work gives visual form to metaphors from literature, her family, the environment, and environmental movements. She focuses on print, public art, plein air, and book projects to reach audiences of varied backgrounds and ages. She teaches printmaking, book arts, biological illustration, and graphic design at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Minnesota. Rachel gained her MFA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her BA at Grinnell College, and her love of Lake Superior growing up on its South Shore (her parents’ Port Wing home is pictured here).
Joel Nimocks
I’m looking forward to shaking off the dust and making new interpretations of the landscape again this year. Practice and more practice and hopefully (holding my breath) some fairly admirable work to display in the end.
Acrylic is usually my medium and I’ve been trying to abstract the view of the scenery around me.
Always great to meet and learn from others!
Pricilla K Olson
Biography
I grew up in Midland, Michigan, but spent my professional life in the Chicago area as a commercial animator and plein air painter. Since returning to Midland in 2011, I have been participating in painting events around the state. I continue to be an active plein air painter and enjoy sharing and promoting this activity throughout the Great Lakes Bay region in Michigan.
Nina Preheim
Nina paints for both enjoyment and to record. She has been painting in oils for about ten years and finds it challenging and satisfying. Oil paints provide the means to translate and describe the environment, but they also provide a way to fix and improve the statement made. Nina has been a self taught artist all her life. She has studied with some great current day artists but continues to improve through self discovery like video art and group interaction. Art is a way for her to combine her love of painting with her love of learning. Nature is the muse. If you like what you see, you should tell her because she absorbs feedback and knows sincerity when it comes her way. Art is life!!!
Tom Pryor
Artist bio coming soon
Mary Reynolds
For the past 2 years I have enjoyed painting in oil outdoors and I look forward to joining the other artists again in Port Wing this year. I learn not just from practice but how other artists work, no matter the medium. When not painting, I work with fiber, creating either practical or whimsical items, from my studio in Duluth.
Paul Quie
Paul works mainly in oil, acrylic, and Japanese brush painting. Their subject matter encompasses a broad range of landscapes, events, and other captivating subjects. With a constant drive to push the boundaries of their capabilities, they approach their work with a combination of calm patience and the joyful curiosity.
Paul tries to let his mind relax and allow the brush to feel the magic of creating , letting go of control and embracing the spontaneous freedom that comes from artistic expression.
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Cindy Schipper
I am an active Teaching Artist in senior residences. I often find it hard to find time to do my own art, so I really enjoy our gatherings. These are samples from my first and second Port Wing Festivals.
Lenore Smith
Artist Bio coming soon
Joseph Smigel
I am a photographer with a background in antiquated photographic processes who is now exploring earlier interests in painting as I adjust to my recent retirement. My partner and I vacationed in Northern Wisconsin last summer where I participated in my inaugural plein air event in Port Wing. We loved the area and the people we met during our trip and I’m looking forward to participating again this year.
Lisa Stauffer
Lisa Stauffer received her Master’s in Design (U of MN, Mpls.) and studied Illustration at Parson’s School of Design (NYC). She works primarily in pastel, teaches painting workshops and competes in plein air painting competitions.
Lisa was awarded Eminent Pastelist status by the International Association Of Pastel Societies in 2023 and achieved Master Circle status in 2009. Her paintings won awards at Pastel Society Of America Show (National Arts Club, NYC), September 2010 and 2012, and were chosen each of those years by the Director of the Butler Institute Of American Art for inclusion in the annual exhibit, American Pastels. Lisa was juried into the Pastel Society Of America and awarded Signature status in 2012. Her work has been featured in articles in PleinAir Magazine, Pastel Journal, Stephen Dohertyʼs book, The Art Of Plein Air Painting and in two PBS specials on painting.
Lydia Steiner
Artist’s bio coming soon
Sally Stimac
Artist’s bio coming soon
Kathy Swanson
I fell in love with painting 20 years ago and dabbled when I could, but never had time to dedicate to my craft until my retirement from teaching in 2022. Since then, I am continually learning and growing my painting skills.
As a teacher, I have always loved learning and the past 20 years have provided a steep learning curve and a lot of fun!
While I use both acrylic and watercolor, watercolor is truly my first love.
I’m thrilled to be back in Port Wing for the Plein Air Painting Festival!
Wes Sweetland
Wes has always done creative activities—martial arts, music, metal welding, jewelry making and more. When his grandfather left behind a set of oil paints and canvases after his passing, he decided he should try to paint. With encouragement from his partner Cici, plus inspiration from Bob Ross, Wes started oil painting for the first time summer of 2023. He and Cici go out to the parks and lakes around the Twin Cities on the weekends, set up their chairs and canvases and enjoy the process of painting together outdoors.
Melissa Tuura-Johnson
Artist’s bio coming soon
Laurice Wade
Drawings by Laurice are inspired by universal energies from wild natural places. Special moments and deeply felt connections are revealed through use of various media and techniques. Laurice is a member of the White Bear Center of the Arts, MN. She has a fine art degree and a science degree.
Holly Walsh
Holly has loved playing in and exploring the natural world her whole life. She is an oil painter who mostly paints plein air. Painting is a way for her to express the beauty, wonder, and magnificence she senses and feels in nature. She is inspired by the dance and interplay of color, shape, light, and shadow across the landscape and is filled with awe again and again by it’s every changing tapestry of life. It is her hope that her paintings convey a little bit of this feeling to others.
Amy Wilson
“What I enjoy about art is its way of showing one a deeper way of looking, seeing and thinking. To concentrate on a form of nature is a meditation that brings us closer to a contentment and appreciation of our wonderful world.” Amy Wilson.
Amy Wilson has studied art since her youth at the progressive Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts. Amy studied next at the Boston Museum of fine arts school following up with an Associate of Arts degree from Bemidji State University. She continued formal studies at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and, after a brief sabbatical of homesteading in the western corner of Virginia, finished her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree with honors at the University of Wisconsin in Superior.
Amy has worked in the contracting field and as a Solar Electric Technician most recently wrangling vegetables and seed saving as chief homesteader at SunFarm south of Port Wing Wisconsin. Amidst homestead duties she has found time to pursue painting with oils as well as watercolors and occasional wood block printing. She continues to draw in her proverbial sketchbooks and chronicle travels in illustrated travel journals as well as participating in a new collaboration of watercolorists in her region.
Cici Woolf
Cici started drawing and painting when she was a kid. She continues to paint in her free time, and enjoys doing water color illustrations and oil painting outdoors. She and her partner Wes go out to parks and lakes around the Twin Cities on the weekends, set up their chairs and canvases and enjoy the process of painting together outdoors. Currently a software engineer, she hopes to retire as a painter someday!
Stephen Wysocki
My process for making my artwork is usually something that visually grabs me. I see a natural shape highlighted in an odd color or a sunrise with an orange glow on a valley tree. I always like to start with a toned canvas RoseMadder, Cadmium Yellow Deep or Cadmium Orange are colors I usually choose. I recently have been experimenting with a color triad of orange, violet and green. It’s amazing how that has instinctively snuck up in my work. Thin washes of oil paint to thick sculptural highlights is how I like to lay my paint on using canvas or gessoed boards. In the past few years I’m always amazed how much the last few details really make a painting sing, sometime those details are obvious and sometimes a painting can sit for six months before the final touches are revealed.
Lynn Zsidov-Steiner
I relocated to this area several years ago from Marinette County, Wisconsin, drawn here by my love of wilderness. I currently reside in Superior, Wisconsin.
My journey over the years has been to use the most environmentally safe materials I can find. I use no petroleum- based solvents, mediums, or plastic paint (acrylic/latex). I have been experimenting with mulling my own oil paints using purchased and foraged pigments. Spike Lavender, Canadian Balsam, Linseed and Walnut oils are my mediums and cleaning agents.
With Nature as my life’s Muse, it is important to me not to contribute to the planet’s demise. Even in a small way.
We thank 