Charlie Creates art,,,musings, observations and travel

The last few weeks have been BUSY at work. Yes, I still have to work every day. The truth is I LOVE my job. I truly do. As a grant writer, I get to use my creativity every single day. When you use that much brain power, it takes extra to be visually creative. I have found that I can consistently paint when I have a goal to meet. Plein Air painting events are just the ticket to force me to gather my art supplies and head out doors. I am looking forward to painting at several fun places this summer. While I have painted at the the North Shore a number of times now, I am still new enough at painting that I have not yet found all the great hidden gems. I am looking forward to driving around a bit and finding some new "off the worn path" locations. Stay tuned! 

This weekend I am enjoying a weekend of painting with some of my friends at Outdoor Painters of Minnesota. We are celebrating the opening of our Minnesota Plein Air Collective paintings that are currently on exhibit at the Marine Art Museum in Winona. The theme of the exhibit is Myths and Legends of Minnesota. 30 artists are exhibiting art works painted during Red Wing Plein Air, Grand Marais Plein Air, Camp Menogyn Plein Air, and Prairie Lakes Plein Air. Below are two of the paintings I completed at Prairie Lakes Plein Air and Grand Marais Plein Air.

"Fresh picked flowers", Pastel on Paper 9"X12"

The Legend of Buehlers' Produce Farm in Otter Tail MN: Painted Alla Prima, Plein Air, July 2025--Buehler’s Produce Farm is located a few miles East of Ottertail, MN, in the heart of the West Central Minnesota Lakes area. The farm was established by the Buehler family as a dairy farm and has written history that starts in the early 70’s. In 1992, the family started selling extra produce from their family garden to support school supplies for their kids. It went so well, they transitioned to vegetable farming, dedicating 42 of the farms 158 acres to vegetable farming. The Buehler’s have transformed a big red dairy barn into a charming farm style retail shop. The high tunnel, highlighted in this painting, is a multi use farm essential. In the spring the high tunnel is used for starting and storing vegetables, bedding plants and holding pre-made potted flowers.  In the summer the high tunnel is used for growing cucumbers, green beans and tomatoes. As  seasonal vegetables are picked, the retail barn is stocked with fresh, peak season farm produce. The farm also has a floral garden where you can pick your own or choose from fresh cut flower arrangements.  Buehler’s Produce Farm is legendary in Ottertail County, it’s where you get “the best sweet corn around” (as seen on a sign in the barn) in Ottertail County. 

"Artist Point" Pastel on U-Art Paper-9"X12'

The legend of Artist point: 

Artist Point is a volcanic basalt peninsula jutting into Lake Superior, dividing the open lake from Grand Marais Harbor. Created by ancient lava flows, it's accessible through a tombolo connecting downtown Grand Marais to this natural wonder. A short walk transitions visitors from parking lot through dense shrubs to rock ledges leading to the Army Corps of Engineers breakwall, where you can explore heavily wooded basalt areas or meander along natural rocks.

This popular Highway 61 stop offers travelers—especially those visiting the Boundary Waters—a perfect place to stretch and enjoy Lake Superior's vastness.

As a lifelong Minnesotan, I'd only reached Tettegouche State Park until visiting Grand Marais in summer 2022. That magical first experience had me spending hours exploring Artist Point, marveling at trees and foliage growing miraculously between rocks, and observing areas sculpted by lava, waves, and human hands.

Artist Point never appears the same twice. Wind, water, and waves alternate between gentle lapping and harsh smashing, while shore, rocks, trees, and fallen limbs create ever-changing, seasonally beautiful landscapes.

The North Shore is legendary—mention it and listeners immediately relate, knowing exactly what you experienced. This painting represents my intensive year learning pastel painting and plein air work. It's a visual reminder of Artist Point through my eyes in early September 2025—a sky wanting to be sunny, a day slightly colder than needed, and the enduring beauty of this remarkable place.