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Cliffwood Bluff
Between the Bluffs is an annual Plein Air event located in a 15 mile radius of downtown La Crosse. I first participated in 2023 and did a series of bluff paintings.
Straight West of our house is Cliffwood Bluff, a little brother to the more famous Granddad Bluff to its north. The bluffs on both side of the Mississippi River are the most prominent feature of the local geography.
Cliffwood Bluff This view is from a park near the base, on a day with threatening clouds. In fact I had to find shelter as I painted. Watercolor and rain do not coexist.
What we have learned by living on the flat land of the city is that we live on a flood plane, so the soil is very sandy and does not retain water well. Compost is our friend for gardening.
The limestone faces of the bluff change according to the light, this was painted at mid day. I used yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the limestone and a few greens that I mixed from the blues and yellows in my pallet. I have been working on using the three primary colors, adjusted for the season, plus a neutral gray and violet for shading
My Fall pallet I’d like to return during the evening golden hour to paint here again.
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At River City Gallery
I’ll be the featured artist in the La Cross Society of Arts and Crafts in January and February.
Lansing View 
Elmaro 
Marsh Light 
Hawk’s Delight 
Convergence 
Miller Bluff 
Breaking Light 
Cliffwood These are watercolors and available for purchase. On the First Friday of January and February, there will be refreshments and local artists from 4-7 pm. River City Gallery is a cooperative of local artists, located at 321 Main Street, La Crosse.
The theme is getting to know the region, since we moved here in 2022.
I’ll be commenting on each picture during January and February.
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Upcoming in 2025
I’ll have some wall space at River City Gallery this January and February. It is a space reserved for members of the La Crosse Society of Arts.
I’m debating the theme of Discovering the Coulee region or the of elements. In the first case the arts are good for observation of life here. In the second, bluffs, rivers and cloudscapes stand out
I have a week to ponder.
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This and that
Plein Air season is over, so what next?
Well, painting with grandkids in Galesville.
West from Presley Ln. Some sketching.
The Good Bean Photos for work inside
Grandad 
Miller 
Sunset I’m also taking in drawing sessions at Gallery 1311. I’ll be helping plan the Trempeleau Reserve event in June 2025. In January I’ll have a few things at River City gallery.
Unrelated, there is a Murphy Bed project to complete before Thanksgiving.
Murphy bed parts Stay tuned.
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Between the Bluffs fini
This was both fun and a learning experience (in a good way). Things learned:
- Paint twice as many as you submit. My bluff acrylic and my three rivers watercolor did not succeed. The farmland watercolor and the serviceberry acrylic did.
- Let the water do the work is solid advice. Thank you Mary Lou Ferguson.
- Paint with confidence during the quick paint.
Here are my submissions:
Hawks Delight 
Backyard Bluff 
Autumn Glory 
Quick Paint 
Gallery 
Quick Paint 
Farmland 
Three Rivers 
Top of bluff 
Sunset 
Backyard I look forward to next year.
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Community Trail Farm
ORA is an organization that preserves land and creates trails. We met on this farmland for an afternoon.
Location There are some barns and other structures here. But I liked the grass path through fields with receding lines of trees. The sky was gray and foreboding, but the hawks were riding the wind.
Progress I like the result. Can you find the hawks?
Hawks Delight 
Between the Bluffs Public show at Gallery 1802, October 19, 20
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Autumn Glory
We’ve planted a number of plants since moving to La Crosse two years ago. One is a serviceberry tree.
Turning I set up on our front yard and tried again with Plein Air acrylics. At least water was easily available.
The background is a fade from blue to burned umber with some lavender. I used an acrylic pen to draw in leaves. The painting is free-alistic.
Autumn Glory If you are wondering, the tree was pruned to be upright, as serviceberry can be a bit shrub like.
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Acrylic Plein Air
Acrylic Plein Air is a trip. It tends to dry on the pallet, but takes its time on the canvas.
Top of Cliffwood Bluff It ended up sort of Seurat adjacent.
Step by step It was at least a nice day in nature.
Hawk sparing I’ll submit three, not sure if it will make the cut.
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Three Rivers
This is where the La Crosse, the Black and the Mississippi rivers meet.
Water is so changeable it challenges a painter. Which moment to capture? How do you indicate flow?
Location It was a cold morning, though sunny. I decided to paint from this stone patio in the International Friendship Garden on the La Crosse waterfront. I like the quiet flow on the La Crosse river where it merges with the Black River. Notice the color change as well as the surface texture. In the distance is the Mississippi.
Not quite right I saw some gulls and a few boats.
Working 
Cruise boat Fortunately watercolor can be reworked, if it’s not overworked. That’s a delicate balance.
Final version “Three Rivers” is the title.
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Isle la Plum
My second effort for Between the Bluffs is this scene of Isle la Plum on the La Crosse waterfront. I wanted to get evening color. So I left at 3 pm to find my spot and draw in the scene. I was hoping for sunset colors to arrive and then I’d add them quickly.
Waiting
The water changed minute by minute. As I waited some hawks arrived. One dove for a fish but apparently it came away empty.
Smooth water I’d started on the water before it became mirror smooth. That would have been a different picture. My paper was 140 lb cold press, which was quite textured. I’d have needed hot press, a smoother paper. (Note to self).
Here is the result
Color added
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