Artists' Support Group

I just spent 2 wonderful days with 2 other friends who are artists.  Kim Grant and I spent the night with our friend, Kate Halverson, who lives in Lake City.  Thank you Kate, for an incredible time with good friends!   Our plan was to spend 2 days together- painting, gallery hopping, and shopping.  They requested that I teach them "wire drawing", so we worked on those the first afternoon, which was perfect, since it was raining.  The second day, we drove along the Mississippi River on the Wisconsin side.  My favorite 2 towns were Alma and Stockholm.  Kate challenged us to "etch a sketch" at every stopping place.  So, we did 15 minute sketches at breakfast (Pier 4 Café), overlooking the big lock with a spectacular panoramic view, and lastly at a darling little restaurant in Stockholm, (Bogus Creek Café), that had a beautiful garden setting.  It wasn't till I got home from this trip that I realized that everyone needs a support group every now and then- to just relax, laugh, talk about goals, talk about anything...., and eat pie and ice cream with!  Kim and I talked so much in the car, that we almost made it to Rochester, before realizing that we had missed our road, leading to Lake City.  So, we took back roads, but in the process, went through Zumbrota, where another artist friend lives.  So....we called Wendy Westlake up and went to see her studio!  Happy accident, cuz we had a spectacular time trading art secrets with each other.  My life has been so busy with teaching that I loved this break in my routine so much.  I'm recharged now, and ready to teach more workshops that are actually coming up next week, in Watertown, SD.  I'm doing what I love! What a life! 

Kate Halverson, me, and Kim Grant with our half done "Wire Drawings"

Me, Kim, and Kate eating the best potato pancakes in the world!

Kim Grant, Wendy Westlake and myself at Wendy's home studio.