The new show at WSG gallery is a colorful blast for the eyes, in the middle of this cold, well-below 0°F sort of winter we’re having.  Connie Cronenwett paints pure Michigan landscapes, and while she is a master of colorful lake and landscapes of all kinds, and she has some gorgeous winter scenes, I’m starting the blog out with some full-on summer and fall scenes to conjure up some warmth!

This ‘Cornfield and Sky’ piece just grabbed my heart when I walked into the gallery on show-change day a few days ago.  The farm girl in me could almost smell the sweetness of the cornfield!  Connie’s understanding of color theory and her masterful application of layers of color further gives the illusion of structure and depth within this Michigan snapshot.

In the first paragraph, I describe Connie as a painter. That’s because pastel work is very similar to painting.  Artists apply color in layers, just like painting in acrylic or oils, and physically build up the layers to describe form.  ‘Shalda Creek’, below, is a perfect example of layering color to build structure.  The effects of dark next to light and greater detail in foreground, contrasting with more atmospheric treatment of the treeline and sky in the background further contribute to our understanding of what the landscape in front of us is doing.

This next piece, ‘North Manitou Island Sunrise’ , is indicative of her gorgeous treatment of one of the aspects Michigan’s most famous for, our Great Lakes.  The broad vistas looking out over the lakes are breathtaking!  (My kids make fun of me when I tear up at the ‘Pure Michigan’ radio spots in the car, but once you’ve experienced the Great Lakes, you somehow have a greater understanding of life and your humble place in the universe.)  Connie’s pieces capture the feeling of what it’s like to be standing there, just you, the sky and the water.

The skies in Michigan can be pretty spectacular.  Connie has paid special attention to skies in many of her pieces in the show.  Pastel is a perfect medium to capture the ethereal qualities of clouds, the seeming fluffy masses, as well as the wispy trails overlaying the blue sky.

 

And we’ll end this blog post with one of her winter scenes.  They might be best appreciated hanging on your wall above a roaring fireplace on a cold night!  (Seriously, hang them somewhere out of the heat and direct light – those conditions are hard on fine art.)

Delhi Rapids is an area along the Huron River, just west of Ann bor.  It’s a fun spot to canoe and a nice paddle to Ann Arbor.  Here in the northern states,  our eyes adjust to the blues of the winter light, especially the blues in the shadows.  Perhaps because of this, our eyes are so hungry for the green, once the snow has melted and the days have lengthened.

Connie Cronenwett: A Sense of Place shows through March 28.  Join us for the reception this Friday, February 20, 7-9pm.