How Plein Air Painting Changed the Way I Travel and Share Northern Michigan

People often ask why I paint watercolor postcards instead of larger pieces. The answer is simple. I love capturing a moment before it slips away, and I like traveling light.

My postcard painting began at the tail end of COVID in 2022. My husband and I took a multi-week road trip through the South, and before we left, I packed a small watercolor kit with one goal: paint postcards and mail them to friends and family along the way instead of buying souvenirs. It felt a little crazy to drop original artwork into the mail without an envelope. Would it arrive? Would it get damaged? Every postcard represented hours of painting, so sending them off was equal parts terrifying and exciting. Amazingly, all but one made it to its destination.

Most of my paintings are inspired by the landscapes of Northern Michigan, with a few series created during my travels. It is a type of practice; not every piece turns out perfect. They’re little snapshots of places that made me pause, whether it was the way the light danced across the water, the colors of a quiet forest, or a scenic overlook that deserved more than a quick glance.

The funny thing is, I rarely part with the originals anymore. They usually end up tucked away in a box or unexpectedly mailed to a friend or family member. Each one holds a memory that’s difficult to let go of. Instead, I create affordable postcard prints to share in local cafés, shops, art shows, and with guests who travel with me in Atlas, my vintage VW Bus.  Perhaps someday I’ll have a show of all the originals; until then, I’ll keep adding them to my box.

Plein air painting has changed the way I experience the world.

When you stop to paint a landscape, you naturally slow down. You notice colors you would have missed, textures that seem to come alive, the movement of the clouds, the sound of the waves, and the small details that make a place unforgettable. Instead of passing through, you begin to really observe where you are.

That realization inspired my Watercolor Workshops and Art Adventures, what I like to call my Roaming Studio.

Together, we visit beautiful places throughout Northern Michigan, many of which people have driven past for years without ever stopping. Others are hidden gems they never knew existed. Along the way, I’ll teach watercolor techniques, but the real lesson is learning to see.

You don’t need to be an experienced artist. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s presence.

My hope is that you’ll leave with more than a painting. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the landscapes around you, a few new artistic skills, and a connection to places that may become your new favorites.

For me, watercolor has always been about slowing down, paying attention, and discovering the extraordinary beauty of where we live and where we wander. 

Upcoming Art Adventures