MIDNIGHT IN LAPLAND-JUNE 18

Midnight in Lapland-June 18, pastel, 9x12 (22x31 cm.)

Now you have an idea of the varietes of "midnight sunsets" I can see from my front door and windows, if  you look at my last few posts. Unfortunately, last night, June 19, it was so cloudy and dark, that it didn't look like an interesting painting.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio perfected the Chiaroscuro, the use of lights and shadow for dramatic effect. Following his work, we can use the following guidelines:
-Choose a subject
-Decide on a design and composition for it
-Do a color study.......................................................Now, GET TO WORK!

MIDNIGHT IN LAPLAND-JUNE 17, pastel

Midnight in Lapland-June 17, pastel, 9x12 (22x31 cm.)

I just finished reading ALICE BLISS, by Laura Harrington. The story of a 15 year old girl, smart, funny, not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. She idealizes her father. When he goes to war, her coming of age painfully, dramatically, starts. Very entertaining!

Marc Chagall said: "If you work with your heart, everything goes well."

MIDNIGHT IN LAPLAND-JUNE 16, pastel

Midnight in Lapland-June 16, pastel, 9x12 in (22x30 cm.)

Continuing my series of Midnight in Lapland pastel skies, here is the sky a couple of "nights" ago. Well...not totally night, since after this, the light travels behind the mountains to the right of the painting, for about an hour and 15 or 20 minutes, then the light starts coming back up, having made an arc of about 45 degrees behind the mountains, from here. Then, at about 1:45 or 2 in the morning, the light becomes stronger and the sun starts coming up. Next Friday 21st is "Midsummer" called here in Sweden. The shortest night and the longest day. Celebrations are all over Sweden, with song, dance, music, drink and cakes. I am very much looking forward to that.

MIDNIGHT IN LAPLAND-JUNE 1ST, pastel

Midnight in Lapland-June 1st, pastel, 12x9 (30x22 cm)

Every night I'm flabbergasted by the beauty of the sky near midnight,  and its reflection on the Kultsjön Lake. I run around the house taking pictures from different windows, or from the front porch, or the side. So a couple of days ago I decided to start painting those midnight suns in pastel. I started by my first night here, June 1st. This was midnight sunset on June 1st.

I've been painting the midnight sun for the past three nights, and plan to continue doing so for at least a week. Some of them will make it to this blog. So stay tuned!

MIDNIGHT SUN V, watercolor

Midnight Sun V, watercolor, 4x6 in (10x15 cm)

Why Midnight Sun V? Because I've painted so many midnight sun's scenes! What a temptation, it is so beautiful, yet different every night!
Did you know? The Gulf Stream gives Scandinavia a warmer climate than areas of similar latitude in Siberia and Canada. Nevertheless, the winter is harsh. People, animals and vegetation make it, thanks fo fire, skis and reindeer. The power of the sun is absolute!

RICKLUNDGÅRDEN, SWEDEN, watercolor

Ricklundgården I, 4x6 in, 10x15 cm,  watercolor.
Not available, I  mailed it as a gift to my granddaughter Natalie.

Hello from Sweden! Painting at Ricklundgården Residency, part of the Museum and Art Gallery created and donated for the community of Saxnäs, the country of Sweden, and future artists, by Emma and Folkes Ricklund. This is a place for meditation and creation, overlooking lakes and mountains, a beautiful home surrounded by gardens and forests. Next door is Saxnäsgården, an Inn/spa which used to belong to Emma's parents at the beginning of the 20th Century. Artists used to come here at that time, and that's how the painter Folkes Ricklund met Emma and they fell in love.

Keep watching my blog for more from Sweden, the Land of the Midnight Sun!