“A summer day of painting, exploring, and finding inspiration along the shores of Lake Michigan.”
People often ask me where my inspiration comes from.
The answer is simple.
Sometimes, it begins with spending a day along the shores of Lake Michigan.
This week my daughter Kaelyn, my friend Callie, and I packed up the car and made the hour drive to South Haven. It’s one of those places that never disappoints—beautiful beaches, a historic pier, charming cottages, and a downtown full of character.
Our first stop was North Beach near the pier. It was surprisingly quiet, making it the perfect place to set up my easel and paint a small 10×10 plein air study.
If you’ve ever imagined an artist strolling onto the beach, setting up an easel, and effortlessly painting away...
Let me share what really happens.
It took longer to load my wagon, haul my supplies across the sand, set everything up, and pack everything away than I actually spent painting!
🎥 Watch the plein air session in action on YouTube →
Then came the summer heat.
One of my oil paint tubes decided it was going to ooze oil everywhere. A light breeze kept trying to send my palette paper flying, and the tape I brought wasn’t winning the battle. Eventually, I surrendered and used my paint tubes as paperweights.
Painting outdoors isn’t always glamorous.
It’s messy.
It’s unpredictable.
And somehow, those little challenges usually become the stories I laugh about the most.
While I was painting, a few people stopped to watch. One gentleman smiled and asked the question artists hear all the time:
“How long does it take to paint something like that?”
A little later, another woman called over,
“Are those acrylics?”
When I told her they were oils, she immediately asked,
“How do you get it home without ruining it?”
I smiled.
Very carefully.
Oil paints stay wet for quite a while, so I protect the painting as best I can, knowing I’ll probably do a few touch-ups once I’m back in the studio.
Those conversations reminded me how fascinating the artistic process can be to people who don’t get to see it every day.
After packing up my easel, we enjoyed lunch at The Depot before wandering through South Haven’s charming downtown. Of course, I couldn’t resist taking photographs along the way. Every trip adds another collection of reference images that may someday find their way into a painting.
That’s the funny thing about being an artist.
You never really stop looking.
I’m always noticing the way sunlight dances across the water, how the dune grasses move in the breeze, the colors of a storefront, or the composition of a quiet street.
Will every photograph become a painting?
Probably not.
But every adventure becomes part of my life as an artist.
I came home with wonderful memories, hundreds of photographs, and a small 10×10 plein air study that I already know will inspire a much larger painting back in my studio.
Sometimes the smallest painting isn’t the destination.
It’s simply the beginning of a much larger story.
The older I get, the more I realize that inspiration isn’t something you wait for.
It’s something you notice.
And the world is full of beauty if we simply slow down long enough to see it.
Thank you for joining me for another Studio Story. I look forward to sharing where the next adventure leads.
🎨 Artist’s Sketchbook
📍 Today’s Destination
North Beach, South Haven, Michigan
🎨 On My Easel
A 10×10 plein air study capturing the light and feeling of South Haven—one that I already know will inspire a larger studio painting.
🌬 Today’s Challenge
Keeping my palette paper from blowing away! The tape didn’t stand a chance, so my paint tubes became paperweights.
💬 Conversations Along the Way
“How long does it take to paint something like that?”
“Are those acrylics?”
“How do you get it home without ruining it?”
📷 Inspiration Collected
The South Haven pier, Lake Michigan light, dune grasses, harbor views, colorful beach umbrellas, and a camera full of ideas for future paintings.
🌊 Looking Ahead
This little plein air study is just the beginning. I can’t wait to see where it leads.
Until next time... keep noticing the beauty around you.
Warmly,
Christi M. Dreese
Fine Artist | Mural Artist | Owner, Dreese Fine Art & Framing
Creating a Brighter World Through Original Art
Helping homeowners, healthcare organizations, businesses, and interior designers create inspiring spaces through original artwork, murals, commissions, custom framing, and art consulting.