It doesn’t have to be flat!

This submission for the 'What’s Great in Juneau County Mural' is from Sue Stout of Mauston and is painted on a gourd! Sue writes that, “I wanted to show what’s best of all four seasons in our area. SPRING is trumpet vines, wild roses, purple cone flowers and ruby throated humming birds, SUMMER: trumpet vines, wild roses, purple cone flowers and ruby throated humming birds,AUTUMN: a chickadee on a wrought iron fence, multicolored maple leaves, of red yellow and orange, with a strand of red berries, and WINTER is a beautiful red cardinal on a snow covered pine tree, with a snow covered group of elderberries.

What’s beautiful to you in each season? Let me know by writing, or painting or just plain talking it up.

It doesn't have to be flat!

This submission for the what’s Great in Juneau County Mural is from Sue Stout of Mauston and is painted on a gourd! Sue writes that, “I wanted to show what’s best of all four seasons in our area. SPRING is trumpet vines, wild roses, purple cone flowers and ruby throated humming birds, SUMMER: trumpet vines, wild roses, purple cone flowers and ruby throated humming birds, AUTUMN: a chickadee on a wrought iron fence, multicolored maple leaves, of red yellow and orange, with a strand of red berries, and WINTER is a beautiful red cardinal on a snow covered pine tree, with a snow covered group of elderberries.

What’s beautiful to you in each season. Let me know by writing, or painting or just plain talking it up.

Bjorn Sjogren submits a piece for the mural

This acrylic painting by Bjorn Sjogren is entitled "Fertile Field." It's simple composition evokes a ride through the hills and farmland which encompass our county. It needs to be viewed up close and personal and is well worth the effort to view it. Watch for a calendar of the What's Great in Juneau County Art Show for just that opportunity.

Sjogren was born in Sweden and moved to Wisconsin, in 2001. He states that his life had come to a standstill.

"I wanted more out of it... so I took my talents cross the Atlantic Ocean. I create pictures using my life experiences mingled with many times my present inner feelings and a simplicity by some regarded to be the Scandinavian way to paint. By putting the title under the image I let the words interact with the design above - making the viewer’s brain produce the full picture. Sometimes I get the question about how long time it does take me to make one of my pieces. The answer is ¨A Lifetime¨. It has taken all my experiences to be able to work the way I create."

You can see more of Sjogren's at

http://bjorn-sjogren.fineartamerica.com/

More Submissions!

My second submission is from Albert D. Schmeige of Mauston. Albert is an artist who has been legally-blind since 1992, due to starguardts macular degeneration. Despite not having central vision, poor depth perception and color blindness, Schmiege has been able to capture on canvas his interpretation of the world. Over the past five years, Schmiege's art has progressed from local venues to an international forum. Patrons of Schmiege's work include the Wisconsin Arts Board and the University of Wisconsin Eye Clinic.

He believes that blindness does not limit, but rather enhances the creative process. He writes about his submission:

"To me, one of the most exciting things about living in Juneau County is its historical values. A few years ago, my wife and I had the privilege of living in an 1865 renovated farmhouse. The surrounding buildings, though now dormant, had such character and awe-inspiring history about them that it prompted me to capture their essence on canvas. You don't have to look far to find many of these buildings in Juneau County each with their own story and unique personality."

Thank you Albert! It's true that our old barns and farms are incredibly inspiring. What do you think? Let me know please, what makes our area special!

In addition, I received the following submissions from Chris Pochowski, a Social Services Secretary at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston. Chris Pochowski was born and raised in Wisconsin and has lived in Juneau County since 1978. She is a self-taught artist working primarily in acrylics and in the past few years has begun to take digital photos of wildlife and landscapes. She belongs to the Hickory Hills Art Association and has sold her artwork to local sportsman clubs, car clubs, and attending various art shows in the area. You may view her artwork at www.ourworldoriginals.com

The first is an acrylic painting of a buck in winter.

The second a photograph that clearly shows the wonder of our area on an icy winter sunset. Send me you photos and ideas too!