Help support a really cool art exhibition this coming June!

As part of a group of Wisconsin and Japanese artists I'd like to announce a major show this coming June at the Promega Center in Madison, WI. We are looking for funding to help pay for meals and lodging for our ten or so distinguished guests from the Tokyo area. 

Soooo, please look at our Kickstarter Campaign (click this link) which closes in only a few days! For your help, you'll receive some really cool rewards! 

L to R: Katherine Steichen Rosing, Pat FIlzen, Rita Yanny, Tori Tasch, Bonnie de Arteaga and Lee Mothes.

"Our long artful history together leaps forward with an exciting new collaborative exhibit, “Floating on Waves” to be held at the Artist’s Showcase at Promega BioTechnology Center, Madison, WI June 14 to September 13, 2016."

Back in my Studio

I have finally settled in to doing some new work after my trip. From the hundreds of photos I took on the coast, I've found a few that have that energy I'm looking for. Now I'm compiling parts of them into a 22" by 30" drawing...

From these 8 by 10 printouts, I'm taking the best parts and we will see what happens...

A Video of Great Waves on the Oregon Coast

A highlight of my trip up the west coast was to see huge waves hitting the cliffs at Shore Acres State Park in Oregon.  I shot a couple of short videos and this is the best one. A half-hour side trip off Highway 101 will get you there!

From Kaukauna, WI to Todos Santos, Mexico To Portland OR, and back again

Started out on January 26, 2016 and returned March 17.  What a trip. I'll be going through all the photos during the next week or so, then will do something, either drawings or paintings or both, from them.

A Busy Weekend Coming up in Humboldt County, California

I'll be giving one-day shows on March 5th and on March 6th, in Arcata, California, a coastal town about six hours north of the Bay Area. My friend Nancy Stephenson has arranged the exhibitions, and has provided a press release, copied here. I'll be present at both shows.

If you're in the Humboldt County area, Check it out!

Artist Lee Mothes is returning to Arcata during a west coast tour featuring his ocean-inspired drawings and paintings at two different “pop-up” shows in Arcata, March 5th and 6th.

Mothes' paintings will fill the hallway that leads to Libation, Willow, Salt, and Arcata Main Street on March 5, during the Farmer’s Market, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 761 8th St. on the Plaza.

The second show will be Sunday, March 6 at The Sanctuary, 1301 J St. in Arcata. The Sanctuary, a creative arts venue and grassroots community center will be open from 5-8 p.m. with refreshments and a chance to learn more about Mothes’ artwork.

Lee Mothes works in watercolor, acrylic on canvas, and graphite pencil to create ocean-inspired works of art. He grew up in California, including a year on outside of Arcata. He returns regularly to the coast from his current home in Wisconsin to watch the surf, get new ideas, and show his work. On this trip he brought several of his newest pieces.

“I have been fascinated by beaches, waves, and the ocean’s energy as far back as I can remember. I grew up on the California coast and began drawing beaches, waves and imaginary places while still in grade school.”

In Southern California Now...

I made it back from Mexico, after another 3-day drive up from Todos Santos...

I'm showing my work informally in California for the next couple of weeks. Today some friends of mine, who live in this wonderful hand-made house near Ojai, hosted a showing and invited several friends. Their capable granddaughter, Solana, helped me get started!

Showing my work in Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico

After three more days of driving from San Diego, California, I made it the Jill Logan Galeria, where I am showing several paintings and drawings, painting a new piece in the back patio, and getting out to the beach, usually in the late afternoon.

The drive seemed to take forever, but I'm glad I did it. The town is pretty, and looking good after a devastating hurricane came though in Sept. 2014.

I shot a photo of this wave, kind of on the fly, at the beach at Todos Santos the other evening. I'll use it tomorrow to do a demonstration painting for the gallery this weekend. There is nothing like being near the source!

Trip to West Coast is Under Way!

After driving four days from Wisconsin, I arrived at a friend's house near San Diego. Today I'll cross the border into Baja California and drive another couple of days to Todos Santos, where I'll show my work at the Jill Logan Galeria.  I'm posting details at Oceans and Dreams page on Facebook.   Check it out!

"Big Splash" 36" by 36" acrylic on canvas will be featured at the Jill Logan Galeria. 

An Artist's Journey to Nevermore is back in stock!

My recently published book, "Journey to Nevermore" is back in stock. I just received the book's second printing of 100 copies, and I will autograph your copy upon request.  To purchase a copy, click on "Artwork" and then "Books, Maps and Posters". 

Mothes on Video

My friend Scott Edwards shot a video of me working and talking about my art in my studio-gallery in Kaukauna WI. 

Minor Squalls

This drawing comes from the Oregon Coast when the storms arrive in October and November. I used three photos I took near Cascade Head, Oregon, to capture a moody day of intermittent squalls.  

Title: "Minor Squalls"

34" by 26" graphite pencil on Stonehenge Paper

$3500

New 16 by 20 inch acrylics on panel...

Just completed, a very bright shorebreak wave, all of foam, ready to crash onto the beach at Big Lagoon, in Humboldt County, CA.  See this one and it's companion painting, "North of Westport" under Paintings.

A New Island Guidebook and Map for Christmas!

If you know someone who is a wanderer, in reality or in the realm of imagination, this is a great gift! The 200-page full color guidebook describes the island, its history, culture, landscape and people with many pictures and maps. The large detailed road map gives a graphic overview to accompany the book. (You gotta have both!)

New Island invites you to explore it via these tools, along with New Island online, and then take off wherever your imagination may lead you.  Since the island doesn't exist in the real world, you are free to create your own take on it!

Book: $27.50 plus shipping. The map will be included free when you buy the book during the Holiday Season (until Jan 4, 2016). Click HERE to order it.

A drawing from the Oregon Coast

A drawing I began a few weeks ago is now completed. I wanted to capture the dramatic clouds that often build up on the Oregon Coast, and the light that is cast on the water and sand. This is from four different photos I took there last November.

Minor Squalls,  34" by 26" graphite pencil on Stonehenge paper

Starting a 26" by 34" pencil drawing

Back to drawings...this is the start of a 34" by 26" graphite. I'm cobbling together a composition from several photos - three different skies and one foreground. I've already made changes to the sky, and am now working on the horizon. So far so good...

Studio Show to continue until January, 2016

Today I held a reception to open my studio and gallery with a new show of my latest work. Originally a one-day event, I've decided to extend the show until the new year. If you are in or near Kaukauna, Wisconsin, stop by the Kaukauna Coffee and Tea coffee shop, and check out my work upstairs. The address is 127 W. Wisconsin Ave. Kaukauna, WI 54130

To arrange an appointment, call me at 920-858-2636.  

New Island Book-Signing Party

You’re invited to a Book-Signing Party to celebrate the publishing of Lee Mothes’ New Island Guidebook

When: Saturday Nov. 7, from 6-8 pm.

Where: At the 602 Club in Appleton, Wisconsin, 54911. It's located at 602 N. Lawe St., across Pacific Street from the meat market.

Drop in for refreshments, and I will have much of the original artwork of New Island on display. I'll talk about New Island, and autograph copies of my newly printed  New Island Guidebook. You'll also, receive a free New Island road map with every book!

Hope to see you there!

Save these Dates!

On November 7th from 6-8 pm and on November 14th, from 10 am to 4 pm, I'll have two very different art shows in Appleton and Kaukauna, WI.  

More later!

Surf at Big Lagoon Beach

On September 17th, I took about 100 photos of these waves at Big Lagoon Beach, in Humboldt County, CA. I ran as close to the waves as possible to snap them, and then ran back up the beach - a lot of running. The weather was beautiful after a day of rain that helped contain some bad fires elsewhere in northern California.

This and a few other keeper photos will help me with new drawings and paintings!

Welcome to my new website!

I'm excited to be able to show off more artwork than on my previous site. There might be a glitch or two for a few days, so If you find a non-working link or other weirdness, let me know via e-mail at mothesart@gmail.com.   Thanks!

To get some new ideas, I'm headed to far northern California for a few days to get another look at the waves in Humboldt County. My favorite beach up there is a place called Big Lagoon Beach, north of Eureka.  I'll post some photos here when I get back.