My sister-in-law, the Artist

My sister-in-law, Lois Eakin is an artist. She is in fact a professional artist, since she has sold some of her paintings. They are beautiful and I am not just saying that because we are related.

A few weeks ago we traveled to Mineral Point, Wisconsin to deliver some of her pieces to Longbranch Gallery for an art tour. Lois developed her website about a year ago and the owner of Longbranch saw her work and asked if she wanted to participate in the gallery tour. Of course, Lois said yes.

The four of us drove to Mineral Point on a Sunday afternoon. It is a nice drive if you take the backroads you can see a bit of the Wisconsin countryside. We hauled the guys' bikes up with us, as they were going to bike into Mineral Point from Gratiot, WI - about a 20 mile trip - while we drove on and delivered the paintings.

Mineral Point is an old mining community in the southwest part of Wisconsin. We stayed a few years ago at the Mineral Point B & B which has a wonderful restaurant and a brewery where they serve their own beers. And it is the only place you can get that beer. The terrain is hilly and there are still some old miners' cabins in the city. They have a great website where you will find lodging, things to do, places to eat and places to browse and shop: Here is the link: Mineral Point

Longbranch Gallery had sent out a postcard mailing to its customers that featured one of Lois' paintings. A woman from Hinsdale who had received the card called the gallery, stating that she was interested in purchasing some of Lois' work. The customer was in Mineral Point for that week and was going to drop by.

As Lois and I were having lunch at the brewpub, we talked about whether we thought we would ever make big money with our art - she painting, me writing. We both thought no, not big money but there is a lot of adventure in trying. Lois also said she had plenty of inventory now, and she could take her time with her next painting endeavors.

Well, the customer showed up and true to her word, she wanted some of the Eakin originals. She bought five on Sunday and then came back later in the week and bought another two for her sister's home.

So much for the inventory. Lois is back at the drawing table - er, painting easel.

http://www.loiseakin.com/

P.S. It turned out that the bike trail is not so good for bikes anymore: the ATV group has put down large-chunked gravel that makes it almost impossible to ride a bike or even walk. The guys called us from a tavern only about 5 miles from their drop-off point. But we discovered a lot of places to rent an ATV for a fall trip.