In partnership with Emily Rau, a J. Philip Keillor Coastal Management Fellow, Sinking Bluff (Gouache, 13″ x 10″) depicts one of many unique bluffs lining the western shore of Lake Michigan. The painting captures an unstable bluff, that over time has been exposed to erosion by coastal hazards. Bluffs can be weakened in a variety of ways such as variations in water levels, groundwater seepage, overdevelopment of shorelines, surface runoff, strong lake currents, wave action, etc. These processes have become more concerning in recent years as climate change bolstered by human activity has taken effect on our lakes. 

Many humanmade solutions to prevent/slow erosion have only been effective in the short term. Groins, like the one depicted in the painting, often end up disrupting the necessary movement of lake sediment over time and do not protect adjacent shorelines consequently causing accelerated erosion in those areas. The landscape in the painting is sparse in vegetation, a common feature of unstable bluffs, and the exposed sandy soil is being carried away by the waves hitting the beach. The color palette is made up of muted earthy tones, defined by areas of high contrast. Highlights in the piece such as the breaking waves and seeping sand give the landscape the illusion of movement and action.