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La Crosse Queen, La Crosse, Wisconsin captures the charm and slow rhythm of life along the Mississippi River. Painted in July 2022, this 16x20 original oil on canvas features the beloved La Crosse Queen—a working paddleboat built in the style of 19th-century river steamers—as it glides gracefully past Riverside Park.
The La Crosse Queen isn’t just a tourist attraction—it’s a floating symbol of heritage. With its red paddle wheel and classic profile, it evokes the timelessness of river life, where water, light, and memory blur into one. I painted this scene from a reference taken during a summer visit, drawn not only to the boat itself, but to the feeling it gave me: calm, curious, connected.
The brushwork leans into my usual post-impressionist method—quick, vibrant strokes full of energy and layered light. The Mississippi sparkles in broken colors. The boat rides low with a sense of weight and history. The palette here is warm and grounded, intended to reflect the nostalgia and local pride many feel for the Queen and the La Crosse waterfront.
This painting will speak to those who love the Midwest, the Mississippi River, or simply the quiet magic of a summer’s day spent watching history drift by.