Serene Birch Forest

Acrylic on 12"w x 16"h canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
$165.00 Please contact Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth to purchase.

This painting was part of my Tremendous Trees show at Blue Lake Gallery.

I've noticed myself returning to this theme quite a bit in the last several months. I've painted a couple diptychs in this theme as well as several vertical compositions. I don't feel so much as though I'm trying to get this theme just right ... I feel as though I'm enjoying the effect this composition has on me. The deep blues of the skies and stones quiet my soul and give my eyes rest. The birch trees and bluestones provide a natural break between the foreground and background, and the trees and stones also give a feeling of safety and protection. It could be something from my childhood triggering this need for a safe place to rest, or when life gets kinda crazy, it's nice to know you have a place to go ... ya know.

Tiny Autumn Triptych

Acrylic on Three 4"w x 4"h canvases
Click on image above to enlarge.
SOLD

This painting was part of my Tremendous Trees show at Blue Lake Gallery.

Just a cool blue sky composition with colorful candy colored leaves cascading carelessly off into the distance.  :)

Seven Maples

Acrylic on 20"w x 16"h canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
$250.00 Please contact Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth to purchase.

This painting was part of my Tremendous Trees show at Blue Lake Gallery.

If you've been reading my thoughts on this blog in the recent past, you know a recurring theme I'm working on is what can be seen through the trees ... essentially focusing on the background. Or as us painters prefer to call it, the negative space of a painting. It's the part of the painting that often gets passed over to get to the subject of the painting. In this case, this painting is titled Seven Maples after the seven colorful maple trees that are ... you guessed it ... in the background. The foreground features seven birch trees. Now you see them, right? If you're like me, you viewed the colorful foliage of the maples against the bright blue sky, followed by the rich burnt sienna tree trunks and ground accented by golds. Then you noticed the foreground. Cool, huh? :) I've painted several canvases in this theme recently ... I know I'm on to something, and I'm happy with what I've accomplished so far, but I know there is something I'm searching for, a look or feel that I'd just love to see emerge on the canvas ... It'll happen, I just need to keep painting. :)

Maple Forest Shadows

 Acrylic on 20"w x 16"h canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
$250.00 Please contact Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth to purchase.

This painting was part of my Tremendous Trees show at Blue Lake Gallery.

Blue Lake Gallery has graciously extended the time of my Tremendous Trees show at their gallery for a couple weeks. It's been so fun to see all these works together in such a unique space. I just realized that I didn't have a whole lot of good photos of the show, I'll have to get some and post them here soon.

This painting was completed in a flurry of activity just before the show was hung. I never had a chance to view this piece and take it in. Looking back through my work, I can see that this painting stands apart from the rest. It has a presence all it's own. The long shadows cast by the barren maples has a calming effect on me. The bright sun in the distance, along with the emphasis on the foreground no doubt were influenced by the Van Gogh books I was studying at the time. I just love Van Gogh's work and his letters ... His successes ... and his failures are preserved for all to see for all time. Some of my paintings are success, some are failures. Most will never know the difference unless I tell them, but I'm my biggest critic, and often wrestle with my paintings, chasing after a look and feel that so often eludes my grasp. Perhaps this painting reflects that struggle. I've come so far, yet have so far to go. There is no visible path in this piece, beckoning the viewer to stay and explore for a while. Which direction to go? It's so easy when there's a path to follow. But I must admit, my greatest adventures traveling the woods happens when there is no trail to follow. The thrill of the exploration spurs me on ... And the joy is found in knowing who's waiting at the end.

Materialistic Intentions: Meet With Me

Acrylic on 24"w x 32"h (approx. size) canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
nfs

This painting is part of the PROVE Collective Gallery's 'Materialistic Intentions' show which can be viewed May 11-24, 2012.

Last but not least ... this is the third of three pieces from the show at PROVE. This piece is for my wife, she wanted one really bad, so I suggested this one. Much of my work ends up in galleries and then in collector's homes ... which is great ... except that I often miss many of my paintings and often wish I'd saved a couple from each show to hang at home. But I want to create art for people, and so I find great satisfication in knowing others have my work in their home, and they love it.

Here's a nice article about the show from Perfect Duluth Day's blog titled Art Can Touch The Eye at Prove Collective.

And Ed Newman wrote a nice review of the show which includes several photos over on his blog titled Ennyman's Territory, and the title of the piece he wrote is Materialistic Intentions at the Prove

It's time for me to finish off the work for my upcoming show at Jitter's Coffee in Duluth. Off to the easel I go....

Materialistic Intentions: Woodland Gathering

Acrylic on 24"w x 32"h (approx. size) canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
$250.00 Please contact PROVE Collective Gallery in Duluth to purchase.

This painting is part of the PROVE Collective Gallery's 'Materialistic Intentions' show which can be viewed May 11-24, 2012.

This is my second piece for the Materialistic Intentions show at PROVE Collective Gallery in Duluth. Since the three paintings were completed as one unit, I'm finding it difficult to share individual thoughts about the pieces. One thing I notice about this painting is the movement of the birch trees. This isn't a painting you glance at, but one you study. Your eye moves quickly around the painting, just like cardinals hopping effortlessly across tree branches. I just love the distant birds and trees, I can't wait to explore this theme in the future. For now, my thoughts and energy is going into unpacking and settling in to my new house. Perhaps I will post a pic or two of my new place here soon ... I'm quite fond of the sun room off the living room. Windows on three walls ... a painter's little paradise. :)

Materialistic Intentions: Twilight Tales

Acrylic on 24"w x 32"h (approx. size) canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
$250.00 Please contact PROVE Collective Gallery in Duluth to purchase.

This painting is part of the PROVE Collective Gallery's 'Materialistic Intentions' show which can be viewed May 11-24, 2012.

This is the first of three pieces I have hanging in the Materialistic Intentions show at PROVE Collective Gallery in Duluth. The idea of this show is giving consideration to the materials you use. In my case, I paint on canvas. But I wanted to show the process of my work from start to finish. I attempted this by painting on raw canvas and finished canvas. The finished works hang from stretcher bars that are used in my canvases (Although you cannot see them in this image). The bottom of the raw canvas unravels to form long strands that hang down at the bottom of the piece. You just have view these in person .. that's all there is to it. :) I will get some more photos of the paintings hanging in the gallery soon. The painting featured here is titled Twilight Tales and features the cardinals that have been appearing in my work as of late, and birch trees. There is sense of deep peace with these works that I cannot explain at the moment. Perhaps the deep blues and large gathering of cardinals conveys solitude and comfort, perhaps fellowship and support. These paintings were completed during a difficult time while were packing and moving to a new house, all the while not knowing when we were actually moving or if the real estate transaction would even go through. Artwork is always more that just a pretty picture. Often times it's an expression of emotion coming from the artist. I'm still taking in these paintings, knowing they came from deep within me, I'm sure I will be sharing more as I ponder these works.

Golden Skies

Acrylic on 6"w x 12"h canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
$60.00 Please contact Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth to purchase.

This painting was part of my Tremendous Trees show at Blue Lake Gallery.

This birch forest features perhaps the brightest yellow sky I have ever painted. I love the golden leaves and textured forest floor. The three areas of yellow and gold form a nice repetition of color. The bluestone rocks in the foreground anchor the composition and the with all the golds goin' on, the blues look cool in the sky and stones. I also enjoy the vertical scale of this piece, I'm sure I'll work in this theme and scale again soon. Golden skies can't help but make you smile. :)

Blue Sky Birches

 Acrylic on 12"w x 6"h canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
$60.00 Please contact Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth to purchase.

This painting was part of my Tremendous Trees show at Blue Lake Gallery.

A simply stated landscape deserves a simply stated blog post. I love birch trees. I love deep twilight blue skies. Enough said.

Good As Gold

Acrylic on 16"w x 20"h canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
$250.00 Please contact Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth to purchase.

This painting was part of my Tremendous Trees show at Blue Lake Gallery.

Yesterday it was seven birch trees, today it's seven maple trees. Imagine the maple syrup you could make from these! OK, I must be getting hungry. :) Today it's 73 and sunny in the Banana Republic of Duluth, MN. When the weather gets like this, it's virtually impossible to do anything inside. I've been outside three times already, and I just can't seem to bring myself to paint today. Today I'm working on some urban themed artwork for my next show which you'll be reading about here in a couple weeks. So exciting, and challenging at the same time!

This painting featured today titled Good As Gold wasn't challenging ... it was very calming and peaceful to paint. Who doesn't just love a golden sunset in a maple forest? I mean, come on now, don't you wish sunsets would last forever? I had fun playing with the golds in this one, they dance across the sky, the maple leaf covered ground, and the trees themselves are basking in the glow of the sun. So am I today, Thank God for warm sunny days.

Cool Blues

Acrylic on 16"w x 20"h canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
$250.00 Please contact Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth to purchase.

This painting was part of my Tremendous Trees show at Blue Lake Gallery.

Seven birches in a twilight lit forest displaying their golden foliage for all to see. The ground's deep yellow hues reflect the leaves, and the landscape has a curvature that has been finding its way into my work in the last several months. With this work, I intentionally painted the birch trees thin in form so that the background would be more visible. With the large sky in the background I ended up keeping it a cool blue hue. I'm trying to come up with another word that rhymes with blue but I'm not coming up with anything, so I'll head back to the easel for now. I think I'll paint something new. :)