Autumn Reprise Nos. 1-3

Featured this Friday are three sweet cardinal landscapes from my St. Luke's show which is displayed in the A building. The show is titled Autumn Encore, and will be up now through the end of 2015. These fun paintings are full of color and playfulness, the cardinals sprinkled throughout, adding their color and intrigue to the compositions. These new acrylics on canvas are titled Autumn Reprise 1 - 3 and measure 5"w x 7"h each. Please contact me for purchase information.

October Blue Jay

"October Blue Jay"  8"w x 8

I love blue jays. They fly in from out of nowhere, squaking and carrying on, announcing their presence to the entire world and driving away all the other birds. I've never been able to watch them nest, so all I know about them is their behavior around my house. They are a large bird, and they have beautiful blue feathers. So fun to watch in the wild and attempt to capture on canvas. In this piece, titled October Blue Jay, the golds of the birch leaves complement the blue jay, who is quite camouflaged against the cobalt blue sky. And he's at Siiviis Gallery in Canal Park now too ... hopefully not scaring away all the other birds. :) Please contact the gallery for more info.

Baltimore Oriole

"Baltimore Oriole"  8"w x 8"h

Ahhhhhhh the colors of fall. That's what this little fella is thinking. Who doesn't just love the warm colors of the leaves and the bright blue skies? Not to mention the cool temps, no bugs, ripe apples, crackling fires ... don't get me started. :) Today's painting is titled Baltimore Oriole and is a new acrylic on canvas, 8"w x 8"h. This little fella thinks he's hiding in the orange maple leaves, but he can't fool us. When I see a baltimore oriole, it's always a treat, and I stop to watch them. They're a quiet, colorful bird with striking features. And he's available at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth today, please contact the gallery for more information. Ahhhhhh fall .....

Cardinal-A-Dee

"Cardinal-A-Dee" 8"w x 8"h

This fun little piece is titled Cardinal-A-Dee, and is acrylic on canvas, 8"w x 8"h. You may have guessed it by the title .. this painting features none other than the two all time top selling birds for me, the chickadee and the cardinal. The cardinal may have a heck of time locating the chickadee in the birch forest as they blend right in, but these hardy little birds aren't afraid of northern Minnesota winters, and if they can handle the snow, so should we. It won't be long before the snow flies, but in the meatime I'm enjoying the colorful leaves still clinging to the trees in this last week of October. Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth for more information on this piece.

October Moonrise & new paintings at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth's Canal Park

"October Moonrise"  8"w x 8"h, Siiviis Gallery, Duluth

Today's painting is titled October Moonrise, and is one of six new acrylic on canvas paintings I just brought in to Siiviis Gallery in Duluth this afternoon. The wind was cold off lake Superior today, along with a light wind, but the color and warmth of the gallery brightened my spirits. The six new works feature birds and birch trees to coincide with the works from the show I'm having at the gallery, along with another local painter Adam Swanson. So far the show is going well, many pieces have found new homes, and I'm happy to keep the wall fresh with some vibrant colors. This piece has a rich blue sky and waters to complement the golds of the moon and reflection ... framed in by birch and stones. Sometimes I forget how awesome it is to live here as the hustle and bustle of life pulls and tugs on me. So painting landscapes settles me down and reminds me to slow down ... and not let the wind and rain dampen my spirits. Please stop by Siiviis Gallery to view my new work, you may also find a nice gallery of works for sale at the gallery on my website by clicking here. Have a great weekend! -A

Autumn Sonata

"Autumn Sonata"  24"w x 20"h, acrylic on canvas

Autumn Sonata is the title of this new 24"w x 20"h acrylic painting on canvas. I brightened up the sky and the colors on this piece, really endeavoring to capture the crispness of an autumn sky. This scene is familiar for me, I've come across birches, rocks, maples, and colorful underbrush so many times while hiking through the area that I work primarily from memory. Working this way can be exciting to see what happens at the end .. and also a little nerve racking from time to time as there is always the feeling of what if I don't like the outcome? But I approach my art like I do my hikes ... just head out, go explore, have fun, enjoy the hike. Perhaps I should approach life this way too .. like another trail waiting to be explored ...
This painting is part of my Autumn Encore show at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, MN now through the end of 2015.

Autumn Encore

"Autumn Encore"  48"w x 24"h, acrylic on canvas

Today's painting, titled Autumn Encore, is a new 48"w x 24"h acrylic on canvas which is part of my show at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth. This large painting anchors the show right in the center of the wall where the 25 paintings and prints are hung. This piece features birches and rocks, which is what I see everywhere I go along the north shore of lake Superior where I live ... but the subject of this painting is really the background which is filled with the blazing colors of fall. Layer upon layer of color rises, giving way to distant cool blue ridges before meeting the bright blue sky. I wish this view was what I looked at in the window year round, but alas the colors of the changing leaves are only around a couple weeks, so I just have to capture it on canvas.

Autumn Symphony (Autumn Encore Show at St. Luke's Hospital)

"Autumn Symphony"  24"w x 20"h

Today's piece comes with an exciting show announcement. This painting, titled Autumn Symphony, is an acrylic on 24"w x 20"h canvas. This color piece is part of an equally colorful art show titled Autumn Encore which is at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth on floor 5 of the new A Building. The fall colors surrounding me in the landscape have influenced me to sling color onto the canvas in new boldness, the vibrant colors of the season play off the skies and waters in pieces such as this one today. Please stop by St. Luke's to view the show now through the end of 2015.

Autumn Sparkle Numbers 1 & 2

"Autumn Sparkle No. 1" 

These fun new acrylics on canvas, titled Autumn Sparkle No. 1 & 2, feature my tiny cardinal series, along with the luscious color of the late autumn landscape: deep golds and browns. Many people travel along the Scenic 61 up the north shore from where I live to view the leaves as they change color. But while I enjoy the blazing colors of the season, I also equally enjoy walking through the woods after the leaves are down and enjoying the crunchy leaves beneath my feet and long shadows cast by barren trees. I can't venture to far out though, as the deer hunters are also out in the woods as we approach winter. Back to these paintings feature today ... they are arriving at Sivertson Gallery this weekend, feel free to contact the gallery for more information on these and other landscapes. Have a great weekend! -Aaron

Leaves in the Wind No. 1 & 2

"Leaves in the Wind No. 1"  10"w x 8"h

"Leaves in the Wind No. 2"

Here's an interesting new original acrylic on canvas painting, titled Leaves in the Wind No. 1, that is available through Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. I'm really digging the background colors that make the cardinals featured in the piece want to say 'hey, what about us? We're colorful too!' These tiny cardinals are fun to paint and fun to hang in the gallery .. and ultimately in someone's home. Please contact Sivertson Gallery for more information on these paintings.

Snowshowers

"Snowshowers"  20"w x 10"h

On a day which saw snowflakes I thought this piece would be fitting, titled Snowshowers, acrylic on 20"w x 10"h canvas. This piece is part of five new tiny cardinal paintings being shipped to Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN to arrive this weekend. This painting features a limited palette of red, white and blue, which could be viewed in a patriotic sense, but that isn't the intention of the piece. Instead, this birch landscape celebrates the changing seasons and the arrival of snow. The cardinal, ever present in this rugged part of the world called northern Minnesota, is a hardy bird, not phased by the hottest of summer days or dark and coldest nights of the year. Long live the cardinal. Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, where the cardinals live, for more information on this piece.

Colors on the Lake

"Colors on the Lake No. 1"  10"w x 10"h

"Colors on the Lake No 2"

These pieces, titled Colors on the Lake, are part of the latest group of works available at Your Arts Desire Gallery in Minnetonka, MN. These paintings are a colorful celebration of the season of autumn ... and follow along the theme of water reflections. I'm particularly drawn to the browns and blues and how they play off each other. Autumn is so full of color I find I'm never at a loss for inspiration this time of year. Please contact the gallery for more information on these and other original acrylic landscapes on canvas.

Season of Color

"Season of Color"  48"w x 36"h, Siiviis Gallery Duluth, MN

Featured today is a new acrylic painting on canvas titled Season of Color which I just brought in to Siiviis Gallery in Duluth's Canal Park. This painting was actually the 'demo' painting I worked on while doing a painting demo at the opening of the Birds, Birch & Bicycles show along with fellow painter Adam Swanson. This painting was nothing but pure gold while I was working on it, adding all the base golds throughout the piece while I chatted with people walking by. I've never painting outside before, it was a fun experience, even if the wind off lake Superior dropped the temp into the 50's and I painted fairly briskly to stay warm. :)  This piece also continues my reflection series, with the golden birches reflecting on the deep blue lake, the complementary colors playing off eachother and increasing the vibrancy of the color during this wonderful autumn season of color we are experiencing here in northern Minnesota. Please contact Siiviis Gallery for more information on this piece.

'Cause Every Cardinal's Crazy 'Bout a Sharp Dressed Penguin

"'Cause Every Cardinal's Crazy 'Bout a Sharp Dressed Penguin"

Prior to the opening of the Birds, Birch & Bicycles show at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, I met with fellow painter Adam Swanson to work on a top secret project. The gallery suggested we try swapping subjects for a painting, so Adam worked on a cardinal painting, and I painted a penguin. I couldn't resist having a little fun and whimsy with this piece, and so a cardinal made an appearance on the canvas. There's lots of blue and gold which you know are my favorite colors .. and an abstract reflection in the water at the bottom of the piece adds some mystery, along with the moon sparkling in the sky. All in all it was fun to talk about each other's approach to art and the ups and downs of life as a full time painter. It's been a great experience having a show with Adam .. filling the gallery walls with color. This painting is titled 'Cause Every Cardinal's Crazy 'Bout a Sharp Dressed Penguin and is 24"w x 36"h. Please contact the sharp dressed staff at Siiviis for more information on this piece and many others from the show.

The Most Colorful Time of the Year

"The Most Colorful Time of the Year"

Today's painting, titled The Most Colorful Time of the Year, is part of show recently hung at Fire Roast Café which is on display now through October 31, 2015. This show is a fun collection of new paintings, older fall favorites of mine, as well as prints ... all featuring the warm colors of the season. This painting is along a series of works I've been completing lately that feature the colors blue and gold. I love working in themes and this series really emphasizes color and speaks volumes about why I love the landscape in the autumn. I sometimes wish the trees would have fall color year round, but it's only a couple weeks and you need to get out in the woods and enjoy the color while you can. And if you can, please stop in to Fire Roast Café in Minneapolis, MN in the next few weeks for some great coffee ... after all, it's The Most Colorful Time of the Year.

October Morning

"October Morning"

You just can't beat a lake Superior sunrise. Endless skies and waters ignited by the rising sun sparkling across the lake with thousands of dots of bright yellows. That's the inspiration behind this new 20"w x 16"h acrylic on canvas titled October Morning. This piece was just brought in to Amity Coffee, where I've had an ongoing art show for the past year. Please stop by Amity for some great coffee .. and art too, what a sweet deal! :)

To You I Will Always Return

"To You I Will Always Return"  36"w x 24"h, Siiviis Gallery Duluth

Many times artists, especially painters, have a familiar theme, color, brush stroke, etc. that runs through their work like a common thread. For my work, I've found myself drawn to familiar themes such as lakes, birch trees, woods, the autumn season ... and familiar colors such as deep blues and vibrant golds which complement eachother well. It's along this idea that I've been completing several new works such as this 36"w x 24"h original acrylic on canvas at Siiviis Gallery titled To You I Will Always Return. This title was influenced by the thought that artists return to what feels right, almost like returning home and finding a warmth and familiar space. While I must return to the easel, the sun is shining and the leaves are a vibrant gold on the birch trees which are inspiring me to continue working. Hope you have a great week! And please return soon ...

This painting is part of my Birds, Bicycles and Birch show at Siiviis Gallery now through Nov. 2015

Warm Autumn Moon 1 & 2

"Warm Autumn Moon No. 1"

"Warm Autumn Moon No. 2"

Warm Autumn Moon No. 1 is the title of this autumn cardinal themed acrylic on canvas painting which is part of my current show at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN now through Oct. 25, 2015. Color is the word I'd use to describe the works from this show, with a special emphasis on the season of autumn, and the birch tree as a recurring theme that runs through the work. Also featured here is a bookend piece titled Warm Autumn Moon No. 2. The moon has been bright lately, shining in the window at night and making it difficult to fall asleep. :) So many ideas, inspirations, tasks to complete ... so little time. If you happen to have some extra time, please stop in at Siiviis to view the show. All my best, Aaron

Autumn Lake Reflection

"Autumn Lake Reflection"  36"w x 24"h

Autumn Lake Reflection is a new 36"w x 24"h canvas which is part of my show at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN.

The show is titled Birds, Birch & Bicycles. The show may be viewed now through Oct. 25 2015. The show features work by colleague Adam Swanson and yours truly, and please stop by Siiviis Gallery soon to view the work.

I'll be posting new pieces from the show periodically ... and have a great weekend!
All my best, Aaron