Winter Morning Song Numbers 1 & 2

Today's paintings are two cardinals titled Winter Morning Song Numbers 1 & 2. These little fellas measure in at a whopping 4"w x 4"h and were recently dropped off at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth. With the deep profile canvas, these can be displayed on a shelf or hung on a wall. I love painting these tiny canvases, they are a challenge and a reward at the same time. Working small can feel constraining to an artist, but the reward of viewing a finished piece quickly is the reward. I'll labor on a large canvas for over a week, so every so often I need to kick back, relax, and paint small. Won't be long before the cardinal sings it's spring song here in the Northland. Till then, I'll hunker down in the studio and do what I do ... paint.


Many other painting options are always being added to my website: http://www.aaronkloss.com
Feel free to contact me for more information ... and I'm also available for commissions if you'd like a special size or subject. 

Winter Morning Music 1-3

Today I'm featuring three new originals titled Winter Morning Music (Numbers 1-3). They are 6"w x 6"h, acrylic on canvas, at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth.

The series includes tiny cardinals on birch, with a distant evergreen ridge and matching sky to anchor the background. The ridge includes expressive dark green brushstrokes visible in the light green sky, and the brushstrokes portray what you would see when looking at backlit trees, there are areas that appear detached from the tree due the brightness of the sky.

These are subtle details that I often include in my work that most people may not notice if I don't mention them. Working in series is a fun challenge. You paint in similar color and composition, so you have to focus a bit more, and in the end you get to make subtle changes with each painting in the series whereas you don't have that luxury when working with just one piece.

So glad it's Friday, been a long week for me as I'm fighting a nasty bug that's sapping my energy, but I'm pressing on, currently working on a couple commissioned paintings and enjoying the last weeks of winter wonderland outside. Have a great weekend! -A

Many other painting options are always being added to my website: http://www.aaronkloss.com
Feel free to contact me for more information ... and I'm also available for commissions if you'd like a special size or subject. 

Sixty Cardinals Triptych

"Sixty Cardinals Triptych"  36"w x 36"h

While the end of the year always brings hustle and bustle to my life, I thought I'd try to end the blogging efforts of 2015 with a favorite subject of mine: birds. So I plan to publish a new bird painting here on this blog frequently as we approach 2016 ... and I'll be sure to write my year in review which is a perennial favorite. Sometimes you have to stop and take a look at where you've been to appreciate where you're going. And with commissioned paintings to do and many other things, it's great to publish works here to give me a moment to pause and reflect. This particular painting was so fun to paint, and the simple evergreen forest in December is anchored by a rocky foreground, but stealing the spotlight are sixty cardinals perched in the birches. Go ahead and count them, I'll wait. ;) They are talking to each other about how warm this winter has been, about what surprises and blessings 2016 holds, about how to avoid those loud blue jays and ravens, about why some guy in Duluth MN insists on painting them ... What does 2016 hold? Wait and see. And for now, enjoy Sixty Cardinals, a new piece that's 36"w x 36"h and available at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN.

Frosty Morning Cardinals

"Frosty Morning Cardinals"  12"w x 4"h

The weather has been unusually cold here in Duluth, MN as of late, with some early morning frost warnings and highs in the 50's. But that doesn't seem to phase the cardinals in today's painting which features ten tiny cardinals on birch with a rich evergreen treeline in the distance, and an icy cold pale green spring sky lighting up the sky. The birds have been active around my house in spite of the weather, I need to follow their example and think about getting lots of work done! But then there's the comfortable chair next to the warm hearth, a hot cup of coffee and warm blanket that pulls me like a magnet. :) Yet it's off to the easel I go ....

Sweet Spring Songs

"Sweet Spring Songs"

The title of this piece, Sweet Spring Songs, is descriptive of the sound of the cardinal, while the color and composition of these tiny cardinals on birch with an evergreen background is pretty sweet. This piece can be found at Red Mug Coffeehouse in Superior, WI in May, 2015

The Song of the Season

"The Song of the Season"  36"w x 36"h

This piece, titled The Song of the Season (36"w x 36"h) is one of many new pieces available at Your Art's Desire Gallery in Minnetonka, MN. The gallery is gearing up to celebrate it's tenth anniversary May 2, and I'm thankful to be amongst such great art company at the gallery. This particular painting is about as bright as I've ever painted in terms of the color green. The bright red cardinals complement the color and jump right off the canvas with the reds and greens playing off each other. The rocks and distant evergreen ridges anchor the piece, and provide a deep color punch to highlight the bright background and birch trees. The cardinals steal the show, though, as they always do ... you can never miss a cardinal in their bright red feathers and beautiful song of the season. Please contact Your Art's Desire Gallery in Minnetonka, MN for more information on this piece.

Sing For The Spring

"Sing For The Spring"  24"w x 18"h

I heard a cardinal for the first time this season while on an evening walk. Imagine what these 27 cardinals would sound like! This colorful new piece is part of a new group of work at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN.

Singing Cardinals

"Singing Cardinals"  6"w x 6"h

On a cold rainy December day with a sore throat and fever of 102 degrees, I needed something to cheer me up and this piece is just the ticket. Singing Cardinals, acrylic on 6"w x 6"h canvas, features a familiar theme of mine that makes me smile ... evergreen forests, birch trees and tiny singing cardinals. OK, I'm headed back to bed with a cup of hot tea and lemon. :)

Summer Dream

"Summer Dream"  12"w x 4"h

In the midst of winter I couldn't help but reminisce about summer, if only for a few moments. I love the snow and changing seasons of Minnesota, but can't take the cold temps as I get frostbite within minutes at sub zero temperatures. So a summery painting was in order, this one titled Summer Dream, 12"w x 4"h. Seven birch trees in the foreground with a rich green ridge and deep cobalt blue sky in the background. The birch trees reflect a bit of this color in their bark, almost as if they're enjoying the warm colorful season as much as I am. This painting can be found in Grand Marais at Sivertson Gallery.

Gabby Gathering

"Gabby Gathering"

Recipe for Gabby Gathering:
Acrylic on 12"w x 4"h canvas

Ingredients:
Red cardinals
Evergreens
Birch trees

Directions:
Combine ingredients until composition has reached completion. Repeat if you like the result.
Nutritional information is not available for this recipe.

Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for this and many other tasty visual treats.

Evergreen Cardinal Playland

"Evergreen Cardinal Playland"  36"w x 36"h, Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais, MN

Fresh off the easel is a new major work titled Evergreen Cardinal Playland which is 36"w x 36"h and just made it's way up the Scenic 61 to Grand Marais, MN this morning. My vision for this piece included cardinals and the color green. That was it, and from that vision, a painting filled with birches, cardinals, and layers of green amongst a bright green sky emerged. The composition is anchored by soft stones, of which you'd find in the forest anywhere in northern Minnesota ... except now you'd have to dig through the snow to find them. :) There is some symbolism to this painting as well, and that is out of the stones grow birches filled with tiny cardinals. I found myself laboring to get them positioned just right, but then thought of the playground at the elementary school filled with kids at recess. There's just something right about a playground filled with laughing children, and something desolate and wrong about an empty playground. So I filled the birch trees with the creatures that bring song and color to the forest ... the cardinal. I even included myself amongst this jovial group of guys .. I'm on the far left, at the bottom, gazing at the brilliant sky while listening to the friendly chatter of the bird that complements the forest and brings complementary color to this composition ... the cardinal. Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be. - Whitney Houston
Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this piece.

Summer Encore

"Summer Encore" 36"w x 36"h, Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais, MN

As winter has officially begun here in Duluth, MN with several inches of snow, and low temperatures approaching zero by early next week, I thought I'd fight back with a summer themed painting. This piece is titled Summer Encore and is available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN and measures in at 36"w x 36"h. While this piece incorporates some familiar themes of mine, it also has a hefty dose of cadmium yellow, a color I often refer to the color that makes me smile. :) I'm sure I'll paint some winter paintings soon, but for now I'm reminiscing of summer, missing the hiking, biking, walking and swimming with family. I could go for a summer encore right about now. Now where did I put those Vitamin D tablets ...
Please contact Sivertson Gallery for more information on this piece, which will arrive in Grand Marais later this week.

Evergreen Cardinal Symmetry

"Evergreen Cardinal Symmetry" 24"w x 12"h

Here is a fun cardinal painting titled Evergreen Cardinal Symmetry whose title came to me as I was working on it and noticed there was a natural symmetry to the piece. Symmetry is a no no for artists, as symmetry is boring, or at least that's what I was taught in art school. But I didn't care much for the rules in art school, which didn't always bode well for my GPA, but in the end you have to be true to yourself, and I love symmetry ... and apparently, so do cardinals. These little fellas have no doubt arranged themselves in two groups of three to the left and right of center, with the two cardinals in the middle perhaps giving instructions to their friends as they are probably going to play a friendly game of baseball, but only one team can be the Cardinals ...
Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on this piece.

Cadmium Sky Cardinal No. 1

Cadmium Sky Cardinal No. 1, 6"w x 8"h

Today's painting is titled Cadmium Sky Cardinal No. 1 and is one of a three part series. They could be purchased as a triptych or individually, I just felt as though each of the three was strong enough to stand alone as so I chose to feature them individually. The background is very exciting with the bright cadmium sky playing off the deep cobalt blues and greens. The cardinal in this piece must think this vibrant colorful background is just the perfect compliment to it's red feathers, and I say I must agree.
Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on this piece.

Little Red Riders

"Little Red Riders", 8"w x 8"h

I was informed by Sivertson Gallery that this piece, titled Little Red Riders had sold right after I had brought it in yesterday. Apparently, someone loved these little cardinals as much as I did. :-) These bright red little wind riders are a mere half an inch in scale, but they make up for it with their blazing red color complementing the lush evergreen and spring lit sky in the distance of this piece. I'm hoping this present cold snap is our last here in northern Minnesota ... soon the spring season will bring it's warm temps, lush greens and song birds to our land once again.

Tic Tac Toe

Here is a playful twist on a game I like to play with my kids called Tic Tac Toe. While I always let my kids win, it's fun to see their strategies for winning. Especially when they were younger, but now they always take the middle spot and know just how to beat me. The female cardinals in this tiny little painting measuring 4" square know how to play the game too. Painting a cardinal that's half an inch tall is quite a tall challenge for me, but fun nonetheless, just like that game. Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this piece.

Spring Light

"Spring Light" 4"w x 4"h

On a sunny day I thought this painting was appropriate. Although this piece, titled Spring Light, is a mere 4"w x 4"h, it represents spring, which is a season everyone I know is longing for. Today the high is expected to approach 40 degrees, the highest temp since early fall. While next week looks to bring sub zero temps and single digit highs, there is a small glimmer of the hope of spring in the warm temps today. Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on these paintings.

Solitaire

"Solitaire" 8"w x 10"h, Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais, MN

I've been quiet as of late on my painting diary ... must be the weather. I've been painting, just not feeling too inspired. This is normal for me, the sub zero weather zeroes out my energy and I feel like I'm going through the motions. But I'm keeping the brush going, painting cardinals which always cheer me up, and other landscapes as well. This piece is titled Solitaire and features a single female cardinal framed by birch trees and a single distant pine ridge anchoring the piece with rich greens. The sky is a fun lime green, all to complement the cardinal's red accent feathers. Here's to warmer weather. -Aaron
Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this piece.

Seven Cardinals, Chick Chickadee and Cold Sky Cardinal

"Seven Cardinals Triptych" 12"w x 12"h, Siiviis Gallery

"Chick Chickadee", 4"w x 4"h

I don't know if I can measure up to my son's awesome Cardinal painting I posted yesterday, but I thought I'd post some recent work available at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth's Canal Park. The first piece is a fun triptych titled Seven Cardinals featuring, well, seven cardinals. In the past I've painted male cardinals exclusively due to their bright red coloring, but I thought I'd mix it up a bit and have some female cardinals as well. The deep green pine ridge and lime green sky give this work a fun color punch. Also featured today are two small 4"wx4"h canvases titled Chick Chickadee and Cold Sky Cardinal. These were painted during some of the coldest weather we've ever had here in December. I haven't seen any birds during my morning walk, I assume they're staying close to the fire in this weather. Gotta keep those feathers warm.

"Cold Sky Cardinal", 4"w x 4"h

Spring Sky and the arrival of summer ...

"Spring Sky" 16"w x 20"h

After endless weeks of cold and rain, it appears that summer will finally arrive this week here in the northland. Temps are forecasted to be in the 70's with sunny skies, which is a tropical heat wave for us who live here lol. I thought this piece titled Spring Sky would be a nice transition from spring to summer. The birches and distant ridges have lightly colored green leaves which are a sure sign that the leafing out process is well underway. The foreground has many shades of green as the undergrowth makes it's way through last year's autumn leaves and will soon cover the forest floor in thick lush greenery that is sometimes impossible to walk through. All this and a sparkling blue sky.
As far as this week, new work will be posted here and sent on out to the galleries and hopefully we'll be finding more people around town with a smile on their face now that summer has arrived. -A