Sublime Pine

Today's piece is titled Sublime Pine is part of a series of three 4x12" originals on canvas featuring pine trees. These pine pieces are very colorful and expressive, I've enjoyed painting the pines recently and will no doubt continue in them. This piece was recently delivered to Siiviis Gallery in Duluth's Canal Park area. www.aaronkloss.com

Reach For The Stars

Reach For The Stars, 12x36", acrylic on canvas

This new 12"w x 36" acrylic on canvas is titled Reach For The Stars. Every once and a while an artist hits a home run with a work of art, and this is a home run. Whatever your dream is ... go out there and get it. That's what this lone white pine represents, as it's backlit by golden light and a starry sky which reflects in the waters in the foreground. This piece is part of a new group of work at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN

Twilight Gathering

I painted male cardinals almost exclusively for at least a year before I added in a female cardinal. It had more to do with the striking red color of the male cardinal, but when I add in the the more muted colored female cardinal, there seems to be even more color, and more interest in the composition. In this 12"w x 9"h piece, titled Twilight Gathering, the dark starry sky behind the cardinals in the birches cause the birds to really pop off the canvas. It catches your eye and draws your interest, just like that woodpecker did this morning as I was walking my dog through the deep snowy deer trails this morning. The forest was filled with birches, white pine, cedar and large blue outcroppings. Everything was quiet, the sky was overcast, and it was just peaceful and beautiful. And then there was that woodpecker, banging away as if he wanted to make sure everyone was awake. And after all his racket, everyone was. :)

This painting is part of a small collection of paintings and framed prints collectively called "Lights" that can be viewed at Bixby's Cafe in Duluth at 1608 Woodland Ave now through the end of April, 2014. The works from the show can also be viewed online on my personal website here.

Night Shift

"Night Shift" 24"w x 24"h, Siiviis Gallery Duluth, MN

Here is a fun 24"w x 24"h painting titled Night Shift. I suppose I would call this a playful take on texture. Texture can be achieved by the tactile feel of a work of art to the touch, and it can also be found visually as well. At least in my humble opinion, which was often times disregarded when I was in art school but that's a story for another day. Anyways ... this piece features a rocky shoreline with icy cobalt underbrush that is highlighted by the moon, which is centrally located in the composition. The moon reflects off the deep ultramarine blue lake. Across the lake, the repetition of rocks, along with underbrush, deep blue pines and a distant blue stand of trees are layered to really add that visual texture I was referring to earlier. The birches, along with their male and female cardinal covered branches are standing out against this stark blue landscape. Winter has been so cold here, it was just bound to make it's way into my work, influencing me with the blues and darkness associated with this time of year. The cardinals don't seem to care in this piece however, they're busy gabbing when they should be working the night shift. Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on this piece.

Standing Tall

"Standing Tall" 4"w x 12"h

The third in a series of small vertical pine compositions featuring rocks and water. What gives me satisfaction with this series is how they each have such a life of their own, yet make a strong group when viewed together. This painting titled Standing Tall is the lightest and brightest of the three, the bright sky offsetting the pines and rocks of the foreground. As I work, I notice I get into grooves where the paintings flow naturally and are very cohesive. But at the same time, I notice when that happens I look for new tributaries to follow, looking for that little spark in the painting that signals a new direction. There is a little spark of sorts with these three pine paintings, and I'm excited for the challenge and new direction they may spark in my work. Please contact Riverwood Gallery in Eau Claire, WI for more information on today's piece.

Summer Green Pines

"Summer Green Pines" 4"w x 12"h

I must admit that the winter snow is pretty. The blue shadows cast by the trees along with the warm color of sunshine on the snow compliment the cool grays of the skies. Today the snow is softly falling due to a warm front rolling through bringing us a few days of reprieve from the last couple weeks of subzero weather. In a couple days, the subzero returns for the near future, and that has me thinking and dreaming about summer weather. Today's painting titled Summer Green Pines will help with the winter blahs. We're approaching the winter solstice next week which will mark the shortest day of the year. After that, we gain daylight every day until spring melts away the bitter sting of old man winter and the warm colorful carefree days of summer begin again. Please contact Riverwood Gallery in Eau Claire, WI for more information on today's piece.

Ever Reaching

"Ever Reaching" Lizzards Gallery, November 2013, 30"w x 24"h

Today's painting titled Ever Reaching is among several new works at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN. This piece in particular I really enjoyed due to it's background. There are two cobalt blue ridges in the distance, and I had fun with adding light color value to the blues as I was finishing off the background. The blues complement the colorful maples in the foreground which have a brighter than usual color value to them. The subject of this piece is the three majestic white pines along the foreground ridge, but I just enjoyed every aspect of this painting, adding bright color and contrasting that with the deep foreground shadows cast by the trees. Please contact Lizzards Gallery for more information on today's piece.

Pine Forest Sunset

"Pine Forest Sunset" 18"w x 18"h

This painting titled Pine Forest Sunset stands apart from the rest of the work in the show. This one features majestic white pines and sunset over the sparkling water. The multi-colored rock formations along the water suggest this could be somewhere in the boundary waters (bwca) of northern minnesota. I took a couple trips to the bwca when I was a boy scout and remember the rocks and pines and camping right along the shore. I also remember throwing rocks at a black bear that was trying to steal our food that was suspended from a pack between two trees about 20 feet off the ground. The bear was trying to cut the rope with his claws ... something tells me he had some experience stealing food this way. He didn't get our food that night but it's a one of many fond memories of moose, bear, eagles, fish and campfires along the lake. Funny how a painting can bring back so many powerful memories. I guess a picture can say a thousand words.

This painting featured today is part of my Fall Forests show which may viewed now through mid December, 2013 at First Lutheran Church in Duluth, MN.

Pine River

"Pine River" 18"wx18"h, Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais, MN

I titled this painting Pine River after it was complete due to the distant pine ridge in the background. The title is a bit ironic as I had some fancy birch river type of title in my head as I was working, yet the background becomes the subject and title as it so often happens in my work. The rocks in the piece have some variation of color hue, size and shape, and the river sparkles in ultramarine blue tones. The light source is a bit on the subtle side, with the evergreen shadows on the different parts of the riverbank give a glimpse of distant ambient light. My work has been becoming more intricate as of late as well, something new for me ... but I enjoy the challenge of new subjects and styles. But running thoughout this piece and others of mine as well is the concept of minimalism. How do I paint this subject as simply and clearly as possible? That's a question I often ask myself as I work. I endeavor to answer that question with a singular brush and limited color palette. Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this piece.

Sparkling Rocks

"Sparkling Rocks" 24"w x 24"h

Today's painting titled Sparkling Rocks, along with yesterday's titled Autumn River, both feature a subtle change I've noticed in my newer work. I'm focusing more on capturing the dappled light that filters it's way through the trees in many shades of color. The rocks in the paintings also have a lot of thought and pondering put into them as I've worked on them. The subject of many of landscapes has always been the trees and skies ... yet in these pieces the subject is clearly the foreground waters and rocks. It was quite a struggle to work on these paintings initially, then it was a joy at the end, and I found myself sad to see them go, almost like saying goodbye to a friend and finishing a good book. I know there are more chapters to write though, more thoughts and words to be shared in the coming future as I explore this theme more in depth. You can't judge a book by it's cover, yet I like what I see so far, and I hope my collectors do as well. :)

Please contact Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on this piece.

Mossy Birchland

"Mossy Birchland", 16"w x 20"h

Today's piece features a new element for me ... moss. I've tried to capture the color of mossy rocks before, but with this new work I was influenced by the moss growing on birch trees around my home. I took some reference photos and put some thought into what may look best. I enjoyed the greens on the birch trees, and pictured a landscape where the trees, rocks, and forest floor all echoed the greens in the black areas of the birch trees. What this painting has done has opened up a wide range of new ideas and the tough part is picking which to paint! I'll be sharing more down the road, but for today, this painting makes me smile, looking forward to what another day will bring. All my best, Aaron

Fine Pines

"Fine Pines" 8"w x 8"h

Today's piece is part of a collection of eight new landscapes that will be available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN in the next few days. This piece was inspired by a summer sky that was so blue it was just too beautiful and I had to paint it ... the white pines and rocks are a familiar sight in this part of the world. The lake is a deep ultramarine blue, reflecting the sky ... and there's the wonderful greens in the distance and foreground ... this time of year, the trees are still leafing out and the leaves are a wonderful collection of bright greens. -A

Fab Five

"Fab Five" 10"w x 10"h $100

The title says it all. :) ... oh, and TGIF! -A

Please contact Siiviis Gallery for more information about this painting.

Mossy Maple Ridge

Acrylic on 12"w x 12"h x 1.5"d canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.SOLD
One more little 12x12" canvas featuring fall Maples and Evergreens. The deep greens of the Evergreens influenced the background with the multiple shades of green fading off into the distance. I'm happy that the use of green puts special emphasis on the foreground highlights and shadows. I feel so drawn to the way light filters through trees and casts shadows on the ground that I feel that I may explore this even more, delving deeper and deeper into the forest, looking for the early sunrise and late twilight sunsets. I'm already thinking several canvases ahead, when this happens, you need to make a special effort to paint and create, to capture what's in your head and heart. Up next this week is a 36"w x 24" Maple sunrise forest, then some Lester Park Pines ... I'm thinking vertical, but we'll see. :)

Golden Shadows

 Acrylic on 8"w x 10"h Canvas Panel
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please email me at aaronklossartwork@gmail.com for purchase information.

At first I was going to feature the gold toward the horizon but decided to go big and cover the sky with gold. Sunsets can be captivating with their range of color in varying degrees of intensity. I often wonder if things were reversed and the sky was sunset colored all day and turned sky blue at sunset if we would be so captivated by the blue because it's different. We'll never know the answer to that thought but I find blue skies and sunset skies both captivating. :)

Inching Closer

Acrylic on 12"w x 22"h x 2"d Canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.

SOLD

I've been really enjoying painting the negative spaces of paintings. Some painters cringe at the thought of a vast blue sky and how to paint it to look interesting, but I've been looking for negative spaces within compositions, such as the space between tree limbs or other elements. This painting features four trees that are hanging on to each other, inching closer to the edge, just curious about what's down there. Whenever I hike along a rugged stream or lake, I want to look over cliff edges myself .. there's just something about coming close to the edge. It's better to have someone to hold onto if you slip too. :)

Casting Shadows

Acrylic on 18"w x 36"h x 2"d Canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please contact Lizzard's Gallery for purchase information.

Romping through the woods has given me lots of inspiration as of late and this painting reflects this. I've encountered rock formations that were so interesting that I just had to photograph them and place them in my memory for future reference. It's always amazing how the trees can grow right out of the rocks, it reflects a lot of determination of the tree's behalf. Growing where no tree has grown before. Maybe we can learn something from them. For now, I'm content to paint them and enjoy them in all their fall color. Casting their shadows on the forest floor and enjoying the view they have.

More Autumn Reference

With the Autumn leaves rapidly approaching peak color, I've been out in the woods snapping up photos as fast as I can. Yesterday we hiked along Skyline Parkway around 40th Ave. West in Duluth where there are some massive rock outcroppings reaching up towards the sky. I've always wanted to explore this area, and I was able to get right up to the base of the cliffs and snap some interesting photos in the shadow of the ridge, along with the setting sun filtering through trees. In these reference photos you can see the ridge in the background appearing like a mountain.

The rocks are crumbly, giving the impression based on their mossy texture that they've been there forever and the trees have grown up all around them. It's amazing to find pines and maples growing out of the face of the rocks or out of cracks, wherever they can find room. The leaves and ferns are blazing gold in color, but the green leaves mixed in tells me I still have time to enjoy the season's color. Today's expedition will be to Lester Park, the famous Seven Bridges Road and Lester Falls.

I'll be bringing my camera. :)

Autumn Inspiration

 

We took a nice evening hike through the rocky creek bed of upper Lincoln Park yesterday and I snapped up as many photos as my camera could hold. The sun was setting and the shadows and deep colors were so peaceful and beautiful that it was difficult to leave. Sometimes I forget how blessed we are to live in such a place surrounded by rugged wilderness that has remained for the most part untouched. I've been thinking about the direction for my next series of paintings and I've found myself drawn to compositions that feature bluestones with maples, birch and pine trees growing above the rocks. I suppose the rocks anchor the composition, much like the foundation of a house, but I'm drawn to the subtle shades of blue I see in the rocks featured in these photos. 

When I view art, I always want to know why the artist chose the subject matter. It is rare to speak to the artist and usually the closest you can get to an explanation is the artist's statement. That's where the internet comes in handy, to offer a place for explanation and inspiration. I'm drawn to what I choose to paint because the subject matter connects with me emotionally and I try with every painting to capture the feeling I had when I viewed the subject matter.

I'm excited to begin a new series. I can't wait to pick up the brushes and begin the creative process all over again. After I dropped off my work at The Vanilla Bean for my show, I spent a few days quietly thinking about where to go next, and while the next series may be similar to 'Twilight Maples', it will incorporate new elements that will stretch me as an artist, and I feel ready for the challenge. In the meantime, enjoy a few inspiration photos, these photos offer a glimpse into where my work is heading. Please stop by soon to view the new works as they come off the easel. -A

Autumn Glory

12"w x 12"h, Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please email me at aaronklossartwork@gmail.com for purchase information.

Here's another painting in the Fall Walls series. This piece is backlit similar to 'Beautiful Autumn' which I posted last week. I'm really enjoying how the light appears to shine through the iron rail at the top of the bridge. The three pine trees and rock walls have been a theme of mine for a while now, there just seems to be no shortage of ideas for subjects to paint when you're surroundings are so captivating. My next paintings are a triptych featuring fall birches, they should be finished in a few days. :)