The Next Adventure

"The Next Adventure"

I was recently going through my photos and came across this piece which a commission I painted earlier this year for a local client. They were moving out of state and wanted a memory of Duluth that incorporated their frequent boat trips on lake Superior.  I love challenges and so I had to rely on my imagination a bit for this piece, using a perspective skill I learned in grade school to sketch out a balanced composition and then picked up my trusty paintbrush and I had a lot of fun while using a touch of imagination. So the result is a colorful summer painting of Duluth from the lake with a fictional thousand footer 'saltie' ore boat heading out on her next adventure, with a golden sunset sky glowing and the aerial bridge horn giving a final farewell salute.

“We need the tonic of wildness...At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.” 

-Henry David Thoreau

I Will Remember You

Today's painting is titled I Will Remember You, and is a 20"w x 16"h special commissioned piece for a Duluth resident. Their realtor commissioned me to paint the house these folks had lived in for 40 plus years as a gift to them. So I thoroughly enjoyed painting this tudor style house, even if it was quite the challenge with it's architectural details. Prints of this painting are available on my online store, and yes, I paint house portraits ... feel free to send me an email if you'd like a free quote on a special painting of your own home.

Glowing Lighthouse

"Glowing Lighthouse"  10"w x 8"h

The latest of the lighthouses, this piece, titled Glowing Lighthouse, is 10"w x 8"h but packs quite a complementary colored punch. The lighthouse is backlit by a setting sun in the sky, sparkling in the waning hours of daylight. The lighthouse seems content to bask in the glow of the end of the day, enjoying the time of rest before the beacon is lit and the lighthouse guides small sailing vessels and thousand foot safely in and out of the Duluth harbor. Blue and gold ... my favorite colors. I was reading recently about color spectrums and I apparently can see all the colors, which means I have four cones in my eyes, making me able to see subtle shades of colors that the majority of people cannot. Makes me wonder if people appreciate the subtle hues of colors I add to my work. Well, perhaps I'll never know, but it's interesting to note that people that have four cones in their eyes don't like yellow, and I don't ever really wear yellow clothing, but I paint with yellow quite often. Most people have two or three color cones in their eyes. I'm not too skilled in the science behind the color cones ... I'm just content to paint pretty pictures on canvas with a singular brushstroke ... keeping it simple. And sunsets ... I love sunsets, and ... they are yellow. Please contact Siiviis Gallery for more information on this lighthouse which is located adjacent to the gallery in Canal Park. 

Aerial Lift Bridge: Cobalt Sky

"Aerial Lift Bridge: Cobalt Sky" Acrylic on 24"w x 36"h canvas

I love to hike and travel the trails around Duluth and the north shore of Lake Superior, where I find my inspiration to paint. And as much as I love the woods and waters of the area, there is an element in the landscape that cannot be dismissed: the aerial lift bridge. It welcomes visitors to the area. It raises to let 1,000 ft. ore boats pass beneath ... and also small sailboats. It bridges Duluth and park point. It draws visitors and is visible from the hilltop as you enter Duluth. It's one of the most visually interesting structures I have ever seen. So it's only natural to get asked to paint the bridge if you live and work in Duluth. I've been asked to paint the bridge so many times I've just stopped counting. It's a challenge, that's for sure ... and for an artist that wants to paint the woods, it's a challenge to just depart from nature to paint a structure. But I've always been one that wanted/needed a challenge, and so here's the result of my latest effort. This piece is titled Aerial Lift Bridge: Cobalt Sky, and is 24"w x 36"h. This is actually my second attempt at this subject matter. My first attempt was back in July of 2012 with a painting titled Aerial Lift Bridge Number 1, which is included in this blog post in a smaller format. I remember this first attempt well. I worked so long on this piece that I was happy to have it finished and thought I'd never return to this subject ever again. But after many requests, I've painted the bridge once again. The bridge. What would Duluth be without it? Just another port city, I suppose. But with the local economy booming, jobs plentiful, people moving in town causing a tight housing market, the landscape bountiful with recreational opportunities, and a bright future, Duluth is poised for growth. It's a beautiful place to live and work. And it's home the aerial lift bridge. Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on this piece.

Warm Winter Sky

"Warm Winter Sky"  30"w x 15"h

This piece, titled Warm Winter Sky, conveys a feeling of hope and warmth in the midst of an icy blue early winter landscape. The frosty trees, rich blue lake and icy blue stones complement the bright golds of the sky ... and the reflection of the sun in the lake ties the two color elements together. Perhaps this piece was inspired by the recently warming temps here in Duluth, MN after the freezing spell we recently went through. Every painting has a sweet spot, a place in the piece you enjoy, and for me, the sun in the sky does it for me. Maybe I just need to soak up some sun. :)
Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on this piece.