Frozen Birch Forest

Today's painting is titled Frozen Birch Forest, 24x36, and is part of a new group of winter landscapes at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. The birch forest was frozen when I painted this night landscape that features the moon in the center, sparkling and shimmering across the sky and snowy foreground. We are currently enjoying a January thaw, but no doubt we'll have a couple more arctic blasts before the end of winter. But for now, I'm enjoying the blue shadows of winter, while eagerly yearning for Spring.

Autumn at the Depot

"Autumn at the Depot" 36x24

It's a new year and along with changing the calendar I have some new paintings ready to go, and endless ideas to explore this coming year. I thought I'd start this year off with a special piece, this painting is titled Autumn at the Depot, and is 36x24, acrylic on canvas. This piece is my contribution to the Duluth Art Institute's annual membership exhibition. The show is always a fun assortment of emerging artists and grumpy old professional artists like myself .. and everyone inbetween. If you're in the Duluth area anytime between Jan. 26 and Feb. 24 2017, please stop by the Depot to view this piece and many more interesting pieces from the other members. I had fun painting this one, reminiscing on my many trips to the Depot with my children when they were younger to see the trains and play at the children's museum. I used my imagination on this one as well, painting the depot in Autumn while using a winter reference photo I had taken, and also using a night setting which allowed the golds of the foliage and the light cream color of the building to pop against the night sky. The roof is a greenish grayish color, and I also didn't want to try to pair that color against a light blue or gray sky. Otherwise, I slaved away on this piece as the roofline and window details kept me making constant adjustments, but I didn't mind as I wanted this to be a memorable piece, which it is. Here's to a wonderful 2017 filled with life, laughter, color, and joy ... and many more memorable trips to the Depot.

Just Another Night in Northern Minnesota

I had a little fun with the title of this new 36x24" piece, with the title Just Another Night in Northern Minnesota. I implied that every night is like the one depicted in this painting, with a warm full moon reflecting off a lake with thousands of rich blue speckles dancing across the sky. Is that accurate? Well, I guess you just need to visit or move here to find out. :) From a warm summer night to a sub zero winter night, you find beauty in northern Minnesota .. that much is true. This piece was recently delivered to Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN.

Ultra Marine Moon

'Ultra Marine Moon'

This piece includes a favorite things of mine ... the moon, night skies, lakes, and ultramarine blue. This piece is titled Ultra Marine Moon and is 6x18", acrylic on canvas, recently brought in to Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN. Rich ultra marine blue fills the skies and waters, with the horizon line of rocks breaking the plane from skies to distorted water ripples, and the moon shines bright in the sky, along with the stars and distant blue ridges .. just a few of my favorite things.

Please email me if you'd like more information on commissioning a special painting for your home or office.

Stars

'Stars'

Today's painting is titled Stars, and is a new 8x10" acrylic on canvas recently delivered to Siiviis Gallery in Duluth. This piece is a playful take on a moonlit lake. Stars are scattered across the sky and the full moon shines bright and reflects on the lake, illuminating the rocks and birches in the foreground. I'm off to the races ... enjoy your day ... and night.

I'm available for custom work. Please email me if you'd like to order a special painting or print.
www.aaronkloss.com

Winter Cardinaland

"Winter Cardinaland"  24"w x 36"h

What do you get when you combine over 30 cardinals with rich deep blue and purple frozen landscape, rocks, birch, a lake and a moon? Why a Winter Cardinaland, of course. This piece is 24"w x 36"h and was brought into Siiviis Gallery yesterday. This painting follows along a theme of cardinals in coversation, something I've been working with for many years. The red birds sure pop off the cobalt night sky behind them. The eye is drawn down to the many shades of blue and purple in the foreground, along with the lake and foreground shadows, but inevitably the eye is drawn back up with the tall birches and the cardinals perched on them. Anchoring the piece is the moon in the center, radiating across the sky and casting silvery light across everything. This is a view of winter I could get used to.
All my best, 
—A. Kloss
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. 

A Midwinter's Night

"A Midwinter's Night"  18"w x 6"h, Siiviis Gallery, Duluth MN

After taking a blogging break for a few weeks, I'm back with a pretty purple painting titled A Midwinter's Night. This 18"w x 6"h piece features the silver moon casting it's bright light across the frozen birch landscape. The sky is a deep rich purple color, and the undertones of the painting are the same purple. In the deep winter you can find beauty, especially in the colors of the shadows on the snowy landscape. Winter is a time for me to reflect on my accomplishments and plan for a new year. What will 2016 bring? We'll just have to wait and see ... but I have a good feeling about this next year. I've been in a good rhythm lately, painting many large commissions and also a nice selection of small canvases like this one currently at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN. Please stop back soon, and enjoy that midwinter night moonlight.

Christmas Sky and book signing at Zeitgeist

"Christmas Sky"  Acrylic on 20"w x 16"h canvas

This is a painting titled Christmas Sky which is 20"w x 16"h, acrylic on canvas. This piece is featured in the book I collaborated with author Chuck Haavik to create and this evening I'm pleased to announce that I will be signing books at the Zeitgeist Arts center in downtown Duluth. Joining me is the author of the book I illustrated titled Christmas Here in Northern Lands. We will be signing books from 7 - 9:00 p.m., please stop by and say hi if you're in the area. There will be live music, treats, and the original paintings from the book will be displayed. Be there or be square! ;)
The book may be purchased online at the following link: http://www.chuckhaavikauthor.com/

Northern Lights Triptych

"Northern Lights Triptych"  12"w x 4"h

Featured today is a fun little piece titled Northern Lights Triptych. While the subject matter is the night sky filled with the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, there is a playful abstract feel to this painting. From the the three panel format, to the bright green squares dancing across the sky, this painting was a joy to paint. Night paintings are always a joy because there is a mystery to them, and a natural contrast of light and dark ... not to mention endless shades of my favorite color which of course is blue. The northern lights have been brilliant this year, hopefully as we get closer to autumn I can catch some dancing across the night sky. For now,  I'm content to paint the mystery of the aurora borealis in the northern Minnesota night skies. 

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

Aurora On The Lake

"Aurora On The Lake"  20"w x 16"h, Sivertson Gallery

Today's painting, titled Aurora On The Lake, is 20"w x 16"h, acrylic on canvas, and available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. Wow, there was a lot of commas in that last sentence. Anyways, this painting is a playful take on the aurora borealis, otherwise known as the northern lights that are frequently visible here in northern Minnesota. In this piece, the distant rocky shoreline breaks the plane of the sky and water, causing a mirror image of bright green against a ultramarine night sky which is framed by the birches and rocks in the foreground. Who knew the night could be so colorful and full of life? What an amazing subject to paint, the aurora. Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais for more information on this piece.

Night Sparkles

"Night Sparkles"  12"w x 9"h

Who would have thought that descriptive words such as 'sparkling' 'bright' 'reflective' and 'bright' would be associated with night? But those are some words people have used to describe my night paintings that feature the moon and stars. This particular painting, titled Night Sparkles, also gets it's brightness from the foreground birches and rocks. With all the beautiful blues of the night skies and waters, I don't know why more artists aren't drawn to paint the nightscape. But I can't resist. Perhaps it's the shades of blues that make up my favorite color, or the mystery of the darkened landscape, or maybe it's just the night sparkles. This piece is part of my show at the Art of Hair in Duluth now through September 2015.

Lakewalk Night Lights

"Lakewalk Night Lights" 20"w x 16"h, Siiviis Gallery

Today's painting, titled Lakewalk Night Lights, is a view of lake Superior by night at the spot on Duluth's lakewalk where the boardwalk meets the concrete path that takes you out to the lighthouse featured in the lower right of the painting. The lighthouse is lighting up the night sky with golden sparkles, but the moon is not to be outdone by shining brightly and reflecting off the waters. Stars twinkle in the sky, and the lights on the lighthouse walk are shining on the distant path. Just one of those warm summer nights that you wish could last just a bit longer. Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN, which is located just a block this lakewalk location, for more information on this piece. 

Colors of the Night

"Colors of the Night"  40"w x 16"h

Today is a new nightscape titled Colors of the Night, 40"w x 16"h. I enjoyed saturating the canvas with cobalt and ultramarine blue brushstrokes with this landscape. The gold moon in the center reflects off the water and sky. When you keep the background color dark, the birch trees and foreground rocks really pop. While everyone has been enjoying the northern lights recently, the moon is saying 'hey, don't forget about me!' Who knew the night could be so colorful? Perhaps that's why I love nightscapes, the rich blues and complementary golds are personal favorite colors. 

"Night time is really the best time to work. All the ideas are there to be yours because everyone else is asleep." ~Catherine O'Hara.  

Please contact Your Art's Desire Gallery in Minnetonka, MN for more information on this new nightscape.