November Woods

"November Woods" 12"w x 4"h

I have to chuckle a bit as I post this painting, titled November Woods, on a single digit temperature morning here in northern Minnesota. Usually, we get some snow that melts right away this time of year but we've been 20-30 degrees below normal for the past few weeks. We may get a one day break this weekend when temps spike above freezing before dropping down again. Strange weather pattern we are in .. all this to say that the November forest usually is fun to hike through, with all the leaves off the trees and crisp 30-40 degree weather. That's the memory that inspired today's piece ... birches with a bright blue sky and distant cranberry ridge. The forest floor is covered in brown leaves with a hint of twilight casting golden shadows in the foreground. Alas, the landscape is covered in white today, and people hurry about all bundled up, heads down against the sub zero windchill while the wildlife are hiding from the early winter. Please contact Your Art's Desire Gallery in Minnetonka, MN for more information on this piece.

Frosted Trees

"Frosted Trees"  30"w x 15"h

This painting, titled Frosted Trees, is a new favorite of mine, could be because it features my favorite (or favourite if you're Canadian ;) ) color blue. The trees this week have had a layer of frost on them, it won't be long until the snow flies and winter is upon us. But until them the lakes are a rich shade of blue and the frosty trees sparkle and shine off the water along the lakeshore here in northern Minnesota.

Birch Tree Shadows

"Birch Tree Shadows"  8"w x 10"h

While on a trip up the North Shore to Grand Marais last week, I had the opportunity to stare out the window as I rode as opposed to watching the road while driving. The trip reminded me of childhood memories of watching the world go by while riding in a vehicle and how much I've missed that over the years as I'm often the one driving. I was fascinated by the landscape and shoreline filled with birch trees and forest floor covered by recent snowfall. There was some warm groundcover visible through the snow .. gold colored rushes and grasses along with deep crimson undergrowth. The late afternoon sun cast long blue shadows through the trees and the lake was a deep ultramarine blue. I didn't take any photos as I often like to do ... but the images are captured and filed in my mind and heart and will no doubt influence my work in the coming weeks. I have several landscape compositions coming soon, along with lots of 'stocking stuffer' 4x4 canvases. :)

Please contact Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on today's post titled 'Birch Tree Shadows', a new original acrylic on canvas.

November Forest

"November Forest" 16"w x 20"h

I thought this painting would be fitting for the last day of November, 2012. It was an unseasonably warm month, and I feel this piece reflects that in the reds and burnt siennas of the foreground. The brightening cobalt blue sky in the distance and stark birches hint at the snowfall that's sure to cover the ground in a warm white blanket until the singing of birds and opening of buds gives way to the new life of spring. Time to burrow in for the winter and get to work ...

Please contact Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on this new original acrylic on canvas.