Light of the World

"Light of the World"  36"w x 24"h

Today's painting, titled Light of the World, is 36"w x 24"h, acrylic on canvas. This painting was commissioned and features Split Rock Lighthouse set in a late summer scene with the sun shining brightly in the sky and reflecting upon the water. This is a bright and cheerful painting and is my fifth attempt at painting this scene. Each time I paint the lighthouse I try a different approach, this particular approach hinting at changing seasons with the green foliage with gold highlights. I also enjoy a challenge, and this piece brought it. And this is also my sixth commissioned painting in a row, wow ... lots of custom work, very enjoyable. Please send me an email if you'd like to commission a special painting. (aaronklossartwork@gmail.com) All my best, Aaron

Summer at Split Rock

This new painting is titled Summer at Split Rock, and is 36"w x 36"h on canvas, and was delivered to Lizzards Gallery in Duluth just yesterday. This painting is probably my third effort at painting Split Rock Lighthouse, and I enjoyed painting the rocks, waters and sky of this piece. Here are links to my other paintings of Split Rock from the past:
Why Can't This Night Go On Forever?
Hope Springs Eternal

As you well know, at least you know if you read my blog ... I love painting negative spaces and backgrounds of compositions. The subject is frequently an afterthought, as I work to draw attention to other areas of the painting. In this piece, I focused on the hue of the water first, using blues, purples and teals to give the water a rich color. I then continued that color palette into the stones and sky, increasing the value until I was happy with the contrast between the different elements. The lighthouse perched on top of the rocks is the brightest part of the painting and draws the eye, but I hope the viewer lingers to enjoy the waters and rocks ... at least that's where you'll find me, sitting on the rocks and skipping stones into lake Superior while I listen to the waves crash against the rocky shoreline. That never gets old.

Hope Springs Eternal

"Hope Springs Eternal" 24"w x 36"h

This night painting of Split Rock Lighthouse, titled Hope Springs Eternal is a donation to ARTcetera, which is an auction to benefit the Miller Dwan Foundation and medical concerns in our region. The event is held at the Duluth DECC's Harbor Side Convention Center and Ballroom on September 27 and features a live auction, dinner, live music, dancing ... all that good stuff. This piece is more of an autumn themed work with the sparkling golds of the vegetation on the left side of the painting. The lighthouse is perched on the cliff ever observing the great lake Superior while the moon overshadows the entire composition, casting it's golden light across the skies and waters and wrapping the stones of the cliff in its warm embrace. This painting was actually inspired during the deepest part of this past winter where we had record cold and snow, and while I gazed across the frozen tundra and saw the emptiness of the cold, snow and barren trees ... I thought of this painting, filled with golden light and life and color. And when ARTcetera contacted me for a donation, I couldn't think of a better painting to help the medical community to help those who are hurting. Winter .. and life in general, can have it's coldness and darkness .. but hope springs eternal.

Why Can't This Night Go On Forever?

For this piece, titled Why Can't This Night Go On Forever?, and is 60"w x 48"h, the subject is a golden moon over lake Superior with Split Rock Lighthouse, the jagged rocks of the cliffs and endless blue skies and waters. This painting actually has quite a story behind it. On my first date with my future wife Kathy, which was set up by some friends, we went to where else but Perkins for a bite to eat .. where all the college students went in those days ... and then decided to set out on a little adventure up the Scenic 61. We drove with some friends all the way up to Split Rock Lighthouse, and for some reason, we pulled in and the gate was left open. Normally, the gate would have been shut, but tonight the park ranger forgot, and so a little after midnight we parked close to the lighthouse and walked up to the edge of the cliff. The moon hung over the water and sparkled across the lake while some people had a campfire across the bay. As I looked at the moon and the lake and the scene I remember thinking why can't this night go on forever? Most first dates might not be so adventurous and spontaneous as ours was, but that's just the way I was made, and it wasn't too much longer I proposed to my wife at Coppertop Church on the top of the hill in Duluth ... with the moon once again smiling down on us, sparkling and dancing across the water...