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. :)

Brown-leafed Birches

12"w x 12"h x 2"d, Acrylic on Canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please email me at aaronklossartwork@gmail.com for purchase information.

This painting is more of a fun color exercise. I forced myself to use a limited palette of blues and browns which complement the bridge wall stones. The Birches hold on to their last leaves while casting a shadow on the ground .. probably trying unsuccessfully to hide all the leaves they've already littered all over the ground. :)

Beautiful Autumn

12"w x 12"h, Acrylic on Stretched Canvas, Reserved
Click on image above to enlarge.
NFS

I've been planning on painting a series of Duluth bridges. The old bridges feature colorful stones with interesting shapes and concrete mortar. Many of them have black railings and lightposts as well. I'm drawn to the patterns in the stones of the bridges, and the landscapes surrounding them ... Forests filled with colorful Birch and Evergreens ... Rugged terrain filled with many rock outcroppings and steep grades. I was discussing my bridge ideas with my daughter Autumn and I asked her what she thought. She said that I should paint the bridges in the Autumn with the colorful leaves. (Whenever you have creative block, just ask a kid what to do, they're full of good ideas)

So this is my first of many bridge paintings.
This one's for you, beautiful Autumn. :)

From The Top

8"w x 10"h, Graphite on Archival Paper
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please email me at aaronklossartwork@gmail.com for purchase information.

'Intermission drawing' number three. This rose was in a vase and I drew it looking down at the vase, hence the title. I like adding in the rosebuds in the background as they help create visual interest in the composition, and also assure the viewer of more beautiful roses to come in the future. The Rose Garden in Duluth features many varieties of roses, and you often find the roses in various stages as you walk through the garden. It will be a few months until the garden is in full bloom, until then I get to draw these roses that are arranged in a vase. :)

Petaling

8"w x 10"h, Graphite on Archival Paper
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please email me at aaronklossartwork@gmail.com for purchase information.

'Intermission drawing' number two. These drawings are an excellent way to bridge the gap between my paintings. When you work in a series of paintings, you often work on several at a time, which means you complete them more in groups. It isn't that I'm not painting, I'm just stopping to catch my breath .. and smell the roses. :)

Four Roses

8"w x 10"h, Graphite on Archival Paper
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please email me at aaronklossartwork@gmail.com for purchase information.

This is an 'intermission' drawing. I'll post a few more of these drawings this week while I'm stretching canvas and preparing my next series of paintings. Drawing always brings me back to my roots, back to the whole reason I've been an artist my whole life. I love to draw, it's something I can do without even thinking, just get lost in the process of line and shading. Check back to the blog often, more art coming soon. :)

Winter Garden

12"w x 12"h x 1.5"d, Acrylic on stretched canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please email me at aaronklossartwork@gmail.com for purchase information.

I've been working on this painting for some time. Originally, I was going to paint three pines on the top but decided as I was working to add a few more and according to my Minnesota math it looks like there are six trees now. People are thinking about gardening now with the warm sunny weather starting to roll in, so I thought the proper title for this piece should reflect that. Again I'm enjoying the complementary colors of gold and blue in the sky along with the deep greens and crimsons of the plant life that I've been working with the last several paintings. Who would have thought that winter could be so colorful?

Spring Sunset

12"w x 12"h x 2"d, Acrylic on stretched canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please email me at aaronklossartwork@gmail.com for purchase information.

All throughout this series of paintings I've been trying to capture contrast between the shades of gray in the steep rocky walls with the brightness of the snow and sky. This painting by far is my favorite. I enjoyed painting the birch trees with lots of chunky brush strokes. I continued that technique into the sky where a wide range of blues complement the sunset. The pines and crimson red bushes add the color punch as they remind old man winter that it's time to pack his bags and head out of town. Soon this land will be covered in green grasses and wildflowers. :) I have a couple more in this series to post this week before I depart from this theme and move onto warmer themes. Check back soon and stay warm!

Winter's End

12"w x 12"h x 2"d, Acrylic on stretched canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please email me at aaronklossartwork@gmail.com for purchase information.

This painting is intentionally on the darker side to contrast with the sky. I had fun with the rocks and pines in this one, especially when it appears that the Birch tree on the right is gesturing towards them. :) The sun is gaining strength, it won't be long 'til Spring arrives. Can you tell I have Spring fever? lol

Spring Glow

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

It's so nice to see the sunshine today. This winter has been tougher for my family than usual. It wasn't so much the weather, but the colds, bugs, and flus that have slowed me down. But I'm picking up the palette yet again and loading it up with color that's guaranteed to melt the snow and bring Spring. :)

Rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. Joel 2:23

Hint of Spring

12"w x 12"h x 2"d, Acrylic on stretched canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.

I've been working on a small series of late winter paintings. I have a total of five going at once, and two additional paintings to rework. It will be fun to see them all finished and together. I've been experimenting with dappled light and layered colors lately. I love the 'happy accidents' that occur during this expressive painting technique. I also love it when the snow melts. Spring is not too far away.

Three Sturdy Birches Study

10"w x 8"h x 2"d, Acrylic on canvas panel
Click on image above to enlarge.

This quick birch study was inspired by the sun setting behind the birch trees across the road from my house. The long blue shadows danced across the snow. Now that the weather has been warming, there are areas of ground visible through the snow. We have a lot of clay in our soil around here, which gives it a nice reddish tone. The pine trees make for a gentle green backdrop while the distant snowy hill beckons you on to the next adventure. It's been a while since I've posted, due to the flu bug hitting our house. It's nice to be back on my feet. :)

Pine Beams

12"w x 12"h x 2"d, Acrylic on stretched canvas
Click on image above to enlarge.

This nice little piece features five pine trees basking in the glow of the Northern Lights. I envisioned the pines reaching up, following the shafts of light. There are also five distinct beams of light. Repetition is one of the elements of design, and these pine trees growing on Minnesota's rugged terrain are rooted on the solid rock but they keep growing up ... looking up.

Copycat

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

This little tree is copying the mountain. Perhaps the tree will grow taller than the mountain someday but for now the tree is content to copy. I like the cool blue shadows in the foreground. Funny thing about winter shadows is they appear blue on the snow. Have you ever noticed that? :)

Nighttime Family Excursion

10"w x 8"h, Acrylic on canvas panel
$75.00
Click on image above to enlarge.

This fun little nighttime painting depicts four trees growing on a rock outcropping overlooking Lake Superior. I like to think of it as the trees are crowding together to see the moon, and the big parent trees are making sure the little trees don't get too close to the edge. :) The moon reflecting in the water with the waves makes for an interesting geometric shape. Enjoy.

Sunset Gorge

24"w x 12"h x 1.5"d, Acrylic on stretched canvas.
Click on image above to enlarge.
Please email me at aaronklossartwork@gmail.com for purchase information.

I enjoyed painting this one. The lighting and composition beckon you (or dare you?) to walk across this frozen lake in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota and peek around the steep rocky bank. The sun is setting and casting some long blue shadows while three pine trees enjoy the vista.