Pine River

"Pine River" 18"wx18"h, Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais, MN

I titled this painting Pine River after it was complete due to the distant pine ridge in the background. The title is a bit ironic as I had some fancy birch river type of title in my head as I was working, yet the background becomes the subject and title as it so often happens in my work. The rocks in the piece have some variation of color hue, size and shape, and the river sparkles in ultramarine blue tones. The light source is a bit on the subtle side, with the evergreen shadows on the different parts of the riverbank give a glimpse of distant ambient light. My work has been becoming more intricate as of late as well, something new for me ... but I enjoy the challenge of new subjects and styles. But running thoughout this piece and others of mine as well is the concept of minimalism. How do I paint this subject as simply and clearly as possible? That's a question I often ask myself as I work. I endeavor to answer that question with a singular brush and limited color palette. Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this piece.

Rock On

"Rock On", 18"x 18", Sivertson Gallery Grand Marais, MN

Spending so much time at lake Superior and the local creeks this summer has influenced my work. The rocks that line the waters have such interesting forms and colors, and the reflections in the water is also very visually interesting. I haven't been trying to capture what I see realistically, but I paint more of the lasting impression the landscape makes upon me. The rocks are scattered all across the canvas in this piece, and the rocks feature a wide range of grays and cobalt blues. The sun sparkles in a straight line across the canvas vertically, and it reflects across the exposed land. The water is a bit more subtle in this piece too, the sparkles are there, but don't compete too much with the golds and yellows of the sun. Rock on.

Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this piece.

Sparkling Rocks

"Sparkling Rocks" 24"w x 24"h

Today's painting titled Sparkling Rocks, along with yesterday's titled Autumn River, both feature a subtle change I've noticed in my newer work. I'm focusing more on capturing the dappled light that filters it's way through the trees in many shades of color. The rocks in the paintings also have a lot of thought and pondering put into them as I've worked on them. The subject of many of landscapes has always been the trees and skies ... yet in these pieces the subject is clearly the foreground waters and rocks. It was quite a struggle to work on these paintings initially, then it was a joy at the end, and I found myself sad to see them go, almost like saying goodbye to a friend and finishing a good book. I know there are more chapters to write though, more thoughts and words to be shared in the coming future as I explore this theme more in depth. You can't judge a book by it's cover, yet I like what I see so far, and I hope my collectors do as well. :)

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

Autumn River

That colorful season called Autumn is just around the corner as the record heat we've had here in Northern Minnesota gradually subsides this week. The cool weather, bright blue skies and warm color of changing leaves inspired this piece which is available at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN. The rocks in the river are an assortment of cobalt blues and warm grays that I've been wanting to experiment with for some time. My many hikes along Amity Creek by my house have given me some fresh ideas and I can't wait to work them onto the canvas. I have one more new piece with these types of rocks that I'll post tomorrow. In any landscape painting, there is a subject. Sometimes the artist places the subject intentionally, such as a bird or deer, but in this case, the subject rocked. :)

Light The Night

"Light The Night"

While visiting the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MN last week, I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with many of my favorite artists from the impressionism and post-impressionism movements. One artist whose work really caught my attention at the gallery was Monet. I had viewed his works many times in books over the years, but while viewing it in person, I noticed things that photos don't reveal. The brushstrokes and color were so fascinating to me, almost as if viewing the work for the first time. One of Monet's habits was to work in series. For example, his haystack paintings, while famous, were to him a lesson in lighting. He painted the same haystack over and over in different lighting throughout the day. For him, it helped him understand color and light, but for his career, it launched him and his life changed. While I'm not one to copy anyone else, I do learn from their habits and working in series for me is great way to explore light, color, technique and subject matter. It takes the pressure off of what to paint, and focuses it on the series and you end up with a body of work that's cohesive and that helps to establish your artistic voice. This piece today titled Light Up The Night features a simple autumn ridge with a dark ultramarine blue sky, but the subject is the moon. It's so large that it's partly concealed by the ridges of crimson and burnt sienna. This is a first for me, and I like the outcome. I envision many works in this theme focusing on light.
For more information on this piece please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN

In The Limelight

"In The Limelight" 8"w x 8"h

I loved this little fella so much I just couldn't part with him. :) The soft blue moon surrounding him, along with the deep cobalt sky just brought a smile to my face after the title popped in my head, as it often does right as I'm completing a canvas. I haven't kept a painting in quite some time, this one now hangs in the kitchen, in the limelight.
-A

Sugar Maple Birches and Boston, MA

"Sugar Maple Birches" 36"w x 12"h

I'm back from a trip to Boston where I had the rare opportunity to view artwork in person from some masters whose work I've viewed many times over the years in print. I was amazed at the color and texture of the work, and also of the style in which they painted which still seemed so fresh even after hundreds of years. Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Picasso, O'Keefe, Warhol, Gauguin, just to name a few. I took some reference photos with my iphone for my own personal memories, yet the photos don't do the work justice. The trip itself was like stepping back in time in many ways, to revisit work which as so inspired me, and to walk the streets and sidewalks of those who lived during the revolutionary war time. Standing at Paul Revere's house, looking up at the steeple of the Old North Church where he hung the two lanterns, taking a Freedom Trail tour with a guide dressed in colonial attire ... all of it made a lasting impression on me and I appreciate the rich history of our nation all the more.

Here's a painting I dropped off at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth last week titled 'Sugar Maple Birches' which features distant maples dressed in their green summer leaves and crisp white birches in the foreground. The sky is a medium cobalt blue. I've been painting but not posting and I've missed the time to pause and reflect on my work, something that perhaps the trip to Boston reminded me of .. slow down and take time to reflect. I've been on quite a fast pace as of late, perhaps I'll post some recent work this week to get caught up on my reflecting time now that I'm back in town. :)

Luscious Autumn Lake

"Luscious Autumn Lake" 10"x 10"

"Blue Night"x 4" x 4"

Today as I'm wrapping up a new series of paintings that feature the sun, moon and stars ... I thought I'd share a couple recent pieces that have similar subject matters, compositions and colors. There's an element of simplicity that runs through my work like an undercurrent in a stream. When I look back at my work, I can see where I'm fascinated by a sky or other element and work hard to get it just right ... to get that depth of color that comes from countless brush strokes of intensifying pigment and color value. In the case of today's painting, I was fascinated by the sky and found satisfaction in the outcome, even though the subject of the piece is the moon reflecting on the lake, along with the rows of brightly colored autumn ridges. It's just a reflection of mine on my work, what attracts my eye and makes me smile to many may be unnoticed, and that's ok as long as they connect with the piece visually. I find worth and accomplishment in the simple things ... and hope to continue that through my work until it achieves the purpose of art ... to convey the message in a way that is clear and singular in purpose, thought, and execution ... and in a way that is completely unique to the artist and comes from within. Simple, right? :)

Simply contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on these pieces.

Golden Summer Sun

"Golden Summer Sun" 8"w x 8"h

"Sunrise" 4"w x 4"h

The days lately have been warm and sunny here in Duluth, MN. The sun is definately packing a punch this time of year, and the heat sometimes gets to me especially towards the end of the day. The sun rises and sets ... and is so frequently forgotten or overlooked in landscapes. As an artist, I find myself trying to always find a new composition, the latest subject matter, or a way to paint something completely new and creative. Yet it's often the simple things that speak so profoundly to people. Like the sun in the sky simply shining in it's strength, today's paintings are simple and bright. Perhaps it's the contrasting color that draws me to this subject matter, or the shape of the sun along with my simple brushstrokes that complement eachother. Whatever it is, I'm enjoying this subject thoroughly, and currently have several new canvases on the easel which feature the moon as well. We'll just see where it all leads ...

Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on these pieces.

Autumn Embrace

"Autumn Embrace" 10"w x 10"h

Here's a fun autumn themed composition that really features the moon as it's central subject matter. When painting landscapes, one often wonders what the subject really is ... I often intentionally focus on one aspect of the landscape as my subject matter and explore that subject in great detail. Sometimes it's the sky with the thousands of shades of color I like to work into my color from the black gesso ground all the way to the final pigment color. I glaze over and over and use the brush to control the amount, pressing harder each time I lighten the color. I suppose I could work on one painting the rest of my life, adding color upon color, but there comes a point where the work feels complete and I'm satisfied with it. Like today's piece titled Autumn Embrace ... I'm just happy with the sky, the moon, the jewel toned trees, rocks and foreground.

Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this piece.

The Cordial Cardinal ... and Goldfinches!

"The Cordial Cardinal" 8"w x 8"h

When I painted my first blue jays earlier this year, I thought it would be fun to paint a cardinal and blue jay piece as a way of introduction. The cardinal has been such a great theme for me that I thought it best for and old friend to introduce some new friends (see the post labeled Departure). So I painted a similar piece for the introduction of my newest bird, the goldfinch.

These bright yellow little guys are simple in form, yet visually striking with the gold, black and white contrasting colors. Their bodies have a slightly different shape, and they don't have the signature head spike like the cardinal, yet these goldfinches are streamlined and visually interesting nonetheless. The markings on the wings complement the birch markings well, and I had a great time painting them. I have several new goldfinch pieces at Siiviis and Sivertson galleries so please be sure to contact them if you'd like a little more info. on the availability of size options.

Cool rainy day here in Duluth, MN. I'm currently working on remodeling my studio (in my spare time .. what's that??) so I'm painting in my sunroom which is surrounded by green leafed hardwood trees and shrubs and is a very restful, secluded place to paint. Maybe I'll see a goldfinch or two today ...

Cobalt Night

"Cobalt Night" 10"w x 10"h

"Blue Night", 4"w x 4"h

Last week I dropped off a large selection of smaller canvases at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth and Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. This group of work is very colorful and vibrant. Several new compositions including these two pieces featured here today. These are rich in cobalt blue and have that mysterious night color and lighting to them. The skies are filled with tiny stars and the moon sparkles off the lake. Please stop back soon as I'll be featuring new work this week ... including a new bird. :)

Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on these paintings.

Somewhere North of Here

"Somewhere North of Here" 48"w x 30"h Siiviis Gallery, Duluth, MN

Nice to be back to blogging after taking a mandatory self prescribed blog break. :) This is a new piece at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN that I've titled Somewhere North of Here. When I finished this one, I felt as though this painting is one to be remembered. It was a concept I carried for a long time and it's a good feeling to finally realize the concept on the canvas.

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

In The Hands of Time

"In The Hands of Time" 40"w x 30"h

This painting was for me a welcoming return to the subject matter that captured my heart when I began painting several years ago. Red and gold maples play off each other in repetition of form and color against a deep cobalt blue background. This piece is available at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN.

Through the Summer Birches and Four in Blue

"Through The Summer Birches" 12"w x 12"h

"Four in Blue" 4"w x 4"h

Here's a couple of birchscapes on a rainy June day. Fun to revisit these after dropping them off at the gallery. Every once and while I seem to hit the perfect shade of cobalt blue with the blend from light to dark that I'm always seeking after. There are two layers of greens in the piece titled Through the Summer Birches. The landscape is so lush around here with all the rainfall, I could have put in several more layers just to be more realistic lol. But there's an element of minimalism in my work that always years to capture the true essence of the image. My life and my artwork is a work in progress. So far, so good. :)

Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth for more information on these pieces.

Summer Moon

"Summer Moon"

"Summer Sonata"

Adding a quick post this Friday afternoon of some new cardinals available at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN. Have a great weekend! -A