Listening In

'Listening In' 8"w x 8"h

Just a little red rascal perched on a birch.
Have a happy and safe Halloween. :)

This painting is available through my Daily Paintworks online gallery.

Birch Lookout Post

"Birch Lookout Post", 8"w x 8"h

Have you ever observed a bird sitting on a branch and wondered what it was thinking? When the birds aren't busy looking for food, building nests, caring for their young or migrating ... what is it that they do all day? On a chilly day like today, perhaps they are thinking of flying south for the winter ... at least that's what I'd do if I was a bird. :)

This painting is available through my Daily Paintworks online gallery.

Daily Painting: Cardinal in Green

Cardinal in Green, 8"w x 8"h

 A casual cardinal in a birch branch flanked by evergreen ridges in the distance. Red and green are such festive colors, aren't they?

This painting is available through my Daily Paintworks online gallery.

Back in the saddle

Tis the season for viruses and I picked up one which knocked me off my horse last week. (I don't own a horse, but I do have a brown cocker spaniel puppy named Crimson that likes to horse around when I'm working.) Anyways, I will be back to my usual self this week and will start posting new work starting tomorrow. I currently have a peaceful 20"wx16" landscape on the easel featuring golden birches on a lake. I just love the way reflections in water affect a composition's look and feel. I remember Monet being fascinated with water, painting it time after time in large scale works. I'll have to look into that bit of art history soon. Other works in process are several 12"wx12"h landscapes as well as several smaller works with cardinals and fall birches and maples. The snow hasn't started flying here yet in Duluth, but I have a feeling it won't be long before my work has the crisp white of snow covering the ground in the birch forests I love to paint. Have a great day! -A

Crimson on the park bench

Autumn Sky & Moon Shimmer

"Autumn Sky" 12"w x 12"

"Moon Shimmer"

Two more works available at Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth. Along with the the new forms of the colorful autumn trees, I've saturated the canvas with color deeper than my usual. At first, I didn't like the rich color as it was new ... but it sure has grown on me. It makes the painted canvases feel more alive in some way, almost as if the color is too rich to be hand painted. I can't wait to explore the color richness more ... always new frontiers to explore ... makes the artistic journey rewarding. :)

Rainy day here in Duluth, I need some inspiration ... perhaps working on some bright paintings will do the trick today. :)

Star Sprinkled Sky

"Star Sprinkled Sky" 12"w x 12"h

This piece is a continuation of the series I've been working on that features trees in the shapes they have when viewed from a distance. The nighttime sky is also a recent endeavor of mine to capture, one that is challenging and rewarding at the same time. There is a deep saturation of color with this series, especially the works like this one. If you like color, you'll love this series.

Please contact Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information about this piece.

Moonlit Jems

Moonlit Jems, 20"w x 16"h

The color saturation is a feast for the eyes. This piece, along with seven other new works at Blue Lake Gallery feature the repetition of the forms of trees as seen from a distance. I love the reflections in the lake, this painting has a nice feeling of whimsy.

Please contact Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information about this piece.

Sparkling Birches

"Sparkling Birches" 16"w x 20"h

I stopped in at Blue Lake Gallery the other day and one of the staff mentioned that I'm known as the 'birch tree guy'. When I heard that, two things came to mind ... one good, one not so good. On the good side, you want people to easily recognize your work as an artist. The last thing you want people to have to do is try to figure out who's painting they are looking at. On the not so good side of things, I don't want to limit my artistic vocabulary too much. So there's the balance of wanting to show off all my creativity, yet reigning it in so that my work is cohesive.

Ultimately, I want to paint what I'm passionate about. I love birch trees ... and blue stones ... and blue skies ... and intense color ... and square brush strokes. Did I mention birch trees?

Please contact Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information about this piece.

New work at Blue Lake Gallery

"Colorful Lake", 12"w x 6"h

"Birch Jewels, 6"w x 12"h

 I've recently dropped off seven new works at Blue Lake Gallery in Duluth. They were all painted simultaneously with the endeavor to use color in a new way. While I'm happy with the result, there is always the question 'should I veer at all away from what I'm creating lately?'.  I would venture to say 'no', to keep my artistic voice consistent and clear. While it's fun to try new things and blaze new artistic trails every so often, just like your signature that is unique to you, or your fingerprints being one of a kind, so the artist must return to their signature style, whatever that may be. I must return to the easel, there are landscapes patiently waiting for me. Gotta go.

Please stop back again soon as I'll be posting new work from Blue Lake Gallery several days this week.

Saturday morning landscapes

I thought I'd take a break from the easel and post some landscapes that were completed and sent out this week. These feature autumn colored trees as they appear from a distance. It's been a fun challenge working with these forms and how they interact together. It's 39 degrees and light rain here in Duluth today ... it's kind of a stay inside, wrap yourself in polar fleece and drink coffee kind of day. :)

Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marias, MN for more information about these paintings.

"Jewel Ridge" 6"w x 6"h

"Aurora" 6"w x 6"h

"Lake Jewels" 6"w x 6"h

"Tiny Jewels" 4"w x 4"h

Cadmium Birches

"Cadmium Birches" 10"wx10"h

The golden leaves on the birches are falling to the ground as we near the end of the dazzling northern Minnesota autumn leaf displays. I'm trying to capture as many as I can .. cadmium yellow and burnt sienna are the tubes of paint I'm grabbing as I work .. along with crimson and cobalt blue.


Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marias, MN for more information about this painting.

Autumn Inspiration Photos

A picture can say a thousands words .... rather than explain why I paint what I do ...  here's five reasons. :) Happy Friday! -A

Autumn At The Lake Triptych

"Autumn At The Lake Triptych" 30"w x 20"h

This piece will be available through the Duluth Art Institute's Artistic Duluth fine art auction  November 3, 2012 at the historic Kitchi Gammi Club in Duluth.

This painting incorporates trees in the forms that I've been viewing them in with all their seasonal color. With the trees decked out in reds, yellows and oranges, their foliage form is very interesting ... something you don't pick up when they're all in their summer greens. Soon snow will cover the ground and the trees will be barren but 'til then I'll enjoy their festive color.

Birch Fireworks

"Birch Fireworks", 12"w x 12"h

A painting from a previous show of mine titled Layers of Autumn inspired a new series of work including today's painting that explores the relation of multi-colored ridges in the landscape. Juxtaposed against the grain of the ascending ridges are the ever present birch trees. These trees feature gold leaves and are set off by the complementary cobalt sky in the distance.

Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marias, MN for more information about this painting.

Boys Amongst The Birches, Birch Boy & Fly Guy

"Boys Amongst the Birches" 10"w x 8"h

"Birch Boy" 4"w x 4"h

"Fly Guy" 4"w x 4"h

...Just some cardinals trying to hide amongst the golden birches and a pair of red winged wind riders on a cold, sunny October Tuesday morning.

Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marias, MN for more information about these paintings.

Reds Reaching Up and Red & Green Retreat

"Reds Reaching Up" 10"w x 8"h

"Red & Green Retreat" 8"w x 8"h

On a cool first day of October, I thought I'd post a couple pieces that feature the color crimson. Reds Reaching Up has a playful feel to the red and blue background and the golden birches are a happy witness. The crimson ridge in Red & Green Retreat calls attention to the background with it's complementary green capturing the eye. The peaceful feel to this piece inspired me to end the title with the word retreat.


 

Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marias, MN for more information about these paintings.