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.

Once In A Blue Moon

"Once in a Blue Moon"

Sumptuous. That's the word I would use to describe the ultramarine blues in this piece. From the original pigment value all the way up to pure white, this piece covers them all. It isn't often that a painting connects so powerfully with me and speaks right from my heart. In fact, it only happens once in a blue moon.

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

Golden Sparkles

"Golden Sparkles"

On a cold, gray day, I thought this piece would brighten things up a bit. :) When I started this one, I kept the ultramarine blue on the dark side to give the gold ridge across the lake something to contrast and compliment. I wish this was my view today, perhaps kicked back in an adirondack chair on the front porch as I watch the sun setting across the lake through the birch trees. :)

Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information aboutthis painting.

My website's new look

Please visit my website and check out my 'new and improved' design. The new layout is more streamlined and offers enlarged sections of my work on each page. While I would wish that all could view my artwork up close and in person, the enlarged works on each page give a feel for the brushwork and depth of color that appears in my work. I plan to rotate these 'glimpses' into my work on a regular basis.
Cheers!
-Aaron

Hello Mr. Moon

"Hello Mr. Moon" 

I couldn't help but think of this painting last evening as the coldest weather rolled into Duluth yet this season dropping the temp into the single digits. There's something fascinating and inspiring about the evening sky ... and when it's reflected in water it becomes even more mysterious and captivating. Crimson reds of a distant maple forest across the lake reflect into the ultramarine blues of the water while stars twinkle in the sky. Hello Mr. Moon.

Descending Lights

"Descending Lights"

With this painting, I wanted to capture the northern lights descending as opposed to ascending as they frequently appear in the landscape. It's good to challenge yourself as you work ... and this one was a challenge ... a rewarding challenge.

Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information aboutthis painting.

Aurora Rising

"Aurora Rising" 9"w x 12"h

Another northern lights painting, this one pushes the light dark relationship even more towards the light. Night paintings are not easy. I know most people will only see the finished product and not all the pondering behind the color values and composition, and maybe that's a good thing. :) Frequently, when people stop by I say 'you can't see it .. it's not done yet!' But much of life is about the journey, so it's good to hear some feedback on works in progress. Today's painting is finished, but I'm not done yet, I have lots of landscapes to explore ... and capture on canvas.

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

Lights Across The Lake

"Lights Across The Lake" 10"w x 8"h

This is the first of a three-part series of works featuring northern lights. All I can say is that when I paint these lights in the sky, I almost feel as if they're too sacred to be painted ... perhaps something that should be viewed in person. When I've observed the northern lights in person, they've always been a greenish white color, and they move across the sky in almost a serpentine fashion. It's the most amazing thing, the lights along with the stars and the silhouettes of pines, birches, and maples. It's a sight you will never forget.

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

Sivertson Gallery Blog features my paintings :)

Sivertson Gallery's blog has a nice little post about my artwork along with a write-up by an employee sharing their impressions of my artwork and how they react to it. Also a couple images are on their blog, including this one which shows their gallery display of my original acrylics taken in mid-November 2012.

Aaron’s paintings continue to inspire me to get out into these beautiful woods that surround Grand Marais, and count my blessings that I am able to enjoy the wilderness along with these fantastic paintings, all year round at the gallery.

Thank you Sivertson Gallery! -A :)

Cranberry Ridge

"Cranberry Ridge" 8"w x 10"h

All I can say about today's post is that I sure wished the view out my back door was of this every day! The next best thing is to paint what my heart yearns for. :)

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

Green Glade

"Green Glade" 12"w x 9"h

Green is a color that reminds many of Spring and Summer. It's a calming, soothing color. So adding to the title of today's work only seemed natural to me. However, I just looked up the word 'glade' as I often use it, and think I know what it means, but as I discovered it has a deeper meaning. Here's what webster's had to say:

glade  Word Origin & History

"clear, open space in a woods," 1520s, perhaps from M.E. glode (c.1300), from O.N. glaðr "bright" Original meaning would be "bright (because open) space in a wood" (cf. Fr. clairière "glade," from clair "clear, bright;" Ger. Lichtung "clearing, glade,"

When naming this painting, I was thinking about a glade being part of a forest, perhaps a grassy meadow. But when I looked up the word, I realized the 'clear open space in a woods' was a perfect descriptive word for today's work. I love clearings as much as dense woods. My style compels me to look for compositions where I can blend color value across vast space such as sky and lake. Today's piece features a vast open space filled with green that I envision is an evergreen forest backdrop to the golden leafed autumn birch trees in the foreground. 

Perhaps clearing out the clutter and having some clear, open space in my life is in order. :)

Today's painting Green Glade is available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN 

Sweet Dreams

"Sweet Dreams" 9"w x 12"h

This painting is yet another one I had a hard time letting go to the gallery. It has such a nice color value range in the ultramarine blue and cadmium yellows that I found myself just viewing the painting over and over, returning to it, hoping to capture what draws me to this one on subsequent canvases I was working on. It's probably the combination of subject matter, composition, and color working together that gives this piece the peace it has. When I view this painting, everything is quiet, everything is still and peaceful. It's the feeling that all is right and it brings a smile to my face ... Sweet Dreams. :)

Today's painting Sweet Dreams is available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN

Birch Lake Reflections

"Birch Lake Reflections" 20"w x 16"h

Another round of work is finished and I'm going through my usual unwinding time now. A flurry of activity always happens the last few days that I'm working on canvases, and then all of sudden they're boxed up and gone and the studio is quiet and empty.

I thought this painting would be a nice one for today. When you view a lake, river, etc and observe distant trees and landforms reflecting in the water, you may not pay any attention .. or if you're like me, seeing the reflections in the water makes me pause and think about where I've been and where I'm going.

The changing season is upon us, the snow will be falling soon, and I'm feeling like pushing the dark/light in the colors of my next work. We'll see ... I've been viewing some older work and enjoying the deep richness of the color, and the new work next to it with it's color sparks and punches of light and thinking ... hmmm ... what would happen if I combine them? Only one way to find out!

Please stop back soon as I have two weeks worth of posts ready to roll. Gotta get some new canvases on the easel ... :)

Today's painting Birch Lake Reflections is available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN

Birds on a Wire

"Birds on a Wire" 12"w x 12"h

This is a painting I've had in mind for months and finally got around to painting it. I may expand on this in the future, but it's a fun idea, and composition to paint. Once again, I'm breaking the composition rules and working some symmetry into my paintings. Shhhh ... don't tell my art school teachers lol

TGIF! -A

Best Seat in the House

"Best Seat in the House" 12"w x 12"h

Birds have an unfair advantage of having feathered wings to carry them wherever they please. This little guy has quite a view from his seat. Birds are so fun to watch .. so elegant .. so free from care and worry. Perhaps we can take a lesson from the birds and slow down and enjoy the blessings in our lives.

This little guy is available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN.

Four Fowls

"Four Fowls" Acrylic on 12"w x 12"h canvas

This painting is currently available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. I'm soooo glad the election is over. What a stark contrast between mud-slinging politicians on both sides of the aisle vs. cardinals in a peaceful woodland. I'll take the later. :)

Golden Boys & Evergreen Guy

"Golden Boys Triptych" 12"w x 4"h

"Evergreen Guy" 4"w x 4"h

Over the next few days I'll be posting several new cardinal paintings available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. I had some fun with these cardinal compositions, please stop back soon! -A

Golden Lake

"Golden Lake" 12"w x 12"h

This painting, along with several others recently completed, feels like a direction that I'll be exploring in the next few months. When the snow flies, as an artist, you wonder what to paint. On one hand, painting with white is new, exciting, and challenging all at once. Yet, you wonder if people will collect winter paintings or not. Ultimately, I feel if I'm able to create work I enjoy and captures the mood and emotion of the landscape, then others will connect with it as well. For the winter season, I'll be embarking on twilight and nighttime excursions through the silent forest, listening to the crunching of the leaves on the November forest floor. Then, the crisp white and deep blue shadows of December snows will beckon as the moon and stars sparkle and dance across the landscape. 

This painting is currently available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN.

Golden Reflections

"Golden Reflections" 12"w x 12"h

I just love this theme of reflecting water. Perhaps in comes from my love in symmetry. Compositions are considered more interesting when asymmetrical, but I beg to differ. :) This painting combines many things I'm drawn to, such as deep water, cobalt blue skies, blue stones, golden birch ridges and of course the moon. These are just a few of  my favorite things. :)

This painting is currently available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN.

Two's Company

"Two's Company" 8"w x 8"h

These guys are probably talking about the political campaign spending topping six billion this year. They are probably thinking the money could go to better uses .. like bird seed and birch trees. Happy Friday! ;)

This painting is available through my Daily Paintworks online gallery.

Rosy Cheeks

"Rosy Cheeks" 8"w x 8"h

I couldn't resist having a little fun with this title. It won't be long before the snow flies here in Duluth, MN. I just love a red cardinal on a sunny day with crisp white birch trees. I have a couple more cardinal paintings to post, then next week I'll focus more on the landscape .. perhaps with more twilight lighting. Please stop back soon. :)

This painting is available through my Daily Paintworks online gallery.