Forest Shadows

"Forest Shadows" 20"w x 16"h, Riverwood Gallery, Eau Claire, WI

While the theater of seasons continues here in Duluth, Minnesota ... I've been influenced by the weather myself to switch between fall, winter and spring subjects. One day, it's sunny and 65, the next day, it's raining/sleeting and 35 degrees, the next day... you get the idea. We usually go through a month or so of this before things settle down. While I love summer, I also love the climate here where I live. Lake Superior keeps us cool in the summer and takes the edge off the cold in the winter by adding some humidity to the atmosphere and keeping the temps sometimes 10 or more degrees warmer than just a few miles away. So here's a 20"w x 16"h piece titled Forest Shadows that features golden maples and a rich crimson red distant ridge. I've been pushing the contrast a bit as late with my color ... working really hard to get that 'spark' that I've been feeling in my heart yet chasing it down on the canvas. Part of life as a painter ... getting what you feel inside to work it's way onto the canvas. It's a struggle that I embrace, it pushes me to carry on ...

Please contact Riverwood Gallery for more information about today's painting.

On the easel this week is a selection of Spring cardinals and other landscapes for Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN and Siiviis Gallery here in Duluth, MN. :)

Spring Birch Row

"Spring Birch Row" 18"w x 6"h

Snow is still forecasted here in Duluth the next couple days, and since spring fever is setting in big time, I'm fighting back by posting spring paintings. :) Maybe I'll just keep painting spring themes 'til old man winter packs his frosty bags and hits the road for a while.

Three layers of green and a distant gold ridge fill up the space between the birches, along with a bright cobalt blue sky. Spring is on the way ... I just know it!

Spring Birch Forest

"Spring Birch Forest" 18"w x 18"h

Snowflakes are falling in Duluth, MN as I type this blog entry. I'll never forget this winter, that's for sure. I'll never forget it if never ends either! lol. Spring will be here soon ... I just know it! Maybe next week ... here's hoping.

This painting features three layers of green in the background, along with a gold ridge ... and of course the multiple shades of green in the leaves of the birches. These trees are something different for me .. they have black branches as opposed to the white branches I've always painted. I'm not sure if I like them better or not at the moment. Maybe they'll grow on me. :) Maybe the trees will start budding and growing leaves here too ... maybe soon ...

Spring Lake Triptych

"Spring Lake Triptych" 18"w x 12"h, April 2013

As of 7:00 a.m. the Duluth International Airport is reporting that 17.7 inches of snow has fallen in the past 24 hours. Oh yeah, by the way it's April 19th. I'm officially done with winterscapes for the year, so here's a painting of a lake that pictures what I'd like to see out the window. But, alas, out the window is a winter wonderland and I'll be putting down my paintbrush and picking up a shovel today.

Please contact Stone's Throw Gallery in Bayfield, WI for more information on this piece.

Maple Forest Majesty

"Maple Forest Majesty", 18"w x 18"h, April 2013

Today's post features an autumn themed maple forest. The weather lately has been seriously messing with me. It was 50 and sunny a few weeks ago and now we're facing another foot of potential snow. It's supposed to snow the next three days straight here in Duluth, MN. Normally, we're warming up towards spring, yet we're in the midst of winter now. Go figure. So with the theater of changing seasons outside, the seasons are changing inside the studio. This painting is going to be hard to part with, I had soooooo much fun with the crimson and golds with this piece, adding layer upon layer of rich paint against the deep gray-blue sky background. The stones sparkle, along with the golds in the foreground that dance across the burnt sienna forest floor.

Perhaps I needed to paint this one to warm up my soul. The winter has been long, I used to be a painter and now find myself a professional snow shoveler. Haha. Please stop back soon, new works will be uploaded on a regular basis ... including several spring birch compositions that I've recently completed.

Let it snow ....

Please contact Stone's Throw Gallery in Bayfield, WI for more information on this piece.

Va Bene

"Va Bene", 24"w x 12"h, April 2013

Today's post features a recent commission I painted for Va Bene restaurant here in Duluth, MN. They wanted a moon shining on Lake Superior, along with the prominent pine tree and the building itself. It was a fun challenge. Painting a building is one thing, painting one at night is quite another. I chose to give the windows a warm glow effect and I'm pleased with the results as they warm golds compliment the deep cobalt blue night sky. The red accents on the building also compliment the background and the crisp cream color of the building gives quite a contrasting punch. I enjoyed adding in some of the signage on the building like this detail on the left that shows the left side of the door with the restaurant logo on the sign and the window with 'Dolci' above. I could go for some dolci right about now. :)

Don't Stop Believin'

"Don't Stop Believin'", Acrylic on 48"w x 36"h canvas, April 2013

There has been a lull of sorts in my blog posts as of late. This is not by choice, but life happens and so I need to roll with the punches. I'm a very introspective type of person who doesn't like to share too much, but I thought I'd share a little today on the significance of this painting. I was diagnosed with MS about 10 years ago, and while I've managed to stay healthy, every once and a while it gets the best of me and knocks me off my horse for a while. Recently I had an attack, first one in seven years, and I didn't want to create or produce any artwork for several weeks. It's kinda strange, really .. someone who has always been an artist not wanting to make art .. but I pulled through and I'm still going. I picked up my brushes once again and painted what I would say is one of the most ambitious works I've ever created. Using a small brush and many layers I created a large scale vibrant painting which I titled Don't Stop Believin'. The title says it all ...

Please stop back soon, more works will be coming in the next couple weeks ... so exciting. :)

Please contact Lizzards Gallery for more information on this painting.

Misty Morning Birches

"Misty Morning Birches" 40"w x 16"h

The fascination with the birch tree continues. The crisp white bark with it's distinctive black markings compel me to capture on canvas what I view. I just love a birch forest with fall color ... the way the color plays with the eye when contrasted with the birch bark ... just love it. On the easel now is a 48"x36" birch forest ... the canvas is calling, gotta go. :)

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

Fireside Birches

"Fireside Birches" 30"w x 10"h

Here's a new work available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN titled Fireside Birches. I started this one during a presentation in February at the gallery, and I originally wanted this one to be just a simple blue sky background that would contrast nicely with the birch trees. But as I worked on it, I just felt the warm colors of autumn tugging at me and just had to answer the call. I finished this one during a stretch of cold weather so it's only natural to be thinking about warm colors. :) Speaking of warm, the weather is finally turning here in Duluth, MN .. old man winter is packing his bags .. bring on spring!

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