Gold Moon Rising

"Gold Moon Rising"  6"w x 6"h

This cardinal may have a rich gold moon behind him lighting up the night sky, but the cardinal knows he doesn't need no rich gold moon to light up the forest with his brilliant red color and song that will soon hearken the return of spring. But for now, the snow quietly falls in the forests surrounding my home in Duluth, MN.

Cobalt Winter Birches

"Cobalt Winter Birches"  6"w x 6"h

This 6x6 inch piece, titled Cobalt Winter Birches, is part of a series of paintings I began several years ago. My intent with this series was to feature rocks and birch trees, with the emphasis on the birch trees growing amongst the rocks, almost as if anchored in and supported by the stones. The rich blues of the rocks, ridges, and winter sky all play against eachother to keep your eye moving, and while I don't quite remember the reasoning for this series, the series has pulled me back to itself many times over the years. Perhaps it's times like these when I'm fighting a nasty flu virus during the darkest week of the year that the significance of the birch trees and their stone anchors becomes apparent. -Aaron

Silver Moon

"Silver Moon"  6"w x 6"h

Painting the moon as a subject is so relaxing and intriguing all at once. A round object in the night sky with tiny stars sparkling and the reflection of the moon over the water and rocks is a subject I could paint for quite some time without tiring of it. Perhaps this has to do with my interest in minimalism, or how to communicate what I'm trying to say visually with the least amount of distraction. An analogy would be listening to someone speak to you in a quiet cafe, or trying to listen to someone speak with crowd noise distracting and distorting the message. So the soothing cool blues of the night speak volumes to me in a calm, quiet voice.

Singing Cardinals

"Singing Cardinals"  6"w x 6"h

On a cold rainy December day with a sore throat and fever of 102 degrees, I needed something to cheer me up and this piece is just the ticket. Singing Cardinals, acrylic on 6"w x 6"h canvas, features a familiar theme of mine that makes me smile ... evergreen forests, birch trees and tiny singing cardinals. OK, I'm headed back to bed with a cup of hot tea and lemon. :)

Colorful Sparkles

"Colorful Sparkles"  6"w x 6"h

This 6"w x 6"h painting, titled Colorful Sparkles, features a lake with several jewel toned autumn ridges. The color of the ridges reflects in the water in the foreground, giving that fun mirror image effect to this piece. The rocks on the water break up the plane and add some character to a painting which otherwise pushes the edges of abstract. -Aaron

Glistening Snow

"Glistening Snow"  6"w x 6"h

While you may notice the white snow and birch trees in this new piece, titled Glistening Snow, 6"w x 6"h, my favorite piece of this wintry puzzle is the blues. Winter landscapes can be stark, barren, void of life and filled with whites, grays, and leafless listless trees. Or, the landscapes can be filled with rich blues of ice, shadows, and distant ridges. While this piece doesn't use a complementary color, a warm sky often makes for quite a visual punch, giving color to the bleak midwinter landscape. This painting is part of my ongoing art show at Amity Coffee in Duluth, which will be available for viewing through early January 2015.

Summer Dream

"Summer Dream"  12"w x 4"h

In the midst of winter I couldn't help but reminisce about summer, if only for a few moments. I love the snow and changing seasons of Minnesota, but can't take the cold temps as I get frostbite within minutes at sub zero temperatures. So a summery painting was in order, this one titled Summer Dream, 12"w x 4"h. Seven birch trees in the foreground with a rich green ridge and deep cobalt blue sky in the background. The birch trees reflect a bit of this color in their bark, almost as if they're enjoying the warm colorful season as much as I am. This painting can be found in Grand Marais at Sivertson Gallery.

The Middle Man

"The Middle Man"

In the midst of holiday shopping season, I thought I'd poke a little fun at the distributors and suppliers of big box stores with a cardinal painting titled The Middle Man. This 6"w x 6"h piece also speaks of summer with it's green leaves, but the red and green combo also use the colors of the holiday season. I think the cardinal in the middle of this group of three is either trying to listen to two conversations at once, or thinking about a quieter birch branch to perch on. This painting can be found in Grand Marais at Sivertson Gallery.

Gabby Gathering

"Gabby Gathering"

Recipe for Gabby Gathering:
Acrylic on 12"w x 4"h canvas

Ingredients:
Red cardinals
Evergreens
Birch trees

Directions:
Combine ingredients until composition has reached completion. Repeat if you like the result.
Nutritional information is not available for this recipe.

Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for this and many other tasty visual treats.

Get Your Kicks On Scenic 61

"Get Your Kicks on Scenic 61"  16"w x 40"h

While this painting, titled Get Your Kicks on Scenic 61, may remind you of a classic song, this painting features a familiar landmark to those who travel north out of Duluth ... the Scenic 61. This road represents many things to many people, and to me it best represents nostalgia. From a childhood trip up to Lutsen resort, to many trips to Grand Marais ... Boy Scout adventures in the BWCA, and simple Sunday afternoon drives to a secluded picnic spot, this road has taken me away from the hustle and bustle of life and for that I'm grateful. As far as this particular painting, I thought quite a bit on this before attempting to paint. First of all, how to you make a road sign interesting? And how do you place it in the landscape? The sign is square, but I wanted to add more color to the painting, and so I featured autumn color behind the signpost. A lone cardinal sits atop the sign, balancing the color between the warm tones below and the red cardinal feathers. A cool cobalt blue distant ridge and sky finish off this piece, all color working in harmony with the blues and golds of the sign. Well it winds from Duluth to Grand Marais ... over 100 miles all the way ... get your kicks on Scenic 61. This painting can be found in Grand Marais at Sivertson Gallery. I suggest taking the scenic route. :)

Warm Winter Sky

"Warm Winter Sky"  30"w x 15"h

This piece, titled Warm Winter Sky, conveys a feeling of hope and warmth in the midst of an icy blue early winter landscape. The frosty trees, rich blue lake and icy blue stones complement the bright golds of the sky ... and the reflection of the sun in the lake ties the two color elements together. Perhaps this piece was inspired by the recently warming temps here in Duluth, MN after the freezing spell we recently went through. Every painting has a sweet spot, a place in the piece you enjoy, and for me, the sun in the sky does it for me. Maybe I just need to soak up some sun. :)
Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on this piece.

Cardinal In The Snow

"Cardinal In The Snow"

In honor of my 40th birthday today, I'm posting a new 4"w x 12"h  piece titled Cardinal In The Snow. I've mentioned here before about how I've viewed the cardinal representing those who choose to not follow the crowd, who aren't afraid to be who they're supposed to be. While I wanted to be an artist when I was growing up, I didn't know anyone who was an artist and was directed towards more normal occupational pursuits by teachers and friends. To this day, I still get made fun of for doing what I do, and often people ask what I do for work when I've just told them what I do for work. :) All this to say, at age 40 I'm glad I've chosen the path I've walked and don't have regrets. In many ways I'm that cardinal in the snow, wearing bright red while the rest of my fellow feathered friends blend in to the landscape. If that's what works for them, great. What motivates me to keep painting is perhaps summed up best by a quote from Morgan Freeman: "Get busy living, or get busy dying."
This painting is part of my Retrospective show at Amity Coffee here in Duluth, MN

Icy Forest Cardinals"

"Icy Forest Cardinals"  6"w x 6"h

I love complementary colors. Green and red, blue and gold, orange and blue, and in this case red and blue. In this 6"w x 6"h painting titled Icy Forest Cardinals, these bright red cardinals are probably oblivious to their beautiful icy blue background, because they are busy talking about rising property taxes. Ha ha, I often place elements into compositions as if they are relating to each other, perhaps it's the human emotion that I'm always wanting to address in the landscape ... that powerful emotion that a certain landscape can bring out. Not everyone is as visual, many people have a favorite song or food that will trigger a strong memory. For me, the cardinal will always trigger the response I had when I first observed a cardinal in the woods. The vibrant red color and song of the cardinal is second to no bird in my opinion, and their vibrant color speaks volumes to me in terms of being who you're supposed to be in contrast to a culture that wants you to conform. Perhaps that's what these guys are gabbing about today, it's for you to decide. Please contact Your Art's Desire Gallery in Minnetonka, MN for more information on this piece.

Early Winter

"Early Winter"  12"w x 4"h

The title of this 12"w x 4"h acrylic on canvas piece, Early Winter, sums up the piece well, along with the weather here in frosty northern Minnesota. This morning we were at -10f with a -25f windchill. Brrr. Hopefully temps moderate here soon so we can play outside in the snow. For not, I'm cooped up in the studio, painting a winter wonderland filled with thousands of shades of blue and white.
Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this piece.