Sing For The Spring

"Sing For The Spring"  24"w x 18"h

I heard a cardinal for the first time this season while on an evening walk. Imagine what these 27 cardinals would sound like! This colorful new piece is part of a new group of work at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN.

Rising Greens

"Rising Greens"  9"w x 12"h, Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais, MN

Here is a fun painting which continues my spring water reflections theme. This piece uses a bright green ascending from the rocky shoreline up into the blue sky, which also reflects in the water. One thing I like to do with these paintings when they are finished is turn them upside down and view the reflection as the top and the top as the bottom. The distorted water reflections turn into a fun visual of an abstracted landscape. You could stand on your head to view the work in this way, or turn your smartphone around, which would be easier, but less entertaining. :) Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this piece ... and please don't stand on your head.

After The Rain

"After The Rain" 40"w x 30"h, Siiviis Gallery Duluth, MN

Spring arrives later here in northern Minnesota than the rest of the U.S., and so while I'm patiently waiting for warm temps and the greens of spring, I'm painting the season in all it's colorful splendor. New paintings are arriving at my galleries on a weekly basis that are guaranteed to get you thinking spring. :) The particular piece, titled After The Rain, is 40"w x 30"h and is at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN. This painting continues my latest series of water reflections. The sky and water are a rich deep blue and contrast the bright greens of the budding birches. Hints of gold on the leaves and foreground hint towards a warm spring sun. So much spring scenes to paint ... so little time. Please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on this piece.

The Music on the Lake

"The Music on the Lake"  36"w x 36"h

This painting, titled The Music on the Lake, is the first reflective composition painting I finished with this new group of spring themed landscapes. This piece features a deep blue water and tree reflection, and trees leafed out in many shades of bright green. I find myself comparing the treeline on the top with the reflection below, looking for similarities yet noting the differences. I've mentioned it before here, but I can't help but think the reflective water speaks about our memories. There are distinct memories, and then vague memories where try as you might, you just can't quite place an event or person in the past. So the reflective trees are a bit distorted and broken. But they are also bright and cheerful, perhaps noting the memories of the past one reflects on that bring a smile to the face, that ease the worry and concern of the present day and hearken to a better place. The title of this piece is from a childhood song in my memory, and the lyric goes: 'listen to the mandolin rain ... listen to the music on the lake ...' it was a beautiful song about a childhood memory, one I relate to. And I love to listen to the music on the lake. This painting can be heard at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. Please contact the gallery for more information.

Springscape

"Springscape" 48"w x 30"h

Featured today is a new favorite of mine titled Springscape which is 48"w x 30"h. This piece continues the concept of water reflections and spring birches that is new to my work this year. The bright colors in the horizontal landscape with the large foreground birches and distant trees is very compelling. Perhaps this painting represents a place I long to be, or a feeling of growth and life. I know I've felt a renewed sense of purpose in my work as of late, almost as if a wave of ideas hit me and I can't wait to capture these ideas on canvas. Whatever it is, it's an exciting ride that draws me to paint, and I can't wait to get to the studio once every day to see what happens next. For more information on Springscape, please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN.

Spring Light

We've been noticing the days feeling longer lately. Even though it's still March, the brightness of the sky is a delight, giving you an extra dose of energy. The ice and snow are melting, and the sun is increasing in intensity daily as we head toward the summer equinox. This painting features a familiar lake theme with it's usual cast of characters: shadows, rocks, birches, water, distant ridges, sky, and sun. The sun captured my attention in the finished painting and inspired the titled of Spring Light. Please contact Sivertson Gallery in sunny Grand Marais, MN for more information on this piece.

Budding Birches

Spring fever has hit me hard this year and I've responded in the best way possible for an artist. I've picked up the brush and started slinging the colors of the season in paint onto the canvas. Many works will be posted here in the next several weeks, as I'm behind in art blogging but not in painting. This piece today is titled Budding Birches, 36"w x 36"h, and features .... birches. These trees are full of lush greens, and a sun in the center of the sky gives the leaves an extra golden sparkle. New this year in my work is the reflection of the water. Typically, I paint the water a deeper blue than the sky, but not this time ... I've become fascinated by water reflections lately and this fascination has found it's way into my artwork. The water reflecting with ripples causes a slight distortion, and I associate this with memories of the past that I know are there, yet hard to grasp or articulate. This reflection theme will run it's course until I've said all I have to say, but until then, I'll be reflecting on my past in my work literally. Hope this piece helps shake off those winter blahs and gets you ready for warm skies and green landscapes. All my best, Aaron.
Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais for more information on this piece.