Sunset Strip

Sunset Strip

On the last day of an unseasonably warm November, I thought it fitting to share a fun new piece titled Sunset Strip, recently brought in to Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN. This painting is 12x36, acrylic on canvas, and features white pine flanking a rocky river, with distant pine ridges in the background. But what really sets this painting apart is the dazzling gold sky, casting gold shadows on the foreground river banks and brightening the overall feel of the piece. I don't need to go to California to see the Sunset Strip, I just need to go out on the Lake Superior Trail on any given summer evening. So long summer, hello winter.

The Next Adventure

"The Next Adventure"

I was recently going through my photos and came across this piece which a commission I painted earlier this year for a local client. They were moving out of state and wanted a memory of Duluth that incorporated their frequent boat trips on lake Superior.  I love challenges and so I had to rely on my imagination a bit for this piece, using a perspective skill I learned in grade school to sketch out a balanced composition and then picked up my trusty paintbrush and I had a lot of fun while using a touch of imagination. So the result is a colorful summer painting of Duluth from the lake with a fictional thousand footer 'saltie' ore boat heading out on her next adventure, with a golden sunset sky glowing and the aerial bridge horn giving a final farewell salute.

“We need the tonic of wildness...At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.” 

-Henry David Thoreau

Treetops No. 1 and 2

Today's paintings feature a male and female cardinal, titled 'Treetops No. 1 and 2' respectively. They measure 6x6" on canvas, and I painted them on deep profile canvas so that they can be displayed on a wall or stand alone on a shelf. I often think of pairing paintings as bookends, perhaps to start and finish the story of a work of art as it progresses from the thought of the artist, through their hands to completion of the canvas (or whatever art form they are expressing themselves in). These little sweethearts are recently displayed for sale at my gallery, Lakeside Gallery, in Duluth, MN.

Summer Shores No. 2

"Summer Shores No. 2"

Today's painting is titled Summer Shores No. 2, and measures 8x8". This new acrylic on canvas is available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais and is part of a series of three featuring my latest greatest theme of lake reflections. 

Summer Shores No. 1

Today's painting is titled Summer Shores No. 1, and measures 8x8". This new acrylic on canvas is available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais and is part of a series of three featuring my latest greatest theme of lake reflections. Ahh the summer greens and blues, they are with us so such a short time, it's just great to capture these colorful trees on canvas.
www.aaronkloss.com

Sing a Song (Numbers 1 & 2)

These colorful cardinal paintings are titled Sing A Song Numbers 1 & 2, and are 8x8" new acrylics on canvas. Just when I think I've painted my last cardinal a collector or gallery asks for one, and the stories told about this colorful little bird are always amazing. People really connect with the cardinal ... the bright red color, the song they sing, their antics in the trees ... I've painted them for years but only recently do I have a pair that nested by my house. Perhaps that pair of cardinals wanted to tell me to keep painting them, I don't know, but I've enjoyed them as a subject matter, and it seems like a lot of other folks do too. Thanks to everyone who owns one of my cardinal paintings. These cardinals were delivered to Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN recently.

Into The Forest

Into The Forest is the title of this piece which is one of a three part series of summer birch landscapes recently delivered to Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. While the compositions aren't overly complicated, the colorful punch these pieces deliver is quite pleasant, even if I didn't get the best of photos and this appears a bit on the dark side. Oh well, you can't win them all, but you can enjoy the process, and the summer season, while you're at it.

www.aaronkloss.com

Dreamland Triptych

This piece, titled Dreamland Triptych, is 12"w x 4"h, and features a summer lake landscape of a place I'd love to be, hence the title. Hope you can get out and enjoy summer while you can, not much of the season of green left, but I plan to make the best of it. This piece was delivered to Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN recently. 

Reflection Lake Triptych

"Reflection Lake Triptych"  12"w x 4"h 

Yesterday I had a blast bike riding, bowling, playing at the park, having lunch and hanging out with my younger two children. Just like every summer, we packed as much as we could on my day off. Summer and happy days seem to appear and disappear all too soon. I try to capture summer on canvas while I can, the landscape budding and growing, filling the land with lush greens only to transform to intense colors of autumn prior to winter setting in. The older I get, the faster time moves, and try as I may to slow down, there is always another adventure on the horizon. My series of trees reflecting in water is all about memories, and this piece featured today is no different. The reflecting trees represent our memories that are distortions of the actual event remembered. They resemble the event, yet are different. The reflections are bigger than the trees, emphasizing the importance of the memories. It's good to make time for things that will become rich memories that will never fade. And I'm going to go enjoy summer before it fades, how about you? This piece , titled Reflection Lake Triptych, is 12"w x 4"h, and was delivered to Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais recently.

Summer Sky Triptych

"Summer Sky Triptych"  12"w x 4"h

Summer Sky Triptych is the title of this 12"w x 4"h piece featuring a summer lake scene spread across three 4"w x 4"h canvases. This piece was delivered to Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais recently. While small in size, these little canvases pack quite a punch and offer versatility in their display options. With the 1.5" deep profile, they can be set on any surface, or hung on a wall in a series of three. I often paint multi panel pieces with the thought that they may not be hung together, and so I often think about each panel standing alone as a composition, so this adds an element of concentration as I work. I'm one of those people that needs to be challenged, and love change and spontaneity, and I often find ways to add those needs to my work. Speaking of work, I have lots of it to do, stop back again this week as I plan to post triptych paintings all week. All my best, Aaron.

A Light for the Night

"A Light for the Night"

A Light for the Night is the title of this new 8x8" acrylic on canvas. This piece features a favorite theme of mine, the cardinal on a birch tree. This cardinal is backlit by the moon, and the blue sky and green leaves complement the colors and make for a colorful summer landscape. This piece is available at my new gallery called Lakeside Gallery in Duluth, or online at the following link until sold: http://www.aaronkloss.com/store/p68/A_Light_for_the_Night.html

If you'd like to commission me to paint a custom painting for you, please email me for a free quote, and visit  my website www.aaronkloss.com to view all my available originals in their respective galleries, and to view a wide selection of originals and prints in my online store.

I Will Remember You

Today's painting is titled I Will Remember You, and is a 20"w x 16"h special commissioned piece for a Duluth resident. Their realtor commissioned me to paint the house these folks had lived in for 40 plus years as a gift to them. So I thoroughly enjoyed painting this tudor style house, even if it was quite the challenge with it's architectural details. Prints of this painting are available on my online store, and yes, I paint house portraits ... feel free to send me an email if you'd like a free quote on a special painting of your own home.

Green Dragonfly

"Green Dragonfly"  10x10", Siiviis Gallery, Duluth MN

This piece is part of a series of three dragonfly paintings recently brought in to Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN. It's about that time of year, when the dragonflies start hatching and showing off their vibrant colors and intricate wing patterns. And you know the best part about dragonflies? They eat mosquitos and horseflies! I'll be posting the other two in this series this week. All my best, Aaron

Please visit my website for more examples of my work, and feel free to contact me regarding commissioning a custom painting for your home or office space.

Landscape of Summer Triptych

This piece, titled Landscape of Summer Triptych (12"w x 4") is a study that was painted in conjunction with yesterday's larger piece. When you work on a large scale, it is often beneficial to know how colors will look on the canvas prior to using that color. With the study, I'm able to be confident that the color is correct without the risk of having something I'm not wanting happen on the canvas. I work dark to light, which is completely opposite of what a lot of painters do, so having the first brushstrokes correct is crucial. The whole look and feel of a piece changes if the color is too light or dark, and then what is intended to be a daytime painting turns into a nighttime painting for example. Some artists keep their studies or discard them, but I paint studies on canvas ready to hang fully intending on offering them to collectors. That's just my style, the way I roll. And right now the summer landscape in today's piece looks very inviting. I'd like to spend some time here, swim in that lake, explore the woods, maybe catch some sunnies and bass. But that will have to wait till winter gives way to spring in the northland soon. All my best, Aaron

Many other painting and print options are available on my website: http://www.aaronkloss.com 

Feel free to contact me if you have questions ... and I'm also available for commissions if you'd like a special size or subject. 

The Landscape of Summer ... commissioned painting

'The Landscape of Summer'  36"w x 36"h

Today's featured painting is a commissioned painting titled The Landscape of Summer, which is 36"w x 36"h. This piece was inspired by a previous painting of mine titled Summer Encore. I've actually been asked to paint a previous painting again a few times already this year, and each time it's a fun challenge. I primarily work from memory and emotion, so to work from a reference painting or photo is a different process altogether which often makes for a challenge. In the case of today's painting, the challenge was a great reminder that summer will soon be here again, and the frozen landscape will give way to the rich blues, greens, and golds of the summer landscape.

Many other painting and print options are always being added to my website: http://www.aaronkloss.com
Feel free to contact me if you have questions ... and I'm also available for commissions if you'd like a special size or subject. 

Light of the World

"Light of the World"  36"w x 24"h

Today's painting, titled Light of the World, is 36"w x 24"h, acrylic on canvas. This painting was commissioned and features Split Rock Lighthouse set in a late summer scene with the sun shining brightly in the sky and reflecting upon the water. This is a bright and cheerful painting and is my fifth attempt at painting this scene. Each time I paint the lighthouse I try a different approach, this particular approach hinting at changing seasons with the green foliage with gold highlights. I also enjoy a challenge, and this piece brought it. And this is also my sixth commissioned painting in a row, wow ... lots of custom work, very enjoyable. Please send me an email if you'd like to commission a special painting. (aaronklossartwork@gmail.com) All my best, Aaron

Changing Leaves

Here's a colorful piece titled Changing Leaves, which is acrylic on 20"w x 16"h canvas, Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. This fun painting hints at the changing of green to gold in leaf color in the landscape ... kind of like the last greens of summer.

Daisies

"Daisies"  6"w x 8"h

Here's a fun little floral piece to go with today's bright sunny weather. This new acrylic on canvas is 6"w x 8"h. Please contact Sivertson Gallery for more information.

Black Eyed Susans

This self explanatory titled new 6"w x 8"h acrylic on canvas features black eyed susans, which happens to be one of my wife's favorite flowers. I'm more into marigolds and roses myself ... although I've been favoring irises too recently. I basically like anything that is colorful I guess. :)
Please contact Sivertson Gallery for more information on this piece.

Summer at Split Rock

This new painting is titled Summer at Split Rock, and is 36"w x 36"h on canvas, and was delivered to Lizzards Gallery in Duluth just yesterday. This painting is probably my third effort at painting Split Rock Lighthouse, and I enjoyed painting the rocks, waters and sky of this piece. Here are links to my other paintings of Split Rock from the past:
Why Can't This Night Go On Forever?
Hope Springs Eternal

As you well know, at least you know if you read my blog ... I love painting negative spaces and backgrounds of compositions. The subject is frequently an afterthought, as I work to draw attention to other areas of the painting. In this piece, I focused on the hue of the water first, using blues, purples and teals to give the water a rich color. I then continued that color palette into the stones and sky, increasing the value until I was happy with the contrast between the different elements. The lighthouse perched on top of the rocks is the brightest part of the painting and draws the eye, but I hope the viewer lingers to enjoy the waters and rocks ... at least that's where you'll find me, sitting on the rocks and skipping stones into lake Superior while I listen to the waves crash against the rocky shoreline. That never gets old.