Cranberry Forest Triptych

Cranberry Forest Triptych

Today's painting is titled Cranberry Forest Triptych and measures a total of 24"w x 10"h. This new piece is available at Z Place Gallery in Ironwood, MI and is part of a group of colorful new landscapes recently added to the gallery. The reds and blues are a playful complement to eachother, setting off the crisp birch trees while drawing the eye laterally across the three canvases. I had painted a similar piece several years ago and was happy to revisit the theme once again. A busy week awaits me as I finish off a couple of commissions for new clients and begin the process of setting up a new gallery space in Duluth .. so exciting! More news on that soon ... 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.

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.

November Woods

"November Woods" 12"w x 4"h

I have to chuckle a bit as I post this painting, titled November Woods, on a single digit temperature morning here in northern Minnesota. Usually, we get some snow that melts right away this time of year but we've been 20-30 degrees below normal for the past few weeks. We may get a one day break this weekend when temps spike above freezing before dropping down again. Strange weather pattern we are in .. all this to say that the November forest usually is fun to hike through, with all the leaves off the trees and crisp 30-40 degree weather. That's the memory that inspired today's piece ... birches with a bright blue sky and distant cranberry ridge. The forest floor is covered in brown leaves with a hint of twilight casting golden shadows in the foreground. Alas, the landscape is covered in white today, and people hurry about all bundled up, heads down against the sub zero windchill while the wildlife are hiding from the early winter. Please contact Your Art's Desire Gallery in Minnetonka, MN for more information on this piece.

Cherry Ridge

"Cherry Ridge"

Here's a delightful little painting titled Cherry Ridge, 4"w x 4"h, featuring a brilliant red ridge and a cool northern Minnesota lake. The shoreline has scattered rocks, and the bright sky sparkles. Hard to believe all this fits on such a small surface! 

Please contact Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN for more information on this piece which is part of my Landscapes show Sept. 25 - Nov. 8, 2014

Selfie

"Selfie" 4"w x 4"h

I must admit I've never liked the term 'selfie'. Perhaps it's due to the fun poked at people taking photos of themselves and posting them on internet websites such as Facebook. "Oh, so and so takes too many selfies." I prefer the term self portrait. Self portraits are artists' ways of expressing themselves in a given state of emotion, and are frequently very powerful images in of themselves. Photographers take self portraits using special lighting and techniques that express their emotion as well. In art school, I drew a self portrait of myself with a simple twist. Since we were studying life drawing at the time, looking at muscle and skeletal structures in order to be proportionally correct, I drew my face on one side as realistically as possible, and the other side I drew the muscle and skeletal structure. I thought it was pretty cool, but it did freak people out, so I don't think I kept it very long. Long story to say that self portraits are important, and the slang term 'selfie' just doesn't do the self portrait justice. I thought I'd have a little fun with the 'selfie' myself in this painting of a close up female cardinal. She's wanting you to see how pretty she is ... striking a pose in front of a crimson and pink background ... she's even batting her eyelashes, isn't she flattering? I'm sure all her friends will say '"oh, she takes too many selfies." Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this selfie.

Winterberry Chickadees

Selection of 4"w x 4"h chickadees at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN

I thought I'd end this year's painting blog posts with a fun selection of chickadee paintings currently available at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN. There are half a dozen or so, and they're all 4"w x 4"h on 1.5" deep profile canvas. Just like the chickadee, the paintings are very crisp and graphic in color. The color pop provided by the bright red berries on the branches of these paintings reflect the fun, colorful and playful personalities of these delightful little birds. Perhaps these birds are stocking up, preparing for the arctic blast that will bring -20 below zero temps and highs below zero to ring in the new year here in Duluth, MN. The birds will be hunkered down just like the people, staying warm and thinking about the warmer spring weather that's sure to arrive soon. Until then, I sit by the heater, hot cup of tea in one hand, paintbrush in the other ...
Please contact Siiviis Gallery for more information on these paintings.

Red Feathers

"Red Feathers" 6"w x 6"h

It's been so cold here as of late that I just couldn't help but post a painting titled Red Feathers that is warm in color and reminiscent of a warm fire. The red cardinal is set against a red background, and the golden birch leaves add a little punch. While I'm frequently working so hard to create new and innovative work that shows incredible depth of color and texture, I often find the simple work so appealing. I also find warmer temperatures appealing ... and yes, this time of year us Minnesotans get excited when the temperature starts warming up to anything above zero.

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

Chick Magnets

"Chick Magnets" 8"w x 8"h, $85

I had a little fun with the title of this piece, Chick Magnets. Chickadees are one of those subjects you'd think would be so easy, yet I find that subjects that should be easy are often difficult. It has to do with capturing the subject correctly, making it feel natural. I like challenges, and that could explain why I enjoy painting birds. Each one is different, having a unique quality that sometimes emerges with the last brush strokes. Fresh snow here in Duluth, MN today, perhaps I'll find time to paint some snowscapes, I'm up for the challenge. Please contact Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN for more information on this painting.

Maple Forest Birches

"Maple Forest Birches" 20"w x 16"h

This piece titled Maple Forest Birches continues a series of works I've collectively titled Through The Birches. It's a very simple theme, really. The negative space between the foreground birch trees becomes the subject of the painting. So what I end up with is a vibrant, colorful background which contrasts with the crisp black and white birch trees. In today's piece, the background has several gold maples, a rich brown and red underbrush and a complementary gray blue sky which brightens toward the distant horizon. Many times people have mentioned that they don't really even notice the birch trees at first. I have yet to produce a major work in the this theme, but the time is coming ... I just picked up a few 60"w x 48"h canvases and I just can't wait to work large again. :)

This painting featured today is part of my Fall Forests show which may viewed now through mid December, 2013 at First Lutheran Church in Duluth, MN.

Colorful Forest Jewels

"Colorful Forest Jewels" 20"w x 16"h

How can you improve upon a subject such as a northern Minnesota maple tree in all it's fall color? Well ... you can't, really. But what you can do is add in elements that complement and or contrast with the vibrant subject matter. Elements such as other warm colored trees and shrubs, and complementary colored stones and waters. This piece featured today is titled Colorful Forest Jewels and features maples at a lakeshore reflecting their crimson red leaves in the water which fills the foreground. There's a sense of space behind the maples as the negative space between the trees is filled with a bright cobalt blue sky. Interest is added with the colorful fall shrubs and stones which divide the foreground and background. What I like most about this piece is, as usual, the background which leaves one wondering 'what's back there?' where does that lead? Asking questions and wondering is often what makes painting so fun, you never quite know how a painting will turn out, and you always wonder what you can accomplish next.

This painting featured today is part of my Fall Forests show which may viewed now through mid December, 2013 at First Lutheran Church in Duluth, MN.

Fall Forest

 

"Fall Forest" Acrylic on 16"w x 20"h canvas

I gave my show the name Fall Forests based on the general theme of the works themselves, and also from today's painting which is titled Fall Forest.  This piece features a river theme, something I've been working on quite a bit as of late. I just love Amity Creek which runs close by my house in Duluth. The creek is full of stones that you can jump across when the creek is low. So this element of the landscape finds it's way into my work, along with the stones scattered about. I've enjoyed working different shades of blue and gray into the stones, adding little bits of light to them so that they have depth. There are also the ever present birches in this piece, along with a distant crimson ridge. Perhaps what I enjoy most about this painting is the space between the trees, and the trees themselves have a nice range of sizes. There's just something about a fall forest.

This painting featured today is part of my Fall Forests show which may viewed now through mid December, 2013 at First Lutheran Church in Duluth, MN.

Autumn River

That colorful season called Autumn is just around the corner as the record heat we've had here in Northern Minnesota gradually subsides this week. The cool weather, bright blue skies and warm color of changing leaves inspired this piece which is available at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN. The rocks in the river are an assortment of cobalt blues and warm grays that I've been wanting to experiment with for some time. My many hikes along Amity Creek by my house have given me some fresh ideas and I can't wait to work them onto the canvas. I have one more new piece with these types of rocks that I'll post tomorrow. In any landscape painting, there is a subject. Sometimes the artist places the subject intentionally, such as a bird or deer, but in this case, the subject rocked. :)

Light The Night

"Light The Night"

While visiting the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MN last week, I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with many of my favorite artists from the impressionism and post-impressionism movements. One artist whose work really caught my attention at the gallery was Monet. I had viewed his works many times in books over the years, but while viewing it in person, I noticed things that photos don't reveal. The brushstrokes and color were so fascinating to me, almost as if viewing the work for the first time. One of Monet's habits was to work in series. For example, his haystack paintings, while famous, were to him a lesson in lighting. He painted the same haystack over and over in different lighting throughout the day. For him, it helped him understand color and light, but for his career, it launched him and his life changed. While I'm not one to copy anyone else, I do learn from their habits and working in series for me is great way to explore light, color, technique and subject matter. It takes the pressure off of what to paint, and focuses it on the series and you end up with a body of work that's cohesive and that helps to establish your artistic voice. This piece today titled Light Up The Night features a simple autumn ridge with a dark ultramarine blue sky, but the subject is the moon. It's so large that it's partly concealed by the ridges of crimson and burnt sienna. This is a first for me, and I like the outcome. I envision many works in this theme focusing on light.
For more information on this piece please contact Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, MN

In The Hands of Time

"In The Hands of Time" 40"w x 30"h

This painting was for me a welcoming return to the subject matter that captured my heart when I began painting several years ago. Red and gold maples play off each other in repetition of form and color against a deep cobalt blue background. This piece is available at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN.

Gold Sunset Maples Triptych

"Gold Sunset Maples Triptych" 12"w x 4"h

"Gold Sunset Ridge"

 

After painting so much with cobalt blues and bright titanium white colors it's nice to paint with a warm palette especially after all the cold weather we've had here lately. The crimson leafed maples with their burnt sienna trunks and matching foreground along with the cadmium gold skies and shadows warm the soul. I'm itching to paint this theme on a grand scale, perhaps 30x40" or so .. we'll see. I have to get caught up on what's in progress then I'm going to enjoy the challenge of large scale painting. To me, painting large vs. small is the same as viewing a 80" plasma TV vs. the 20" TV for the couch potato. :) I like potatoes, and couches, but I'm no couch potato. :) I'm off to the easel, next week this blog will be full of new works. Can't wait! -A

Please contact Z Place Gallery in Ironwood, MI for more information on this piece.

Bright Autumn Sky

"Bright Autumn Sky", 12"w x 36"

Yet another piece created on a rainy day. The darker, grayer, colder & wetter the weather outside, the brighter and warmer the paintings get in the studio. :) On the easel now are several green birch scapes that I'm eager to share next week. For now, the sun is shining, it's Friday, and life is good. Have a great weekend! -A

Please contact Jeff at Lizzards Gallery if you'd like some more information on this painting.

Red Maple Sunset

"Red Maple Sunset" 12"w x 12"h

I don't know if other artists do this ... but I enjoy changing my palette on almost a daily basis. Paintings will be cool and loaded with cobalt blues, greys and ultramarine blues ... then it's on to deep evergreens ... then high contrast cardinals only to return to the colors that began it all, the colors of autumn. Hiking through the woods in the autumn season is something I long to do all year round. It brings back warm childhood memories and the colorful leaves and crisp cool air make the experience one to remember. Times like that influence my work year round, such as this piece featuring warm golds and crimsons along with burnt sienna. Red Maple Sunset ... a piece that warms my soul and brings a smile to my face. :)

Please contact Z Place Gallery in Ironwood, MI for more information on today's piece.

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. :)

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.

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.