Ice Blue Jay Number 1 and 2

I had a dream last night about a flock of blue jays. I'm not sure why, but there were hundreds in the trees outside. This past fall, a flock of about a dozen blue jays were at the feeder and that event may have inspired the dream last night. Whatever the reason, that dream inspired me to post a couple of blue jay paintings titled Ice Blue Jay Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. These blue jays think they are hidden amongst a cobalt blue sky and treeline, but their big white bellies give them away. Perhaps they should stop raiding my feeder and let the cute little chickadees have a turn. Have a great weekend! Please contact Riverwood Gallery in Eau Claire, WI for more information on today's piece.

Standing Tall

"Standing Tall" 4"w x 12"h

The third in a series of small vertical pine compositions featuring rocks and water. What gives me satisfaction with this series is how they each have such a life of their own, yet make a strong group when viewed together. This painting titled Standing Tall is the lightest and brightest of the three, the bright sky offsetting the pines and rocks of the foreground. As I work, I notice I get into grooves where the paintings flow naturally and are very cohesive. But at the same time, I notice when that happens I look for new tributaries to follow, looking for that little spark in the painting that signals a new direction. There is a little spark of sorts with these three pine paintings, and I'm excited for the challenge and new direction they may spark in my work. Please contact Riverwood Gallery in Eau Claire, WI for more information on today's piece.

Summer Green Pines

"Summer Green Pines" 4"w x 12"h

I must admit that the winter snow is pretty. The blue shadows cast by the trees along with the warm color of sunshine on the snow compliment the cool grays of the skies. Today the snow is softly falling due to a warm front rolling through bringing us a few days of reprieve from the last couple weeks of subzero weather. In a couple days, the subzero returns for the near future, and that has me thinking and dreaming about summer weather. Today's painting titled Summer Green Pines will help with the winter blahs. We're approaching the winter solstice next week which will mark the shortest day of the year. After that, we gain daylight every day until spring melts away the bitter sting of old man winter and the warm colorful carefree days of summer begin again. Please contact Riverwood Gallery in Eau Claire, WI for more information on today's piece.

White Pine River

"White Pine River", 4"w x 12"h

Instead of complaining about how cold the weather is here in Duluth this past week, I thought I'd post a summer painting of white pines along a lazy flowing river somewhere north of here. As I paint, there are works that have a natural satisfaction to them as I complete them, and there are works in progress as I like to call them, works that don't feel right. This was one of those in progress pieces, titled White Pine River, one that I wasn't sure was going to ever take off. I struggled with the sky, as you view the top of the piece, you'll see a deep cobalt sky, and it was just too dark for me. At one point, I wanted to start over, the whole piece was just too dark, but I took it as an opportunity to just load the paint on the canvas and see what happens. When it was all said and done, this piece was my favorite of the three in this series that I'll be posting here in the next couple of days. Because I started dark in color and added several layers, I achieved a depth of texture in this piece that may actually influence my work going forward. It's that time of year that I reflect on what I've accomplished in the past year, and going forward into a new year, there just may be some depth of color and texture that will give my work the visual punch I so often desire. Now, if only I could walk along this white pine river for a while, in the summer heat, listening to the water splash and tumble along the rocks, listening to the wind rustle through the pine needles ... please contact Riverwood Gallery in Eau Claire, WI 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. :)

Riverwood Gallery

My work is now featured at Riverwood Gallery in Eau Claire, Wisconsin! I'm so excited to see how people from a new area respond to my work and it connects with them. I've just sent a shipment of works to the gallery, and uploaded the new work to my website as well, click here to view it in a new window.

Please check it out and stop back soon ... lots of new work will be featured in January ... gotta get back at it, there are twelve works in progress waiting for me. :)