Spring Lake Shadows

"Spring Lake Shadows"  30"w x 24"h

While I haven't been too active blogging these days, I have been working on some bright new pieces. The winter often compels me to hibernate, but it won't be long before Spring arrives, and that thought inspired this painting titled Spring Lake Shadows. Every year I challenge myself with new subjects, compositions, and colors. My style has been consistent over the years, and I've never felt like departing from my signature singular brush stroke. But I'm working on exciting new adventures in painting, which I'll be sharing here from time to time. In the meantime, enjoy this spring themed northwoods lake which is saturated in greens, golds and blues ... and think warm thoughts. :)
-Aaron

2014: A Year In Review

2014 was quite a year. Looking back and reflecting on what was accomplished is always fun and challenging all at once. It's great to reminisce, but then again, it's challenging to think about how I'll improve or surpass all that was accomplished in the past year. Perhaps it isn't about painting more, earning more, achieving more ... but more about enjoying the journey and looking back and forward to all that the good Lord has in store. For now, I'm in reflection mode, and here's a brief synopsis of 2014:

January:

While my home in Duluth was being blasted by north winds and sub zero weather that just wouldn't quit, I was hibernating in my studio and producing several works that would define and shape my work in the coming year. Massive paintings such as this one, titled Ladies Night Out (72"wx36"h) were painted every month, and to date many have sold, which is amazing in of itself to me. I've always been known for my tiny affordable paintings, but now that's changing as people have been interested in my large works, and I find painting large scale works to be a great challenge to undertake.

February:

New work was produced for all galleries in February, and I enjoyed a subject matter which featured the golden moon and golden birches .. with as much blue as I could gorge onto the canvas to complement the golds. Working in this color scheme produced several meaningful works, such as this one titled We've Been Old Friends All Through The Years (60"wx48"h)


March:

In March I scheduled an art show that was really last minute to fill a slot at Bixby's Cafe in Duluth. The show was titled Lights, and featured a selection of originals and framed prints. I was a bit nervous with the prints as they represented a significant investment for the frames, but I was happy when many sold, along with several originals. I had planned to include this piece, titled Why Can't This Night Go On Forever? (60"wx48"h), but I was contacted by Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN and notified that they wanted some new work, so I sent this painting up there and it sold almost right away. Wow, once again I was spurred on to work large and thankful for so many who have supported me and collected my work.

April:

Something should be said about the weather once again, for I was working with cold fingers and toes for much of early 2014 as Minnesota set a record for the coldest winter ever. There were painfully long stretches that the temp never broke zero during the day and dropped over 20 degrees below zero at night. I was inspired to paint flowers and snow as the weather finally started to break and spring approached. This piece, titled Pushing Through The Snow, summarizes my struggle with the cold and elation at the new spring season that was occurring at that time. Also of note is that I had another show, this one titled Songbirds, at The Vanilla Bean in Two Harbors, MN, where I sold several sweet songbird paintings and prints.

May:

May was a quiet month of producing work, daily working towards filling the walls at Your Art's Desire Gallery in Minnetonka, where I was scheduled to have my largest art show ever. I painted two dozen paintings in May, many large pieces such as this one titled Suncatchers (36"wx24"h) for the show which was titled Northland Kaleidoscope.

June:

June saw the arrival of a new bird for me, the chickadee. I've painted many chickadee themed works this past year, and was also asked to paint four commissions featuring this friendly little feathered fella. I've enjoyed watching the chickadees eating at my feeders this winter, with the thistle and suet feeders being visited by thankful chickadees during this winter. This piece is titled Feathered Friends 10"wx10") and sold at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth, MN.

July:

With the snow finally gone and summer in full bloom, I couldn't resist painting a scene that spoke to the joy I had when summer finally arrived and melted away the ice and snow. This piece was a favorite, titled Ahhhh Summer (36"wx24"h) and sold at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth. I painted several pieces in this theme on a smaller scale which were well received and collected by locals and those traveling through the area and wanting to take a souvenir home.

August:

I completed my largest major work ever attempted in August titled Placid Lake Triptych (120"wx40"h). This piece is still for sale as I'm typing this year in review, and this one is available at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. This painting was a lesson in perserveance for me, and took many long hours to complete, not to mention the logistical issue of dealing with such large panels. I took several swimming breaks with the kiddos which may have cut into my painting time just a bit, but was a much needed distraction. :)

September:

In September several noteworthy things happened. My Landscapes show opened at Lizzards Gallery in Duluth and it was a special event and I was so thrilled to see so many landscapes I had labored countless hours over displayed on the gallery walls. This piece, titled Golden Autumn Sunbeams (36'wx36"h) is a personal favorite of mine from the show. Another accomplishment in September was a painting titled The Tavern On The Lake (36"wx24"h) which was a donation to the Duluth Art Institute's annual fundraiser auction. What a fun painting this was, with the night scene, warm colors and reflections of the light on the rainy pavement. This is a painting that gave me the feeling of wanting to stay there in the warm glow of the restaurant and listen to the music of the acoustic guitars, fiddles, mandolins and banjos echoing across lake Superior.

 

October:

We took the most ambitious vacation ever in October, flying to Washington DC, staying with friends and touring the DC area before driving all the way up to New Hampshire. We stopped at several historic sites in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, New York and other cities and states as we made our way up the east coast. What a whirlwind of a week with many fond memories of adventures along the way. I painted a couple gifts for the folks we stayed with, one of northern Minnesota, and another of a state I hadn't ever seen before, New Hampshire. I looked at some photos prior to leaving on the vacation and was happy to see similar trees and topography as found here in Northern Minnesota, as I was painting this piece, titled Autumn In New Hampshire (8"wx24"h)  I also painted many canvases in October in fall themes which is hands down my favorite season to paint. 

November:

The holiday season was on my mind as I finished more canvases in November as I had ever accomplished. The flurry of activity in my studio filled gallery walls with color for the shoppers and left me with a huge burn out feeling at the end of the month. I've gone through this before, and the only way through it is to step away from the easel for a season and get back to the roots of what drives me to create. Hiking through forests and observing nature in all it's wonder gives me the drive to create, and after some restful time I was able to get back to the canvas and brushes once more. One painting of note is here, titled Evergreen Cardinal Playland (36"wx36"h) at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais. I really loved the tiny cardinals in this piece which features complementary color with the evergreen ridges and sky and bright red birds. One other event was I opened a show at Amity Coffee in Duluth, just a few blocks down from my home. The coffee shop was just opening, and had asked me to display my work, and I honestly didn't have much to choose from, so I ended up hanging all my personal favorites that I've held onto over the years and having a retrospective show. Intermingled with the paintings are framed prints and some new originals, and the show has stayed there even through January. I've been stopping in weekly, filling spots where framed prints have found new homes. It's a show that I wish could go on forever ... and it's almost like a studio away from home, filled with warmth, light, color, great coffee, and also very relaxing. 

 

December:

In December I completed several commissioned paintings that were for gifts, so I had to be efficient. But I also painted some more meaningful pieces, this one here was a blast to paint, and is titled Get Your Kicks on Scenic 61 (16"wx40"h). My dad has many stories to tell of his adventures traveling up 61 in his younger days to stay with family in the Ely and Grand Marais areas, and to go skiing at Lutsen. He also worked for the MN Dept. of Transportation in the sign dept. for many years, so I couldn't help but think of his adventures as I was reminiscing of my own excursion up this amazing road. The painting features the new sign, with the cardinal perched on the top of the sign, and warm color below with cool blues above. If you've never been on Scenic 61, it winds from Duluth to Grand Marais .. over 100 miles all the way ... get your kicks on Scenic 61.

Well that's it! I could go on and on about all that has happened this past year. I can't possibly imagine having a more successful year, it was a year to remember, and wow, what a ride. What does 2015 have in store? I'm not sure at this point, but I do have several canvases in mind, a couple commissions to paint, and some new products in the works as well. I'm working on having some giclee prints made on canvas of my favorites from the past several years, and hope to have them ready soon. Please check my website and this blog in the future for more information on new works and affordable paper and canvas prints.

I'm off to the easel ....

-A.Kloss

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.