Video - the making of: Rise with the Sun (click link below to go to youtube video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caNCaq5EFLQ

Rise with the Sun *SOLD

Rise with the Sun started with a road trip and a gift. This summer I visited Wisconsin and noticed a whispy vegetation growing in the fields and along the roadways. I know I have seen these delicate tall plants before but something about them in this landscape really drew me in. I especially liked the green plants that were semi closed. 

I found a location that had a good assortment of the plants - both open and closed - and here I took some photos. After picking a couple plants and setting them out to draw, the name of the plant was given to me. They are Queen Anne's Lace. You probably wouldn't guess that this painting is of Queen Anne's Lace because the plant served as the inspiration but the actual painting took another direction in rich colors and sweeping lines rather than the small delicate flowers of the QAL. But now you know the inspiration.

The next piece, in creating this painting, was a gift of a large 6' x 4' canvas. It was a second hand blank canvas that was stretched nicely but not being used. I was in the right place at the right time and knowing the right person to obtain the canvas. As I walked the large canvas from it's current home to my studio - I had all sorts of ideas of what I wanted to paint on it. It has been months since the canvas came to me. Once I had the vision and color palette in mind it took me 3 weeks to paint. I photographed the painting in stages so you can see the layers and colors being shaped. The link is below. 

Rise with the Sun is the larges painting on canvas that I have done. I see more large canvass in my future!

Rise with the Sun is a 6' x 4' acrylic painting on stretched canvas. It is not of sale but currently hanging at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN. It will be hanging for the month of December and a few weeks into January of 2015. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caNCaq5EFLQ

Feel the Wind *SOLD

Feel the Wind is a tiny little 5" square - acrylic painting on stretched canvas. The bird has a Goldfinch feeling about it although it is made up and more about motion than trying to be a certain bird. I wanted the piece to feel light. I used calming and rejuvenating colors to make the bird feel free and uninhibited. It is a good day to glide on wind currents - that's what this little painting is saying.

Feel the Wind is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $35.00 | 218-547-3729

Bittersweet Swirl *SOLD

Yup….that's Bittersweet. I just can't help but paint it. I stopped counting how many bittersweet paintings I have created - that's how much fun it is to paint.

This 9"x12" painting is titled Bittersweet Swirl and is acrylic on stretched canvas. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Modern Scandinavian Blooms *SOLD

 Thalo Yellow Green - by Grumbacher - was the inspiration for this colorful painting.  If you have ever held a tube of this vibrant acrylic in your hand….you know…it is inspiring.

This is a fun 10" x 30" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges.

I kept the feeling of the painting in the style of my Modern Scandinavian acrylic and watercolor series. Modern Scandinavian Bloom is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $175.00 | 218-547-3729

Rhythm of the Grasslands 40"x40" original painting *SOLD

Rhythm of the Grasslands is a large 40" x 40" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" stretcher bars and painted edges. 

One morning, I was driving to town and had to stop to photograph the wild grasses, along a marsh, near Kabekona. The light was hitting the golden grasses just right and the wind swirled the tall stems into a beautiful motion. The actual scene was golden ochres, browns and ivory. I visualized the painting as deep reds, yellow ochre and deep greens.

The painting took on many forms - as I built the layers. My final layer was the vivid cadmium orange which tied the grey green, red and ochres together. The finished painting is shown hanging in a home with tall ceilings and beautiful natural light.

Rhythm of the Grasslands is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Bittersweet Vine III

This tiny little 5"x5" bittersweet painting changes dramatically depending on what light it is in. Here it is photographed in bright natural daylight which brings out the yellow and aqua hints. In some light it looks almost grey or deeper green. I used a Pthalo Blue green shade for the under layer sketch and to give the little canvas extra life.

Bittersweet Vine III is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $42.00 | 218-547-3729

Bittersweet Dance III *SOLD

Bittersweet Dance III was a commissioned piece. It was commissioned by a fellow bittersweet enthusiast who saw one of my smaller paintings, which was similar to this piece. She had a specific size request and since painting bittersweet is one of my favorite subjects, I went right to work on it.

Bittersweet Dance III is an 11" x 14" acrylic painting on stretched canvas.

Midnight over Milkweed Bloom *SOLD

This little painting needs a lot of light. Because of it's subtle variations, of blue and green, it is a rich dark painting. I wanted it to feel like evening had fallen on a field and the milkweed bloom stayed out late to enjoy the moon. 

The size and texture of this 6" x 12" acrylic painting is playful and mystical. It belongs in a sunny small space where it can dance on it's own. Midnight over Milkweed Bloom is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $42.00 | 218-547-3729

Sweet Song II *SOLD

Sweet Song II is the second painting inspired by a sweet White Crowned  Sparrow that visited me this summer. This is a small 10"x20" acrylic painting on stretched canvas. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Forest Balance *SOLD

Forest Balance is the opposite of my last Birch Tree painting in style and color. With this piece, I used a palette of warm grey, ivory, yellow ochre, green grey and deep blue for a soft and calming piece with a soothing presence. 

This is a large 48" x 36" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" stretcher bars, painted edges and cross braces. Forest Balance is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Tent * Fire * Stars

I have always been drawn to textiles, especially those with stories or repeating symbols. One day, I'd like to have my own design woven into a textile. Simplify a story into symbols is a fun challenge. In the end, the design relies heavily on color combinations to make it work.

This piece my look simple but the time involved, to create crisp lines and solid colors, was longer than I had imagined. ..especially when mixing specific tints and shades. I experimented with many different colors until I came up with a color combination that made me happy. 

Tent * Fire * Stars is 10"x30" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. It is painted to hang either horizontal or vertical - as shown in the photos above. This painting is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $198.00. | 218-547-DRAW

Standing Still

I always enjoy painting, no matter what the subject is, but….abstracts seem to be the ones I hang in my house.  The movement and color constantly change - I never get tired of an abstract. This piece is designed to hang horizontal or vertical which allows even more versatility in a space.

The title: Standing Still - is about the contentment felt by standing in place and admiring your surroundings.
Standing Still - is acrylic on stretched linen canvas. The size is 18"x24" on 1.5" thick stretcher bars. This pieces is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | 218-547-3729

Light * Color * Air [SOLD]

The North woods of Minnesota are filled with inspiration right now.  I have taken enough photos, of the leaves and forests, to inspire paintings for years to come…and I'll keep taking more until the leaves are gone. This painting is a large 36" x 48" painting with lots of layers and tons of color. 

I used over 10 tubes of red paint pigments and mixed them for even more variety. There are hundreds of colors on this canvas. If you stand close to the canvas you will see the texture which is made up of both palette knife and brush strokes. The final details are the birch tree branches which are set apart from the maple tree blanket of color. 

Light * Color * Air  is a 36" x 48" acrylic painting, painted on stretched canvas with 1.5" stretcher bars. Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | 218-547-3729

additional photos: detail of the upper right corner of the painting 

Birch Tree Beehive [photo, watercolor and acrylic paintings]

When asked to paint a commissioned piece, I always think about the piece before I commit. I listen to what the piece is to represent and whether or not my style will work for the painting. When Loretta mentioned a beehive nestled in the birch trees at her cabin, I was immediately interested. I was so curious to see the beehive, she had described, that I arrived to take photos the next day.

Not only was the beehive great inspiration to paint, but the setting of Bill and Loretta's cabin was warm and welcoming. They invited me to sit, put a gin n tonic in my hand and told stories of cabin life, family and Minnesota. I was so taken with the stories that I nearly forgot to take photos while there was still light outside. At the end of my visit I was given a, fresh baked, bag of molasses cookies and sent on my way to paint.

I couldn't decide whether watercolor of acrylic would work best in their home and since I found the subject fun to paint…I painted one of each. The watercolor is 8" x 16" on 140 lb arches cold press paper. The acrylic piece is 8"x24" on stretched canvas. Now it's time to see if either of these is what they had in mind. 

Branching Out - SOLD

Branching Out is a small study of a larger painting I plan to create this fall.  This little 9"x12" painting was inspired by a row of healthy birch trees in northern Minnesota. 

I recently started using a Phthalo Blue as my painting sketch under layer. This, brighter blue, brings out my colors in a new way and I find myself using more oranges and greens to play off the brilliant blue. The large painting might have more greens and yellows in it but this little piece called for cooler blue tones.

Branching Out is framed in a natural floater frame and available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $86.00 | 218-547-3729

Guardians of the Path II *SOLD

Recently…yesterday…I was inspired by a pastel artist and decided to give the messy medium another try.  I would love to say that the pastel dust and mess doesn't get to me…but….it does. Pastels are wonderful for their rich tone and texture and working from dark to light is satisfying but I can't get over the bright dust covering everything. SO…for now… I'm putting em away…again. Pastels your are fun but apparently I am not a free enough spirit to embrace the mess you make.

Guardians of the Path II is a pastel drawing on 140 lb watercolor paper. It is framed and set on a background of handmade paper. The final size is 14"x16". This piece is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $115.00 [framed]  | 218-547-3729

Bittersweet - Storm Grey *SOLD

Every once n awhile a stormy grey day hits just right and you feel perfectly content to enjoy an afternoon cuddled up inside with candles, paintbrush and tea. That's how I was feeling with Bittersweet - Storm Grey.

Bittersweet - Storm Grey is a 9"x12" acrylic painting on stretched canvas. It is framed in a natural floater frame with black inset. This piece is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $82.00 [framed] | 218-547-3729

Bittersweet - Fall Crisp *SOLD

With my 3rd Bittersweet painting, in 2 days, I decided to try some new color combinations. Bittersweet can be spotted, the best, during the late summer or early fall. This painting feels like the transition from summer to fall when the leaves are just turning from brilliant green to yellows.

Bittersweet - Fall Crisp is a 9"x12" acrylic painting on stretched canvas. It is framed in a floater frame with black inset and natural frame. This piece is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $82.00 [framed] | 218-547-3729

Bittersweet - Cobalt Turquoise *SOLD

Oranges, reds and cobalt turquoise play against each other with this Bittersweet painting.  I also used a textured background for this 10"x10" canvas to give the piece the illusion of having more depth.

Bittersweet - Cobalt Turquoise is a 10"x10" acrylic painting on stretched canvas and is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $65.00 | 218-547-3729

Bittersweet Classic *SOLD

This little 6"x6" Bittersweet painting is starting to feel like my signature painting. I just love these berries and enjoy painting them. Since I have requests for more of them, I am pleased to keep on painting em! 

Bittersweet Classic is a 6"x6" acrylic painting on stretched canvas and is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $38.00 | 218-547-3729

Change *SOLD

Subtle Change is a calming painting with light variations of yellows,  grays and blues. I stayed away from bright pops of color with this piece in order to give it a peaceful and relaxing tone. I did add a few shades of orange to bring out the blue  and tie in the yellows here.

Subtle Change is a 9"x12" acrylic painting on stretched canvas and is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $64.00 | 218-547-3729

Scandinavian Garden - Playful Blooms *SOLD

I had some fun with watercolor paint and this playful little piece. In the tradition of my Scandinavian Garden series I over-exaggerated the flower shapes and used bright colors to play off of the dancing shapes. 

Scandinavian Garden - Playful Blooms is a 8" x14" watercolor on Arches 140 lb watercolor paper. This piece will be available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN after it is framed. | 218-547-3729

Modern Scandinavian Elements *SOLD

A 12"x36" canvas is a fun size to paint! This color palette was on my mind right away when starting this piece. I wanted something light and playful with an elongated Scandinavian feel. I stayed with primary color variations for the main elements and added pops of orange, green and ivory to play in the background. As with all my paintings, the outline is a dark blue, although it may appear black in a photograph.

Modern Scandinavian Elements is acrylic on canvas with painted edges. The stretcher bars are 1.5" thick. The canvas size is 12"x36" | available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $260.00 |  218-547-3729

Forest Order Totem *SOLD shown with Light Among the Wind Totem

I have been fascinated with textiles and totems lately. Something about a totems ability to tell a story and the repetition of a textile - make me want to combine the two in paint. My latest totem style painting is about the forest order. I used turquoise to represent water and sky. My intent with repetition is to represent trees and arrows for hunting and gathering. The Bald Eagle is at the top of the food chain and so it sits at the top of the panel as a symbol of forest and order.

This 6" x 12" - acrylic on textured panel - piece is titled Forest Order and is shown next to another totem panel I titled Light Among the Wind.

Patchwork Forest *SOLD

Patchwork Forest is a small 9" x 12" acrylic painting with a lot of layers and a lot of color. I used an impressionist style along with overpainting for this little forest birch tree painting. By layering color and alternating brush strokes the painting has a rich texture. This style, with all it's colors, is fun to hang in different environments and see what colors are highlighted by it's surrounding. 

I framed Patchwork Forest in a natural floater frame with black spacer to give it a simple modern finish. 

Sincere Nature *SOLD

Sometimes the most fun pieces to create live in my mind until they are ready to hatch. That was the case with this piece. While enjoying a nice early summer drink on the patio, overlooking the lake, I noticed a sweet leafy branch with a beautiful flow to it. I wasn't quite sure how I wanted to capture the branch until today. 

A painter friend,  gave me some beautiful hand made paper to try. The warm tone, deckled edge and uneven variations called for brush and ink. Daler Rowney makes a gorgeous Red Earth ink which, set against the warm paper, has a very peaceful feeling. Ochre, warm red and grey are one of my favorite combinations SO I had to use a rich grey background. 

The final piece is simple but calming and elegant. I just might be hooked on ink and handmade paper. 

Sincere Nature is a 12"x12" ink on handmade paper piece. Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN. for $45.00 | 218-547-3729

Meadow Birch - SOLD

The Birch trees surrounding northern Minnesota have been great models for me this summer. This one caught my eye with it's gentle swoop and view of the golden meadow. I just might add a little more red to it before I call it finished but I'll hang out with it for a few days before I add anything more.

This watercolor painting will be framed to about 16"x20" - give or take a few inches. Meadow Birch will be available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN as soon as it is framed.

Forest Quilt *SOLD

I used a lot of texture and layering to create Forest Quilt. If you get up close to it, you will see the overlaying of color, thick paint, and a crosshatching technique - all used to give this piece depth and the feeling of being deep in the forest. I have always been drawn to woven tapestries and wanted to give this piece the woven feeling with paint. Birch trees make a good subject for this style since the bark already has a woven appearance.

The colors I chose are exaggerated from those you might find in nature…but that is the fun part about painting…I can use any colors I like. Vibrant blues contrast the rich yellows and ochres in this piece, forcing the whites and creams of the Birch trunk to stand out. 

Forest Quilt is a 40"x30" acrylic painting on stretched canvas. The stretcher bars are 1.5" thick. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, Minnesota | 218-547-3729

Pop of Color *SOLD

Sometimes it takes someone else's inspiration to set a painting in motion. With any commissioned piece I take on, I paint with the person who has the vision in mind but I also have to paint to satisfy myself…so I paint it for myself. Working in this manner, there is nothing lost if the vision is not met. That was the case with this 20" x 30" Poppy painting. I was trying to meet the vision of a customer but in the end the blue wasn't quite right and so the painting didn't fill the need of it's original request….but….I was happy with the piece and 3 days later it was sold to someone new who had her own vision of where it would hang!

Pop of Color is a 20" 30" acrylic painting on stretched canvas.

Fiery Maple *SOLD

Fiery Maple was inspired by a lively Maple that lives on the south side of Leech Lake. I used a combination of Caran d Ache Technalo graphite pencils along with M. Graham watercolors and Pebeo drawing gum on this piece.  With Maple trees it is fun to exaggerate the colors - hence the name Fiery Maple. The tree that modeled for me was dressed in it's full green glory, at the time, but I can just picture her dressed in with flair for the Fall. 

Fiery Maple is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, Minnesota.

Birch Stand - Chippewa National Forest *SOLD

Birch Stand - Chippewa Nation Forest is a small version of my impressionist style birch tree paintings. One of my favorite place to wander, in Minnesota, is Shingobee Recreation area - in the Chippewa National Forest. This little, 6" square painting, is based on a couple of Birch tree models along the trails at Shingobee.

Birch Stand - Chippewa Nation Forest is a 6" x 6" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $48.00  | 218-547-3729

Scandinavian Garden - Origami Iris *SOLD

Now THIS was a fun painting. This narrow lil watercolor was inspired by Grey and Lavender Iris flowers with bright yellow and orange stripe detail. I plan on painting, the inspiring flowers, in a more realistic acrylic painting but thought it would be fun to create a modern geometric piece out of watercolor. They turned into Origami looking flowers that are quiet happy.

Scandinavian Garden - Origami Iris is a narrow 3" x 17.5" watercolor on 140 lb hot press (smooth) watercolor paper. Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | 218-547-DRAW

Scandinavian Garden - Modern Marigold *SOLD

My Modern Scandinavian Garden watercolor series has a bright new addition.  These pieces are inspired by "real" flowers but I add a geometric dimension to them that gives the pieces a more modern - elongated Scandinavian feel.  This, along with the intensely bright M. Graham watercolors, really makes the small piece have a bold presence. 

Scandinavian Garden - Modern Marigold  is a 6" x 14" watercolor on 140 lb watercolor paper. Available - after it is framed - at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | 218-547-DRAW

Fiery Berries *SOLD

The combination of Naples Yellow deep and Pyrrole Red is as close to a sunset as I can get. I used this combination of colors for the background of Fiery Berries - a portrait of Bittersweet berries. I lost track of how many Bittersweet paintings I have done but this one has to be the brightest.

I thought the contrast of Apple Indicator's cool colors against the Fiery Berries warmth was a nice compliment. Fiery Berries is a small 5" square acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Apple Indicator *SOLD

This little 5" x 7" painting is a combination of some of my favorite colors. Paynes Gray, Naples Yellow, Pyrrole Red, Sky Blue and turquoise are blended to give the apple blossom branch a soft and light air. The apple blossoms stay such a short time and add an elegant sweetness as they indicate how many apples we will find come autumn.

Apple Indicator is a 5"x7" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $48 | 218-547-3729

Maple Style *SOLD

Amur Maple trees outline the town of Walker, MN with their flowing style. There is nothing straight and orderly about these little beauties. Their angled trunks and wild hair styles make me happy. In the winter they keep their silvery seeds like packets of wishes waiting to be wished on. The stylin Amur calls to be painted during every season. I am fond of the healthy and always changing little urban Maple.

Maple Style is a 7.5" x 7.5" watercolor painting - framed to 13" square. Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $42.00 | 218-547-3729

Rivers, Waders and Rhythm *SOLD

This 13" x 17" watercolor on 140 lb watercolor paper was inspired by a day on the Missouri River with a good guide/friend, a camera and a back seat to a drift boat mecca. We were surrounded by drift-boats guided by skilled men and women who knew the river and loved every minute of being out there. ...or at least they pretended like they did. I was introduced to a world I knew existed but never got very close to. I will paint this day for years to come.

There is a romance and grace to fly-fishing that is always intriguing to paint. I don't know if it is the movement, the rhythm or just being out on the river that makes it so appealing. I hope I can capture a little bit of the beauty I find in the sport. 

Sweet Song *SOLD

Sweet Song is a tiny little 5" square painting. A White Crowned Sparrow visited me at breakfast time the other day and was kind enough to pose for a few photos. This is the first of several little Sparrow paintings that have been inspired by this sweet little visitor. 

Sweet Song is 5" x 5" acrylic on stretched canvas (1.5" stretcher bars with painted edges). Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $60.00 | 218-547-3729

Take to the Sky *SOLD

Take to the Sky has been something I have been wanting to paint for months. The extremely cold winter in Minnesota this year has my mind dancing with visions of flying on warm air currents. The bright primary colors contrast the scene out my window the last few months. The snow is gone and it's time for color to burst in. It's time to get outside and shed the layers. It's time to be outside and play. Take to the Sky is a welcome to leaves on the trees, birds in the sky, sun shining down and warm breezes on our skin....or feathers.

Take to the Sky is a large 40" x 30" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN. for $700.00 | 218-547-3729