Summer Song *SOLD

It's January which means things have gotten quiet at the gallery and I have 3 days a week to spend at home - PAINTING! Yes, I can paint at the shop but there is nothing like lighting candles, turning up the music and having the space all to myself to paint. I can work on larger pieces, watch the snow fall, make coffee and get lost in paint. My pup, Molly, seems to like this time too - she spent most of the afternoon curled up at my feet as I painted.

Palette knife painting felt like the obvious choice for a summer sailboat scene. The application of paint with a knife helps to create unexpected transitions that dance like light on water. I used broad paint application for the sky and water and more detail on the sailboats in the distance.

Summer Song is a 30"x40" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $565.00 | 218-547-3729

Modern Scandinavian Garden - Kingfisher's Post *SOLD

When approached to create a commissioned painting I look for a few key words in the description of the person interested in a custom piece. Number one on my list is that the person interested in a piece already likes my work and preferably already owns one of my pieces - so I know that my style fits their home. Number two is how flexible they are with what they are looking for. Number three is size and mood of the piece.

For this piece - many of the elements I look for were clear. Sue already owned one of my pieces plus she browsed through my blog and made a list of 10 paintings that spoke to her the most. Most of the paintings on the list were of trees and had a lot of color and layers. The next unknown was size.

Sue invited me to her beautiful home to get a feel for the space. Every detail of their home was immaculate with bright color that balanced calm sweeps of solid earth tones. Personal details from Scandinavian artwork to brightly painted cupboards and gorgeous furniture balanced tastefully. Somehow Sue managed to create a space that felt like home, was modern but not cold and made me want to sit and visit. I was treated to wine, cheese and crackers while we visited about what Sue and her husband would like for their home. I brought a 40" square canvas to test for size. We knew the piece was to hang above the fireplace and be a focal piece of the living room. We decided 36"x48" would work the best. I took some photos of the space and got to thinking more about what would work best.

It took me a good month to visualize what to paint for this space. I knew Sue wanted a piece that would make her feel happy which meant color and movement. The happiest pieces for me are my Modern Scandinavian Garden paintings. I had never done one on that scale before but I came to the conclusion that if it were my home - that is what I would want. …so I got to painting and had a lot of fun creating the oversized allium with a Kingfisher perched at the top. I didn't know if Sue would like it as much as I did but it seems she does. I hung it in their home for a trial run to see how it made them feel and got a message that evening saying they would be keeping it. This makes me happy.

Modern Scandinavian Garden - Kingfisher's Post is a 36"x48 acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. 

Summer Sun SUP *SOLD

This tiny little 5" square painting was created by sketching in acrylic based ink and then overpainting with acrylic paint. I kept the colors limited to give it a block print feeling or old fashion illustration style.

For those of you who have tried stand up paddle boarding - you know how addicting and meditative the activity can be. By the time Spring comes back around we are craving the smooth water, long board and joy of paddling while looking into the clear water for signs of fish, turtles and other lake life. Summer Sun SUP is an ode to the wonderful sport of paddling. 

Summer Sun SUP is an original ink and acrylic painting on 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper. It is framed to 7" square and available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $45.00 | 218-547-3729

Winged Architect *SOLD

Winged Architect was inspired by a little bird's nest I noticed last year during the first rain of the springtime.  I watched this nest as the year progressed - hoping to see what little bird created it. The lushness of the foliage grew around the nest so fast that I never got a clear view of the creature that might be making it home for another year.

The sweet little pod inspired a sweet little painting - made up of teal, ivory, grey and earth tone browns and reds. It is a calming piece - meant to relax it's viewer into thinking about nature and life cycles. 

Winged Architect is a 10" x 20" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $199.00 - original  | 218-547-3729

Saturday *SOLD

Running a store, in a small town, I get time to visit with customers and learn a little about their stories.   Some inspire me with their outlook on life, positive take on situations and humor. One of these customers constantly reminds me why I have a little store in a small town. 

We will call this customer E.S. She has a way of keeping a fresh energy and fresh but classic style. As Christmas was approaching - the year before last - she stopped into the shop, stylish as usual in every detail from jewelry to boots. I asked to take a couple photos for inspiration. Over a year later that day inspired a little ink painting titled: Saturday. This is my ode to all the wonderful customers who make running a little shop in a small town mean something to me. 

Saturday is a 2"x5" ink painting - framed to 5"x9". It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $58.00

Sailor's Delight *SOLD

Sailor's Delight is the latest in my series of small 5" ink paintings. I was inspired by a sailing photo that my sister took, while visiting Leech Lake, last summer. The wind was light - giving the sails a graceful flow. I found the scene calm. Although the sailboat was captured in the hot afternoon sun, I decided to paint it in an evening sunset scene in order to add to the peaceful calm of the piece.

Sailor's Delight  is a 5" square piece - framed to 7" square. I used FW Ink on 140 lb. arches watercolor paper - framed in a deep blue - almost black frame. $52.00 at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | 218-547-3729