Breathe Easy Autumn *SOLD

This piece is a commissioned painting for a couple living in Texas. They wanted a piece that reminded them of this area but complimented their Texas home. It was fun to see a photo of the space the painting was created for and helped me to envision the colors that would really thrive there.

I used a combination of layered brush work and palette knife for Breathe Easy Autumn. I was going for an expressionistic feel of light and color. The title is in reference to change in schedule. With retirement at hand, for this couple, I imagine they are breathing a little deeper - perhaps relaxing and planning adventures.

Breathe Easy Autumn is an original acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars, painted edges and cross braces. It will be going to it's new home down south soon.

Set Sail *SOLD

Set Sail is a palette knife painting - created to set a mood of calm - a piece you can look into to relax and unwind. It is loose and somewhat abstract but I'm hoping it's viewers feel water, sunshine, freedom and movement from it. I want it to inspire thoughts of summer days with your feet bare and wind in your hair.

Set Sail is a 30"x10" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges and 1.5" thick stretcher bars. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $240.00 | 218-547-3729

Cattail Wishes & Red-Winged Songs -SOLD

I have had the vision for this painting for months. Usually when I picture exactly what I want to paint - the painting comes together very quickly. It has been nearly 2 months since I started this piece. It has also been almost 2 months since I had my sweet little baby boy. 

Time completely changes with a newborn. I am told they grow so fast and I should enjoy the snuggling baby stage - which I am! I keep telling myself that the need paint and be productive can wait - as I can't stop staring at this adorable little creature that wants to be held close. YET...the colors dance in my mind and I try to sneak a bit of painting in as he naps. ...but he catches me and my paint dries on the palette. Alas, a baby backpack and baby wrap have helped me out. Now I can paint - some - and hold him close! 

Cattail Wishes & Red-Winged Songs is a whimsical painting inspired by the fluffy cattails that fill our ponds and the beautiful song of the red-winged black bird that is often found visiting these ponds. I combined the light feel and bright colors of my Modern Scandinavian series with a thick palette knife layering to create a piece full of color, texture and light dancing on a pond. 

Cattail Wishes & Red-Winged Songs is a 24"x48" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $875.00 | 218-547-3729

Bittersweet Reaching Out *SOLD

It's that time - time to paint one of my favorite subjects - Bittersweet Berries. This 9"x12" painting started out with a textured background which I layered with bittersweet vines and berries in a soft palette with pops of bright berry color.

Bittersweet - Reaching Out is a 9"x12" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $98.00 | 218-547-3729

Field of Wishes *SOLD

When you look into a field - full of little pods, whispys, capsules and seeds - do you think of all the wishes being sent out over the land? All these beauties create a beautiful setting - designed to balance and restore the earth and make our world a little more beautiful.

This little 8"x10" acrylic painting on stretched canvas is an ode to all the twirly and swirly goodness around us. This painting is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $98.00 | 218-547-3729

Hudson Bay Morning *SOLD

Who turns down a Hudson Bay coat in pristine condition - not me. When my Aunt and Godmother, called to say she had a Husdon Bay with my name on it - I said - YES Please! The best part is that the coat was originally purchased just down the road from my shop. Aunt Christy does have an eye for the Classics! 

It has been too warm to wear my new coat but it has inspired a little painting/illustration. This 4" square painting started out as a drawing. I then painted over my sketch in ink and finally overpainted with acrylic. Since it is a small piece - it needed a bold frame and red was my first choice. I used a rustic - hand painted - layer of paint on this little frame and played off the Hudson Bay stripes with a touch of yellow.

Hudson Bay morning is framed to 7" square and available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $46.00

Raised Wild

So…. it is possible …I painted a poisonous weed but they were so interesting - I couldn't resist. I discovered this plant in a field on a winter day. The flower skeleton was crystalized with little snowflake droplets making it look like a magical field of wishes. For this painting - I painted the plant in a warmer grayish/ocher/sage/sky blue setting. I was going for a soft and soothing piece.

Raised wild is a 12"x36" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $275.00 | 218-547-3729

Calm Within *SOLD

With this painting -  I wanted to create a simple, flowing and calm piece that sits back and sets a relaxed tone. The movement of the leaves is meant to have a rhythm of a  dancers spin or yoga stretch. 

My color palette included a base of yellow ochre with variations of paynes grey, burnt sienna and cobalt turquoise. The original sketch was done in cadmium red, pyrolle red, burnt sienna and naples yellow. From there, I over-painted to crete smooth lines and rich layers. 

Calm Within is a 30"x40" acrylic painting 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

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 

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

Purity of Heart *SOLD

Can anyone help but think of Monet's "Water Lilies" paintings when you see a lily pad or a water lily? His paintings really struck me when I saw the massive water lilies at the art museum in St. Louis years ago.

 I came across this pristine water lily in a harbor a few weeks ago. She sat next to a docked sailboat. I contemplated painting a portion of the sailboat as well but decided the lily needed her space.

The title "New Take on a Classic" is in reference to lily pads being the a sign of the Impressionist era. It is an Ode to the inspiration the Masters provide for us today.

New Take on a Classic is an original 30" x 30" acrylic painting on stretched canvas. Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN.