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

Modern Scandinavian Garden Allium Globes -SOLD

What's more whimsical than giant Allium Globes and exaggerated daisies? In the spirit of my Modern Scandinavian Series - I created a new light piece with color and character.

Modern Scandinavian Garden Allium Globes is a 8"x24" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges and 1.5" thick stretcher bars. It is available at Peculiar Painter for $325.00

Rock-Side View *SOLD

Rock-Side View is a brushed ink painting. I started with a graphite sketch. Next - using a liner brush and FW ink, I painted over my sketch and then overpainted with the 2 tone grey ink. The final look is a clean block print style - simple and peaceful - like the setting of the girl watching the sailboats on the bay. 

Rock-Side View is a small 4.5 inch painting on 140 lb watercolor paper - framed to 7" square. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $48.00 - framed

Forest Tonic *SOLD

Forest Tonic was inspired by the feeling of renewal a walk in the woods can bring to it's visitors. I selected a canvas that is 4 feet wide in order to stretch out the branches like they are reaching out in the tree's long graceful pose. 

I'll admit that I often confuse a birch and a poplar tree. My husband, a tree expert, has given me some tips to identify the difference from a distance. One of these differences, he pointed out, is the dark reddish hue of the branches. Once he described this - I could picture the limbs and their lovely deep tone. In this piece, I over-exaggerated  the color making it very bright and bold. 

Forest Tonic is a 24" x 48" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Modern Scandinavian Garden - Nuthatch view *SOLD

This narrow little painting is part of my Modern Scandinavian Garden - watercolor series. This, as well as some of my current pieces, was inspired by eucalyptus, whimsical shapes and a sweet lil Nuthatch. I enjoy how Nuthatch birds like to sit upside down - their view of the world must include a lot of blue sky and sunshine! 

I'll have the framed size when I pick this piece up from the framer. The artwork size is 3.5" x 14". Modern Scandinavian Garden - Nuthatch View is a watercolor painting on 140 lb. watercolor paper. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $95.00 - framed  | 218-547-3729

Red Earth & Indigo - Rise and Shine *SOLD

I painted Red Earth & Indigo - Rise and Shine using a limited palette of two colors. My focus - in this painting - was a bold but calm piece that focused on the movement of the Eucalyptus and played off of the exotic shape of the spider mum. I was picturing this piece hanging in a home with light colored or white walls and minimal wood furnishings - a Modern Scandinavian home.

The process of painting this piece was fun - from picking out the models at our local florist, sketching it out with graphite and finally painting with water-based ink. The final piece was completed by having it professionally framed in a subtle wood frame that has a distressed leather feel and beige mat.

Red Earth & Indigo - Rise and Shine is water-based ink on 140 lb. watercolor paper. Framed size is 12" x 28". This painting is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN. for $345.00 | 218-547-3729

Fresh Bittersweet I and II *SOLD

I painted Fresh Bittersweet I and II using the same color palette. The orange and reds play off of the teal to give the pieces a fresh feeling of renewal. The berries in Fresh Bittersweet I are larger than Fresh Bittersweet II where the berries are smaller - giving me more space to focus on the curling branch.

Each piece is 6" square - painted on stretched canvas with painted edges. They are framed in a simple natural floater frames with a black inset to give them a modern feel. With the painted edges and stretched canvas - they do not need to be framed. I list them as either framed or unframed. Framed - the outside measurement is 7.5" square.

Fresh Bittersweet I (shown in top photo) - Framed: $92.00 or Unframed $76.00. Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | 218-547-3729

Fresh Bittersweet II (shown in lower photo) - Framed: $92.00 or Unframed $76.00. Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | 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

Flight Plan *SOLD

Flight Plan is a fun little ink painting. This piece was inspired by the shapes of the Kingfisher bird and Woodpeckers. I was told recently, that woodpeckers pair up after the winter solstice. Since learning of this - I have noticed the happy pairs dancing about.

Flight Plan is an original painting - ink on arches watercolor paper. Artwork is 6.5" x 7" - framed to 9" x 8.5". It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | $98.00

Natural Habitat *SOLD

Natural Habitat was inspired by golden sunsets and flowing fields. When the light starts to fade and everything is illuminated in a warm gorgeous glow - we can't help but take it all in and enjoy the beautiful world around us. 

A wild field with tall flowing wildflowers and grasses has a romance about it that calls to be painted. This piece is meant to be calming - to remind the viewer of warm Autumn sunsets and golden light over free fields. 

Natural Habitat is a 24"x48" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $625.00 | 218-547-3729

Fancy Shawl Dancer *SOLD

I have had the good fortune of being able to attend several Pow Wows in the Leech Lake area this summer. The Jingle Dress and Fancy Shawl dances are some of my favorite for accentuating the beautiful flowing style of the dancers. This illustration/painting is based on one of the fancy shawl dancers from the Leech Lake tribe. 

I sketched this piece with graphite and then overlaid my lines with FW Ink. My last step was to over paint with acrylic paint. I was careful to not overpower the dancer but hint at the vibrant colors of the dance. 

A good framer can really bring a piece alive. I went with Joel's advise at Heritage Framing and had him double matt the piece. He added a beautiful touch of raising the image slightly to give it a beautiful presence. 

Red Canoe *SOLD

FW artist inks have been a fun new tool for me. With this piece, I sketched my drawing using paynes grey ink and then over-painted with acrylic paint. The heavy-weight watercolor paper added a nice texture to the simple piece.

I felt like adding more pop to the piece with a bight cobalt turquoise coat of paint on the square frame. The final piece is a modern, simple - little piece with a lot of personality. The 4.25" artwork is framed to a final size of 7". Red Canoe is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $46.00 | 218-547-3729 

Turning Point *SOLD

I don't know about you - but I'm excited for the fall colors and cooler temperatures. I've always been a lover of layers - both in clothing and paint. As we get ready for hats, scarves and jackets - my painting palette is moving to rich oranges, cobalt turquoise and yellow.

This piece has several layers of texture and color - creating a patchwork feeling with depth and movement. I thought a simple - natural floater frame would finish the piece nicely - giving it a modern and clean feeling. Turning Point is a 11"x14" acrylic painting on stretched canvas. It is framed to 15.5"x12.5" and available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $215.00 - framed. | 218-547-3729

Bittersweet - Bluebird Days *SOLD

Bittersweet is in it's full orange glory right now and inspiring new paintings. I tried to capture the end of summer - blue glory - against the bright pop of orange and red - with this piece. 

This 11"x14" acrylic painting is on stretched canvas and framed in a natural floater frame. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $150 - framed. | 218-547-3729

Modern Scandinavian Garden - Bluebell *SOLD

Modern Scandinavian Garden - Bluebell - is a new piece in my series of colorful - playful pieces. Once again, the shapes are elongated and simplified - making the piece about color - joyful color. 

Modern Scandinavian Garden - Bluebell - is a small 8"x10" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 3/4" stretcher bars and painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $65.00 - 218-547-3729

Departure *SOLD

For this painting titled - Departure - I limited myself to titanium white, payne's gray, and burnt umber. I intentionally kept the piece loose and sketchy to convey movement and raw energy. The birds that I based the piece on are scavengers such as ravens and hawks. These large - powerful birds have a darkness about them but also a rich presence.  The lifecycle would be at a loss without these birds to clean and renew. 

Departure is a large 36" x 36" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and support bars. It will look best in a modern setting with white or grey walls. It will be available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Reach for the Sun *SOLD

Reach for the Sun is similar in style to several smaller pieces I have done this year but I added more layers and color to this piece. I started out with a much brighter - flat palette and kept adding richness until the piece calmed down and sat still - as if watching the sun go down behind the trees. 

What surprised me is the dramatic difference in mood this piece has - depending on the light it is in. In a bright setting the yellows and greens come to life. In a darker setting the subtle reds in the background bring out the rich blues and teals. It will be fun to see where Reach for the Sun finds a home and what colors decide to dance for it's new owners. 

Reach for the Sun is a large painting at 3' x 4' - acrylic on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick - $925.00 | 218-547-3729

Northwood Beach *SOLD

Detail of Northwood Beach painting

Northwood Beach hanging

Until I was about 8 years old - my Grandparents owned and ran a little Motel called Northwood Beach in Walker, MN. I have happy memories here. I don't remember all the details but I do remember the view from their dining room of beautiful blue water - framed by 2 sweet birch trees. I believe the birch trees are gone now, and I know the skyline has more variation - but in the mind of an 8 year old - this is how I captured the view.

Northwood Beach is a 24" x 48" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. To see the layers of color - click on the detail view or come in to Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN to see it in person. Northwood Beach is $865.00 | 218-547-3729

Breeze *SOLD

Breeze is a new technique for me. I used a process of: gesso base, then applied a brushed artist acrylic ink (red earth color) and my final layer was an acrylic overpainting, using payne's grey and white paint. The surface is stretched canvas.

My inspiration was a photo that I took in 2007 on Rainy Lake. These sailors looked content and relaxed - just playing with the wind. 

Artwork size is 11"x14" with a natural floater frame making it a little larger and giving it a modern touch. Breeze is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $150.00 | 218-547-3729