Speed of Light •SOLD

It's possible that I spent hours and days sitting near the lake, panning my camera with Tree Swallows. They are fast acrobats with their aerial maneuvers. My original sketch of the piece had 3 birds in flight - eventually narrowing it down to one bird in flight with its near wing turned up. This piece is one that has to be seen in person to feel the movement. 

Speed of Light _ is an acrylic painting on stretched canvas with cross braces and painted edges. This piece is 36" square and  is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN. 

Nature's Calm •SOLD

I'm not sure exactly what type of pod these are or if I collected them in Minnesota or Montana. I have a few collections of little lovely stems that I gather along walks. This could be dried lupine. Whatever it is - the warm tones and delicate shells provided inspiration for Nature's Calm.

This piece is one that should be seen in person. At 12"x48" it is hard to capture it in photos. I painted layer after layer to add depth and movement behind the calm stems. The overall feeling is warmth and nature. Nature's Calm is acrylic on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars with cross bars and painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | 218-547-3729

Wind Guides *SOLD

Grasses have alway inspired me with their wispy features and subtle coloring. The bigger the canvas - the more fun the grasses are to paint - swooping and growing tall - I had fun with this piece. I limited my color palette to a warm mix of  neutral colors that I thought would make an elegant piece.

Wind Guides is a 12"x48" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges and cross braces. Edges are 1.78" thick. This piece is available at Peculiar Painter Gallery in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Paddle Rhythm & Water Reflection *SOLD

Impressionism colors were dancing in my head as I painted this canoe scene. I wanted to create a piece that felt like a memory of canoeing on a sunny day. I thought back to paddling with my Mom, with my friends, with my sisters. This is about a light hearted afternoon enjoying the company in your boat and rhythm of the water. 

Paddle Rhythm and Water Reflections is a 36"x12" acrylic painting on stretched canvas. Stretcher bars are 1.75" thick and painted. The is a palette knife painting so paint is thick and textured. This piece is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Modern Scandinavian Garden - Fields of Wild Irises *SOLD

I did say I was in the mood to paint irises! This piece contrasts my last piece in medium and color. I went bold - Modern Scandinavian style for this piece. With it's large size it is a statement piece - meant to make you feel sunshine, joy and  open spaces filled with life. 

Modern Scandinavian Garden - Fields of Wild Sunshine is an acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and cross braces. The edges are painted. Size is 48"x30". This piece is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Modern Scandinavian Wild Rose *SOLD

I have been waiting for the time to paint these wild roses since the day I photographed them.  While out on a walk, last summer, the whimsical flower shells caught my attention. I would not have known what they were had I not seen a wild rose in full bloom near by. The center of the rose after the petals fall are a delight with their polka-dot spacing and yellow eye. Of course I had to exaggerate the form even more for this piece.

Modern Scandinavian Wild Rose is an acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretch bars and painted edges. I thought the unique size of 48"x12" would compliment the twirling leaves and stems. This painting will be available soon at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Wind Rower *SOLD

When I think of freedom and movement - I picture the swoop of the Pileated woodpecker. The Pileated's rhythm is so carefree and cool. This painting is more about the feeling I get from a woodpecker - rather than trying to capture it's true color and form. 

Wind Rower is a 30"x15" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges and 1.5" thick stretcher bars. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 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

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

First Light Amidst the Birch - original by Jessie Townsdin *SOLD

First Light Amidst the Birch is made up of many layers to give it a feel of being nestled amongst the rich trees of Northern Minnesota. With the leaves colored from green to red - I wanted it to feel like early Fall and plenty of time to enjoy the colorful palette of the season. As with many of my paintings, I exaggerated the colors, I added deep blues where you would normally see grey and browns. This is a colorful piece - a blanket of color to lift spirits and remind the viewer of the happiness being in the forest brings.

First Light Amidst the Birch is a large 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 $875.00 | 218-547-3729

Hosta Shoots - Aphrodite *SOLD

This painting was inspired by a flower I had seen in my Aunt and Godmother's gardens. Being a master gardener, my Aunt has beautiful gardens.  One plant in particular caught my attention. It was a white lily looking shoot. I was trying to remember what it was called when, while flipping through a flower seed catalog, it gave me it's name. It was the flower shoot from a Hosta or a Aphrodite Plantain Lily (Hosta Plantaginea Aphrodite). 

This makes sense since lilies are my favorites and I am fond of Hostas. I gave this piece a Nouveau swirl and used an over-painting style to give it a modern feeling with clean lines. 

Hosta Shoots - Aphrodite is 12" x 36" acrylic on stretched canvas with 1.5" stretcher bars and painted edges. Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $295.00 | 218-547-3729

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 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

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

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

Light Among the Wind - Totem Painting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwHVxp7uV2k

Light Among the Wind is a totem style painting where I used an overpainting method to give it a textile appearance with clean fluid lines. This 6"x12" painting is acrylic on textured wood panel. Click the link above to see the steps involved in creating this little colorful piece.
Light Among the Wind is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN - $65. 218-547-3729 

Spring Suspense revisited - *SOLD

I painted "Spring Suspense" originally in 2012. Something about it just didn't sit quite right with me. I was trying to capture an early spring moment where a fishermen waded out into the high waters in search of a fish and more likely some fresh air and peace of mind. By using an impressionist dappled effect the painting has more movement and the feel of moving waters. The piece has a cooler feel to it as well and makes the fishermen look smaller compared to the nature around him, which is what he seemed to be in search of.

Spring Suspense is 16" x 20" - acrylic on stretched canvas. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $95.00. 218-547-3729

Weaving Bittersweet - *SOLD

I stopped counting how many bittersweet paintings I have done. ..they are just so much fun. This is a tiny little 5"x5" acrylic painting stretched over 1.5" stretcher bars to give it a nice presence.

Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $40.00 - 218-547-3729

From Sea to Shining Sea *SOLD

From Sea to Shining Sea was inspired by many different sources. The obvious source is the American flag.  I bought a beautiful American flag years ago. The flag is sewn with beautiful detail and uses gorgeous fabric with rich color. Each time I see this flag it fills me with joy. I have traveled to other counties and enjoy the visits but ALWAYs feel blessed to call the United States home.

Another source of inspiration is a paint from Winsor and Newton's Artist's Acrylic line called Perylene Green. The color has a nostalgic tone straight from the tube. Mixed with white or ochre it becomes a calming aqua tone. Since green is the compliment of red it really enhances the red of the flag.

The size of a canvas helps me choose the subject. When this 37" x 37" canvas came to me I wanted to paint something really special, with a personal meaning. I turned 37 in October and a good friend sent me this wonderful canvas. I thought that the gift of a custom blank canvas was ideal to celebrate a birthday. The gift was so thoughtful and full of inspiration.

Thank you to Tyga for modeling for this piece. Tyga's classic beauty has inspired a series of paintings.

Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN 218-547-3729  -SOLD