Forest Finale •SOLD

This painting has been in process since late October, when the trees were full of dancing color and I couldn't get enough of it. It lasts such a short time and is so amazing. I admit - I took about 1000 photos to reference for more paintings. I kept the birch in the foreground with hint of Maple, Oak, Pine and others represented with the variety of color. I wanted this piece to feel like your eyes were drifting through layers and layers of tree color. 

Forest Finale is an acrylic painting on stretched canvas. The edges are 1.75" thick and painted. The finished size is 36" x 24". This piece is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN.

Cards and prints on steel with hanging brackets are also available. (Metal print is 22"x14" | $98)

 

Modern Scandinavian Garden - Millkweed in Bloom *SOLD

This little Modern Scandinavian piece was a fun one to paint. I can see myself painting a similar piece as a larger vertical painting but I thought the narrow small size suited the one stem with bold colors. 

Modern Scandinavian Garden - Millkweed in Bloom is a 4"x12" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges - 3/4" deep. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Take the Long Way Home *SOLD

Do you know the feeling of being on the lake - alone - with the whole afternoon to yourself, a bucket of bait and a fishing rod by your side? Do you know the feeling of shedding layers because the sun feels so nice?  Do you know the thrill of checking fishing holes until you time it just right for the hole that just keeps producing keepers? Then you know about taking the long way home.

Take the Long Way Home is a 30" x 30" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with cross braces. 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. This piece is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Winter Solstice *SOLD

As the snow slowly fell this week - visions of warm fires, layers, playing outside and hot beverages inspired me. Timing has everything to do with painting a winter scene. 

Winter Solstice is an acrylic painting on stretched canvas. I used very thick paint and layered white over color to give this piece a richness. The stretcher bars are 7/8" thick as compared to my usual 1.5" inch stretcher bars. I did paint the edges but imagine a nice maple frame complimenting this piece. Size is 11" x 23". Winter Solstice is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN. SOLD | 218-547-3729

Seed Pod Soiree *SOLD

A few things lined up to make this painting happen. #1 - I visited my sister and her family in Montana in September. #2 - I bought a new lens with a good macro setting. #3 - Josie (my sister) and I went for a drive in the mountains. #4 - these seed pods begged to be photographed with their winding branches, beautiful pods and lovely colors.

It didn't take me long to set to work on this painting after returning home from our road trip. I envisioned the painting having a lot of sage greens, ivory and subtle ocher. The red invited itself in but stayed back as a compliment to the lighter colors. I use a combination of brush and palette knife to create Seed Pod Soiree.

The photos above show; the completed painting, my photo inspiration, Seed Pod Soiree displayed on a mantel and the last photo is one Josie Trudgeon took of me, contemplating the right angle for the pods. When 2 people who often carry cameras get together - you get a photo of someone taking a photo.

Seed Pod Soiree is a 30"x30" 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

Reaching Light *SOLD

Reaching Light is a multi layered painting-inspired by the sweeping motion of the leaves from an Ash tree. Trees have so many inspiring elements that sometimes I have to focus in on one section to really capture the detail of their beauty. Other times I step back and feel the power of these towering beauties.

Reaching Light is a 30"x30" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges and 1.5" thick stretcher bars. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $975.00

Bay View Sunset *SOLD

Nothing says northern Minnesota like a paper birch overlooking the lake. I was inspired by an old soul birch which sits near town and over looks the bay. It's bark is peeling and branches wind in every direction.

This piece is layered and textured with brush strokes to give it depth. Cobalts play off of crimson, teal and yellows to keep your eye moving from bark to leaves to distant sunset. 

Bay View Sunset 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 $385.00

Hawthorn NFS

In a book titled_The Book of Herbal Wisdom_by Matthew Wood, I read about the Hawthorn tree. I was intrigued by Matthew's description. He says, "The Hawthorn (one of the darlings of the herbalists) represents the opportunity for experience. It is found any place where it is possible to prick one's finger and fall, pell-mell, headfirst into experience - that is to say, something beyond oneself."

How can you not be intrigues by the Hawthorn after a description like that?

Last week, I was out for a walk with my husband. When I asked him what the beautiful blooms were - I was excited to hear that they were Hawthorn blooms. The delicate blooms with their whimsical orange stamen - contrasting the long thorns - made for an excellent painting subject.

Originally I was going to paint the blooms against a subtle grey-ochre background but this piece called for brilliant greens, yellows and hints of cobalt green. More Hawthorn bloom paintings are sure to follow!

Hawthorn is a 40"x30" 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

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

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

Sunshine on Bittersweet *SOLD

Bittersweet, my favorite painting subject, makes another appearance. This time I used a lighter palette of ivory and warm gray behind the bold oranges and reds of the bittersweet vines.

This little 5" x 5" painting is acrylic on stretched (1.5" thick stretchers) canvas. Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $40.00 | 218-547-3729

Birch Nestled among the White Pines *SOLD

Birch nestled among the White Pines is part of the birch tree series that I started last Fall. A customer, at Peculiar Painter, commented on my first piece saying that she would like one similar to it only smaller. She added that her favorite combination is a birch tree surrounded by pine branches and hinted that she might be interested in a painting that evoked the feel of this combination. While I made the birch trees the focus in this piece I did like the idea of the soft white pine color coming through in the background.

Using a combination of Perylene green and yellow ochre  I added short wispy strokes to eluded to the presence of white pine in the background. Think of a late summer morning, filled with light and warm breezes.

Birch nestled among the White Pines is 18" x 36" acrylic on stretched (1.5" thick)  canvas with painted edges.
Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN. original by Jessie Townsdin

Dappled Light *sold

I painted this little 9"x12" acrylic painting while on vacation in Montana. The weather was a perfect sunny 65 degrees, the mountains were inviting and the energy was just right to paint a happy little colorful piece. 

Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $52.00

Light-Footed *sold

I had some help naming this 8" x 24" painting. After completing it I asked "what does it make you feel?" The response was, "It makes me feel like a walk in the woods. I feel light footed like a good day out in the fall colors." And there we have the title "Light Footed". This piece is narrow with a big presence.

Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, Minnesota for $145.00
218-547-3729

Modern Scandinavia *sold

Just when you thought you recognized my painting style ...I go and switch it up. Call it Scandinavian influence, call it abstract, call it Norwegian totem ...actually I like that - Norwegian Totem. I was thinking of the Spanish tapestries I have admired but wanted to create more of a Scandinavian feel. After researching Swedish and Norwegian design, I took in some of the elongated sculptures and bright colors that represent some of my favorite elements of Scandinavian design. AND...this is what I came up with. I hope you like it because I have a few more like this in me.

Acrylic on canvas - 10" x 30" - 1.5" deep with painted edges. Available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN - $165.00
by Jessie Townsdin

Bittersweet IV - 5"x5" *sold

This little 5"x5" piece is the smallest in my series of Bittersweet paintings. The berries are just slightly bigger than the real bittersweet berry would be. The combination of bright orange against a background of blue, green, grey and yellow is one of my favorite palettes. This one needs to be seen in person.

Bittersweet IV is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $36.00