Forest Breath

 I painted - Forest Breath - with a palette knife which gives it a nice thick texture. The texture also picks up the light differently depending on the time of day. I started out thinking this would be a summer scene but hints of autumn snuck in giving it a late summer feeling. This large painting would do well in an entryway or in a room with high ceilings. 

Forest Breath is an acrylic painting on deep edge, professionally stretched canvas with cross braces and painted edges. This piece measures 40"x60" and is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN. for $3,400.00 | 218-547-3729

Pileated in Winter Flight •SOLD

 Woodpeckers and their wind rowing flight patterns have always fascinated. I have painted several pieces which have been inspired by them. The Pileated woodpecker, in particular, with its wide wingspan and lovely head-dress and striking colors against the winter backdrop make for a fun subject. 

Pileated in Winter Flight is a brushed acrylic ink painting on 140 lb. hot press paper. It is professionally framed with conservation glass to a final size of 12" square. This piece is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN. | 218-547-3729

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)

 

Minnesota Grown •SOLD

I have been eager to get back to working on larger canvases, after a busy summer. As I look out my window I can see little hints of autumn color turning the green leaves yellow. The summer colors still dance on the water and in the distance. These colors inspired this piece.

Minnesota Grown is a 30"x15" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges. This piece is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN.  | 218-547-3729

 

For Just a Moment *SOLD

 I confess, I sketched this painting out early this Summer and just - this week- got around to finishing it. I had the scene in my head as summer colors but the inspiration that is surrounding us of brilliant fall colors got to me AND as the layers built...the painting turned to fall. Do you see the little bird content to be in the tree? 

For Just a Moment is a brushed acrylic ink painting on 140 lb. paper. It if professionally framed and matted with conservation glass. The final framed size is 20.75"x10.75". This painting is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729

Lake Light Birch *SOLD

The birch tree painting bug struck in October. It is now February and I'm just finishing this piece. I don't remember a painting ever being on my easel this long. Lake Light Birch has many layers built up to give it the feel of early fall by the lake. I wanted it to feel warm and inviting like your cabin up north. 

Lake Light Birch is a 36"x24" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.75" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729 

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.

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

Fall Coat *SOLD

Our landscape - up north - is getting pretty colorful and inspiring some new pieces. I used just about every color I own for this birch tree painting. I wanted a piece that keeps your eyes moving from sweeping branches to the illusion of a lake in the background.

Fall Coat is a 15" x 30" 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

Nature's Spark *SOLD

The forest was alive with color and red was at it's core.

RED - Once-n-awhile I have to paint a red painting. This painting has 50+ variations of red in it. A painting with this much red can only hang in certain locations BUT when it finds the right fit - it can light up and finish a room. I photographed Nature's Spark in natural light and tungsten light to show the difference light makes on the feeling of this piece.

Nature's Spark 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 $1,200.00 | 218-547-3729

Bay View and Birch -SOLD

Blues of every variation make up the background of this painting. I wanted to give this piece a feeling of water and blue sky dancing off of each other on a warm fall day. Yellow against blue is my favorite color combination and the autumn colors lets me use this palette. The colorful bark of the birch tree stands out against the rich bay of blue. Many layers were painted to created this painting!

Bay View and Birch is a 24"x24" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $575.00 | 218-547-3629

Symphony of Trees *sold

This 26" x 36" impressionist painting is the sister painting to "Rise and Shine" which I finished 2 weeks ago.  Symphony of Trees is a vertical format painting with more cool reds to contrast the deep yellows. This grouping of trees was inspired by a gorgeous fall hike out at Shingobee forest in Walker, Minnesota.

Symphony of Trees is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, Minnesota 

Rise and Shine - acrylic on canvas *sold

Rise and Shine is a large 30" x 40" acrylic painting on 1.5" stretched canvas. I started this painting before the leaves were turning colors and finished it just as the leaves are doing their autumn color dance. It has been awhile since I've painted with an impressionist style optical mixing and pointillism. I thought this style would work well for the bright light and color of autumn birch trees. The painting changes dramatically from tungsten light to natural light. Here it is photographed in natural shade. I will include a photo of it hanging in a tungsten setting. Please click on the photo to enlarge the piece and see the optical mixing which is hard to see when standing at a distance but adds a nice mixed color and light effect.

Rise and Shine is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 218-547-3729