Rise with the Sun *SOLD

Rise with the Sun started with a road trip and a gift. This summer I visited Wisconsin and noticed a whispy vegetation growing in the fields and along the roadways. I know I have seen these delicate tall plants before but something about them in this landscape really drew me in. I especially liked the green plants that were semi closed. 

I found a location that had a good assortment of the plants - both open and closed - and here I took some photos. After picking a couple plants and setting them out to draw, the name of the plant was given to me. They are Queen Anne's Lace. You probably wouldn't guess that this painting is of Queen Anne's Lace because the plant served as the inspiration but the actual painting took another direction in rich colors and sweeping lines rather than the small delicate flowers of the QAL. But now you know the inspiration.

The next piece, in creating this painting, was a gift of a large 6' x 4' canvas. It was a second hand blank canvas that was stretched nicely but not being used. I was in the right place at the right time and knowing the right person to obtain the canvas. As I walked the large canvas from it's current home to my studio - I had all sorts of ideas of what I wanted to paint on it. It has been months since the canvas came to me. Once I had the vision and color palette in mind it took me 3 weeks to paint. I photographed the painting in stages so you can see the layers and colors being shaped. The link is below. 

Rise with the Sun is the larges painting on canvas that I have done. I see more large canvass in my future!

Rise with the Sun is a 6' x 4' acrylic painting on stretched canvas. It is not of sale but currently hanging at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN. It will be hanging for the month of December and a few weeks into January of 2015. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caNCaq5EFLQ

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 Swirl *SOLD

Yup….that's Bittersweet. I just can't help but paint it. I stopped counting how many bittersweet paintings I have created - that's how much fun it is to paint.

This 9"x12" painting is titled Bittersweet Swirl and is acrylic 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

Rhythm of the Grasslands 40"x40" original painting *SOLD

Rhythm of the Grasslands is a large 40" x 40" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" stretcher bars and painted edges. 

One morning, I was driving to town and had to stop to photograph the wild grasses, along a marsh, near Kabekona. The light was hitting the golden grasses just right and the wind swirled the tall stems into a beautiful motion. The actual scene was golden ochres, browns and ivory. I visualized the painting as deep reds, yellow ochre and deep greens.

The painting took on many forms - as I built the layers. My final layer was the vivid cadmium orange which tied the grey green, red and ochres together. The finished painting is shown hanging in a home with tall ceilings and beautiful natural light.

Rhythm of the Grasslands is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 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

Bittersweet Dance III *SOLD

Bittersweet Dance III was a commissioned piece. It was commissioned by a fellow bittersweet enthusiast who saw one of my smaller paintings, which was similar to this piece. She had a specific size request and since painting bittersweet is one of my favorite subjects, I went right to work on it.

Bittersweet Dance III is an 11" x 14" acrylic painting on stretched canvas.

Midnight over Milkweed Bloom *SOLD

This little painting needs a lot of light. Because of it's subtle variations, of blue and green, it is a rich dark painting. I wanted it to feel like evening had fallen on a field and the milkweed bloom stayed out late to enjoy the moon. 

The size and texture of this 6" x 12" acrylic painting is playful and mystical. It belongs in a sunny small space where it can dance on it's own. Midnight over Milkweed Bloom is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $42.00 | 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

Forest Balance *SOLD

Forest Balance is the opposite of my last Birch Tree painting in style and color. With this piece, I used a palette of warm grey, ivory, yellow ochre, green grey and deep blue for a soft and calming piece with a soothing presence. 

This is a large 48" x 36" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" stretcher bars, painted edges and cross braces. Forest Balance is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN  | 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

Standing Still

I always enjoy painting, no matter what the subject is, but….abstracts seem to be the ones I hang in my house.  The movement and color constantly change - I never get tired of an abstract. This piece is designed to hang horizontal or vertical which allows even more versatility in a space.

The title: Standing Still - is about the contentment felt by standing in place and admiring your surroundings.
Standing Still - is acrylic on stretched linen canvas. The size is 18"x24" on 1.5" thick stretcher bars. This pieces is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | 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 

Birch Tree Beehive [photo, watercolor and acrylic paintings]

When asked to paint a commissioned piece, I always think about the piece before I commit. I listen to what the piece is to represent and whether or not my style will work for the painting. When Loretta mentioned a beehive nestled in the birch trees at her cabin, I was immediately interested. I was so curious to see the beehive, she had described, that I arrived to take photos the next day.

Not only was the beehive great inspiration to paint, but the setting of Bill and Loretta's cabin was warm and welcoming. They invited me to sit, put a gin n tonic in my hand and told stories of cabin life, family and Minnesota. I was so taken with the stories that I nearly forgot to take photos while there was still light outside. At the end of my visit I was given a, fresh baked, bag of molasses cookies and sent on my way to paint.

I couldn't decide whether watercolor of acrylic would work best in their home and since I found the subject fun to paint…I painted one of each. The watercolor is 8" x 16" on 140 lb arches cold press paper. The acrylic piece is 8"x24" on stretched canvas. Now it's time to see if either of these is what they had in mind. 

Branching Out - SOLD

Branching Out is a small study of a larger painting I plan to create this fall.  This little 9"x12" painting was inspired by a row of healthy birch trees in northern Minnesota. 

I recently started using a Phthalo Blue as my painting sketch under layer. This, brighter blue, brings out my colors in a new way and I find myself using more oranges and greens to play off the brilliant blue. The large painting might have more greens and yellows in it but this little piece called for cooler blue tones.

Branching Out is framed in a natural floater frame and available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $86.00 | 218-547-3729

Guardians of the Path II *SOLD

Recently…yesterday…I was inspired by a pastel artist and decided to give the messy medium another try.  I would love to say that the pastel dust and mess doesn't get to me…but….it does. Pastels are wonderful for their rich tone and texture and working from dark to light is satisfying but I can't get over the bright dust covering everything. SO…for now… I'm putting em away…again. Pastels your are fun but apparently I am not a free enough spirit to embrace the mess you make.

Guardians of the Path II is a pastel drawing on 140 lb watercolor paper. It is framed and set on a background of handmade paper. The final size is 14"x16". This piece is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $115.00 [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

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

Change *SOLD

Subtle Change is a calming painting with light variations of yellows,  grays and blues. I stayed away from bright pops of color with this piece in order to give it a peaceful and relaxing tone. I did add a few shades of orange to bring out the blue  and tie in the yellows here.

Subtle Change is a 9"x12" acrylic painting on stretched canvas and is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $64.00 | 218-547-3729