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Sometimes a painting wants to be painted in a mini format...who says a painting has to be big to make an impact? These four paintings were all inspired by nature - from my back yard to autumn images captured along the Heartland trail.
From front to back (in the group photo): Birch Branches (*SOLD), Summer Sky, Barberry Branch, and Leaf N Seed (*SOLD). Prices range from $62 - $76 for these original 5" acrylic paintings on stretched canvas.
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It's that time - time to paint one of my favorite subjects - Bittersweet Berries. This 9"x12" painting started out with a textured background which I layered with bittersweet vines and berries in a soft palette with pops of bright berry color.
Bittersweet - Reaching Out is a 9"x12" acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $98.00 | 218-547-3729
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This painting has a fun story behind it. A lovely couple, who keep their sailboat in Walker, purchased one of my paintings and asked me to consider painting a scene of their sailboat. They said they were not in a hurry and talked with me about painting size and gave me directions to see their boat at the marina.
It was late autumn by the time I visited the boat slip. The name of the boat is Joie de Vivre or Joy of Life. What a perfect name for a sailboat! As I photographed the boat at rest I tried to picture it out on the bay. As I thought about the painting I remembered that my sister had taken some sailboat photos while she was visiting over the 4th of July. Josie takes thousands of photos and sometimes leaves me her SD card to look through. As I looked through her photos I came across a boat that looked very much like the Joy of Life. It just so happens that she photographed this very boat on a beautiful summer day - a happy coincidence!
I was excited to get to work on the painting with my new inspiration. Thank you Josie for your beautiful photos and for sharing them. You can see more of Josie's paintings and photos on her website: http://josietrudgeon.com.
As with all commission paintings - I give the person who requested the piece first option to purchase it. If it is not what they have in mind I'll just hang it for sale in the store. I want my paintings to strike a cord and become the collection of someone who will find joy in it.
Joy of Life is a 30"x40" original acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $725.00 | 218-547-3729
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Plum Blossoms is a new process for me - one that I am enjoying. Using a stretched canvas - with deep edge stretcher bars, I prepared the canvas with a watercolor ground which makes the canvas accept graphite, watercolor and ink. The new surface is smooth like an eggshell and very inviting to work with. I used a Daniel Smith watercolor ground.
The next step was sketching using a Caran d' Ache Technalo graphite pencil. My inspiration was a series of photos I took of plum blossoms from the spring bloom last year. We are almost to blossom time this year...but not quite. The graphite sitting on top of the smooth surface was a nice raw but elegant effect. I didn't want to overpower the sketch so I used a light Payne's Grey watercolor wash for the background and a touch of Red Earth brushed ink to finish the piece. The final layer is a UV matte finish to keep the piece clean.
Plum Blossoms is a 10"x30" graphite, brushed ink and watercolor piece on stretched canvas with a watercolor ground. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN | 218-547-3729
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This tiny little painting is very loose and impressionistic. I was dabbling with paint and figure sketching and decided the environment this person should be in is a light field court yard or cobblestone alleyway which opens onto a Farmer's Market. This piece is meant to feel airy - like the fresh flowers and veggies that fill the Saturday farmer's markets across the world. So grab a cup of coffee and feel the relaxed energy of a Farmer's market.
Farmer's Market is a 6" square acrylic painting on stretched canvas with painted edges. It is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $72.00 | 218-547-3729
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When you look into a field - full of little pods, whispys, capsules and seeds - do you think of all the wishes being sent out over the land? All these beauties create a beautiful setting - designed to balance and restore the earth and make our world a little more beautiful.
This little 8"x10" acrylic painting on stretched canvas is an ode to all the twirly and swirly goodness around us. This painting is available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $98.00 | 218-547-3729
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| As I prepared my 40"x40" canvas many ideas ran through my head of what I was in the mood to paint. I kept coming back to the idea of something light and whimsical with bright colors. I do love milkweed in all it's forms and have created a few paintings inspired by it. The ladder of large leaves and tiny blooms - creating a playful circle - make for a very whimsical subject. ..no wonder butterflies are drawn to it! If you are looking for a colorful piece to brighten up a space - this painting packs a punch of color. The colors do vary throughout the day - depending on it's light source. It ranges from a deep blue in the evening to a lively bright palette in the afternoon. Modern Scandinavian Garden - Milkweed Blooms is an original acrylic painting on stretched canvas with 1.5" thick stretcher bars and painted edges. It is 40" square and available at Peculiar Painter in Walker, MN for $1,450.00 |
