Art NOTES

Sunflowers and Wood (mixed media, 13”x14”, 2020) was inspired by a photo from a hike at an old mining camp in Colorado (different flowers, same idea).  I was drawn to how the freshness of the petals contrasted with the aged, weathered texture of the wood standing solidly behind them.  In a way, the painting is more about the background with the flowers acting as a kind of prop, but they both are needed to bring it all together.  Shadows from the sunflowers on the wood connect the two compositional elements 

Showy Ladyslipper flowers are the State Flower of Minnesota and the tallest northern orchid, blooming in late June into early July and preferring areas with plenty of water nearby.  This is the 2nd artwork in my series of these free flowing paintings.  I created this on a 9" diameter, upcycled glass plate.  

Purchase this original, acrylic painting directly from my website by clicking here.

Honeymoon on Horseback was inspired by an area east of Glacier N.P. which my daughter visited in 2011.  I painted this artwork in 2012; it is not exactly an area, but inspired by that area.  The original title of this painting was "Danuta's West" because my Polish cousin, Danuta, was always fascinated by "The American West".  Another reason for that title is because this was one of about 20 paintings I took with me to Poland in that year for a solo exhibit in Warsaw's tourist area of Old Town, at Zadra Gallery.   I later changed the title to something more recognizable.  What I love in this painting is the Springtime flowers, the light and shadows on the mountains.     Spending time in the beauty of nature is a great backdrop towards supporting and launching a life shared together.

Inspired by the meandering, oxbow forming river here in northern Minnesota that becomes the Mighty Mississippi farther south.  Two chickadees survey the landscape along with us, a view I drive past often in Crow Wing County.  I  have always lived within "striking" distance of the Mississippi, as it flows through town here in Aitkin as well. Original watercolor.

Acrylic on hardboard, 13x20, 2018.

This abstract painting appears to ripple with whispers of fresh springtime air.  To me, it signifies new life and potential.  Like other paintings in this style, I created deeply textured contours, with the principal lines actually carved into the media. The interplay of line with color interacting in movement is the major structural theme.  

During the process,  at one point I asked myself, "OK, what's this you're working on?  It's not a flat painting!"  

After that everything fell into place, as if I was taking directions instructions.  1)  Emphasize the texture and depth by several dry brush rounds in gold, blue, black, white and magenta.  2) go back and paint the green lines that were always meant to be solid color, and include green highlights.   My brother-in-law dubbed this painting "Purple Rain", which works, too!  

Trees are a passion of mine.  

One thing I love about these magnificent and vital life forms we are privileged to have living alongside us on Earth is how their root systems take up more space than what you see above ground.  This painting depicts and suggests that idea visually with the accentuated tree roots reaching below the trunk, amongst the flowers, grass and splashes of sunlight.  Tree Acrylic continues in the style of deeply textured paintings I have played with over the last several years.  I carve into the media and fill the deepest grooves with a glaze for a gloss finish that is fun and rich looking. 

Acrylic on hardboard, 14"x18", 2015

Lime Abstract is the third of similar paintings I have done in watercolor; however, this time I created the painting in acrylic media on stretched canvas.  

Inspired by a bowl of soup with very thin lime slices floating on top.  This struck me as both colorful and beautiful!    It was very time consuming to paint this, making sure the translucence of the lime pith on the top layers show through to those below.  It also was fun concentrating for so many hours with that lime green keeping me company throughout the process. I like the abstract background of the "universe" with colors, gold sparkles and fruit intermingling!