Dawn of a New Summer, Oil on Linen, 18x24

This is a studio painting roughly based on a plein air painting I did in March called Dawn of a New Spring. For me, a painting is successful if you get the sense of the temperature and humidity of the day. The Spring painting was done on location while we were still in a drought. There was no snow and the grasses showed no sign of life. The clouds burned off minutes after sunrise and everything faded to beige. I wanted the studio painting to feel much warmer and wetter than the earlier painting. To me, it looks like it's either going to rain, get really hot, or both.

Dawn of a New Spring, Oil on Linen, 12x16

March, 2012

Restoration at Dawn, Oil on Linen, 16x20

This prairie restoration is close to where I live. Judging by the height of the plants, I'd say there was a controlled burn less than two weeks prior to when I painted this. I'm looking forward to visiting this site throughout the growing season. 16x20 is a pretty large plein air painting for me so I painted on location for 2 short sessions on consecutive mornings. The first morning, I covered the canvas and captured the strafing light on the hill crests in record time. The second morning, there was a haze in front of the sun but I was able to witness this beautiful sunrise sky and work on the shadowy foreground detail. Still there was more refinements needed in the studio.

Relief from the Heat, Oil on Linen, 16x12

I've never been a big fan of  paintings of posed models. I prefer paintings of people doing natural things. You'll see people as small components in my paintings because that is what I can capture quickly on location. A couple little dabs and viola–a person off in the distance. I am working on my first studio painting in quite some time where people are the focus of the painting.

Who's Your Friend? Oil on Linen, 9x12

This was painted a couple months ago, but I got busy and never documented it. I love the colors of winter. The sun is low in the sky all day, giving off those golden rays that in the summer are limited to dawn and sunset.

Bottoms Floral, Oil on Canvas, 11x14

Yet another painting from several years ago with a complete overall. I'm really having fun with these old paintings.

Thank you everyone who stopped in for a visit during the Saint Paul Art Crawl. If I didn't get an opportunity to talk with you, or you'd like a chance to see the work without distractions, send me an e-mail. I'd love to hear from you.

Bold, 12 x 16, Oil on Linen

The title is what a passerby said about this painting. She looked at it and said, "Pink AND red! That's bold of you. It made me laugh. She was in her nineties. I liked her boldness. Saint Paul Art Crawl is April 27-29.

Calming Waters, Oil on Canvas, 10x20

(revised 4/11/12)

This is painted from a field study I'd kind of forgotten about. The study was painted 2 years ago half way between Grand Marais and Grand Portage. Quite by accident we found this very isolated point just about a half hour before sunset. I painted a 9x12 in record time as the light faded.

Flat Irons Meadow, 16x12, Oil on Canvas

I've been missing the mountains lately. Going through old paintings, I came across this one from a trip to Colorado a few years ago. Again, I liked the composition but not the brushwork. So I painted right on top of the original until there was not one square inch of the original painting showing. 

Feeling Their Oats, Oil on Linen, 12x16

(Revised 3-29-12)

On yet another 70º March day we ran across these two horses yucking it up. First one would whinny, then the other. Then they'd both stomp around. At one point, while they were out of view, I heard what could only be a horse kicking the barn door. I'm going to assume they were just having a good time, but one never knows.

Originally I painted the horses running , but for some reason, it didn't feel right, so today I straightened out their legs to make them appear to be just standing. It seems to fit the peaceful feel of the scene a little better.

Spring Greens, Lime and Sandstone, Oil on Linen, 16x12

What's your favorite season for colors? Fall? I love Winter colors too. Spring greens have always kind of intimidated me. The new grasses are almost fluorescent.  The willows look like shredded limes. And what was a gray puff of twigs at the ends of limbs a few weeks ago is fast turning  into  a hundred different pinks and ochres, or about every shade of pastel green there is. 

James at High Water, Oil on Linen, 9x12 (SOLD)

Anyone who grew up in Jamestown, ND knows exactly where this was painted.  When I was in my teens, you would find me somewhere in, around, or on this lake most days during summer. This was painted last year. That wasn't that long ago. Still I got it out today to fix a couple minor issues and ended up basically repainting the whole thing.

Cows with a View, Oil on Linen, 9x12

Another one going to North Dakota next month. I should say it's going BACK to North Dakota. I painted this one a couple years ago outside Katherine North Dakota. I reworked about half of it this morning.

Just Off the Preserve, Oil on Linen, 12x16

A rarity in the winter of 2011-12, snow. Still, I took advantage of every opportunity to paint it when it was around. 

Dawn of a New Spring, Oil on Linen, 12x16

I don't get out painting before dawn nearly enough! I had this canvas pretty well covered by the time the sun broke over the trees. Good thing too, because minutes after sunrise, the clouds moved off and with them the golds and pinks I love to paint.

Not Quite Gone and Forgotten, Oil on Canvas, 12x16

This is yet another painting from the past given new life. the original was painted in the Sheyenne River Valley of North Dakota several years ago. I pulled it out the other day and basically repainted it right on top of the original. I doubt very much that this old shed is still standing.

I have a show in Unison Bank in my hometown of Jamestown North Dakota during the month of May.  

 March Morning, Oil on Linen, 12x16

 Saturday morning in March

up before dawn

a blank canvas

looking for something to paint

March Afternoon, Oil on Linen, 12x16

Same day

afternoon sun

snow is almost gone

standing in a deer bed

River Flats, Oil on Linen, 12x16

In a location better known as a great place to watch the big jets take off and land at MSP, I was treated to a sunset chorus of coyotes howling. Overlooking the Minnesota River, I had to remind myself how close I was to the downtowns of Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Bloomington. You are looking at the results of decades of sedimentation; sediment that, in all likelihood, once covered farmers fields.

Early Morning Melt, Oil on Linen, 16x12 (SOLD)

It's feeling very Spring-like for the middle of February. I hiked up to the top of  a bluff just as the sun was making its entrance. Low and behold I was not alone. Who can resist mid 40s in February. Still I found myself drawn to the last lonely fragments of snow. Two to four inches are expected tonight. I hope they're right for a change. We could really use the snow.

Snow Pass, oil on linen, 12x9

(revised 2/22/12)

You don't expect to get overheated when you go out and paint in the middle of the winter in northern Minnesota, but that's exactly what happened on our second morning out. Lee Englund and I had all our winter gear on when we started up the trail to this overlook on West Bearskin Lake. By the time we reached the pinnacle, we had shed layers and were sweating profusely while carrying half our clothing as well as all our gear. We learned a valuable lesson about winter painting. Have an extra bag for extra clothing. Carry your gear to your location and THEN put it on. 

Rendezvous, Oil on Linen, 12x9

We've been back from the Winter Paint Out on West Bearskin Lake for a couple weeks now and I am just now getting around to posting this painting from that trip. I was struck at how small the people appeared beside these ancient behemoths. This trip to the north woods was an excellent reminder to keep a proper perspective.

So Warm for February, Oil on Linen, 9x12

(revised 2/16/12)

The only true blue sky painting of the week was painted after we had left Menogyn and took a little side trip up the Superior coast. 

West Bearskin Lake, Oil on Linen, 9x12

We just got back from the boundary waters. We were part of the Grand Marais Art Colony Winter Paintout at Camp Menogyn on West Bearskin Lake about 40 miles up the gunflint trail and a mile from the Canadian border. It was 6 days of painting with a great group of artists, making new friends. I had my first Finnish sauna followed by not 1 but 2 polar plunges. We ate and sang music, had intense conversations, and ate very well thanks to the staff of Camp Menogyn. This was all in some of the most pristine wilderness there is. This painting is hanging at the Grand Marais Art Colony Gallery through the month of February or until it sells. Thanks to Kjersti, Neil, Sandi and everyone at the Art Colony for sponsoring this great event.

Superstition, Oil on Linen, 12x16

I no longer feel guilty about working on this one for 3 days. The painting is a lot better than it was 3 days ago even though I thought it was done then. I've sort of made up the rocks based on a group in the Superstition mountains of Arizona. You would think that would give me a lot of latitude in shaping them, but this is really not the case. The forces that shape mountains do so in a very specific way, and if you try to reshape them without considering how they were created, you will end up with mountains made of Play-Doh. 

Another challenge with this painting was shooting a photo of it. Months ago I thought I had figured out a technique to shoot my work, but recently I've changed how I apply the paint to the canvas, and as a result, there is more of a sheen to deal with. This is my best shot of this painting to date but I'm still not satisfied. The learning goes on.

Tea Pot Rock, Oil on Linen, 11x14

Again, this is painted right on top of one I did three years ago while on a painting excursion to Sedona, Arizona. "Why not just start a new canvas?" you might ask. Because, besides the fact that I don't like to waste resources, I don't like to have bad paintings around; especially ones I painted. 

Arizona 1, Oil on Linen, 12x16

(revised 1/17/12)

Three years ago we were in Arizona painting. The other day I was going through the reject pile and pulled out several from the Arizona trip. My goal this week is see if I can bring them to life. 

The original painting underneath what you are seeing here was kind of washed out and lackluster. I hadn't really captured the day and the rocks looked kind of loaf-like. This is a complete re-do of the original.

Dan Patch and Lafayette, Oil on Linen, 12x16

Another reworking of an older painting, this one is from July of 2010. I was not satisfied with the sky in the original painting. I've since learned a bit more about making less go farther.

Ice Break, Oil on Linen, 12x16

(revised painting. The original was painted in February of 2011)

They had not yet begun construction on the Lafayette Bridge in Saint Paul when I painted this on location last winter. Yesterday with yet another snow storm avoiding us and with nothing to look at but barren frozen ground, I got out some older paintings that were crying for some touch-up work. This one was high on my list. It needed some color adjustment and got it.

Picking Up Two, Oil on Linen, 18x24

(revised 1/9/12, 1/12/12)

Again, I'm working from a painting I did a couple years back. That painting was more of a mid day painting. The sun was over my right shoulder at an angle that obliterated just about all the shadows from the rocks and there was no tug boat. The tug came as I was finishing up, so I snapped a reference photo. This time, I wanted to get more of a late afternoon feel with long shadows on the rocks. So I put the sun over my left shoulder and reversed all of the shadows and warmed the colors from the previous painting. 

Spring Melt, Oil on Linen, 18x24

(revised 1/12/12)

Happy New Year. We finally got a coating of ice and snow over the New Year's weekend, followed by strong cold winds. So I decided to stay home and do some studio painting. Spring Melt is based on a smaller field study that I painted in March of 2010. Every now and then it's good to check your progress as a painter. Although I did a fair job on capturing the day on the previous painting, it lacked a bit in anatomy. Perhaps it's just that this is a bigger painting, or that I took my time getting the drawing right, but I tend to believe that the reason it is better than the painting I did two years ago is that the lessons of four and five years ago are finally starting to sink in.

Orange Ya Glad, Oil on Linen, 12x16

This time of year I should be painting snow scenes, but alas we have very little of that. There is another painting underneath this one of the exact same subject but mostly in beige and grey. It was painted in the late afternoon just as the clouds rolled in and grayed out any lighting effect worth painting.  As we were cleaning up, the setting sun popped out again giving everything a warm glow. I put a couple of color notes on the painting  and packed it away. The next day, I looked at the painting and the only thing I liked were the color notes, so I redid the painting on top of the grey and beige one incorporating the sunset colors throughout.