65 and Counting

"65 and Counting" The common loon became Minnesota's state bird in 1961, 65 years ago. We welcome them back to our lakes each spring like a family member gone too long. Her haunting call, relaxed approachability, and steadfast presence are a source of Minnesotans' wonder and pride.  Painting the loon had been a long-standing goal of mine. I started with smaller, 5"x7" paintings, each with their own unique background and personality. This larger version was a next step, one that took days of adding light, adding dark, adding background, changing the water. I suspect this is a subject that I will keep coming back to, as there are still so many backgrounds I'd like to see her in.  For now, this deep, marshy teal feels very Minnesotan. The perfect debut for this loon. 9"x12" acrylic paint and chalk pastel on high quality, 140 lb, watercolor paper. Treated with a fixative to secure chalk pastel. Matted painting includes a white mat that finishes this work at 12"x16". This is a standard-ish frame size so that you can easily frame this piece upon receipt. Your beautitful art will ship within two business days. Can you order your painting without a mat? Absolutely! Maybe you want a different color or mat size. However, it IS important to mat your painting before it hits the frame glass. The mat gives your painting a little breathing room; without it, the paint will eventually stick to the glass. If you've never purchased original artwork and have questions, or if you'd like to see more pictures of this piece, please do not hesitate to get in touch.