Minnesota Muse

Minnesota Muse

Minnesota Muse is my first painting of 2025. I have been in Minnesota with my dear Mom many times already this winter, which means fewer studio days. Because it has been so long, I struggled with ‘blank canvas syndrome’. I felt unsure whether I still know how to paint! So I chose the path which is less difficult (for me) to ease into painting by working on a representational scene. I look forward to returning to my abstract work soon.

12” x 12”
Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep gallery wrapped canvas
Click here to purchase via my website.

The photo I worked from was taken in Minnesota by my friend, Lois, and was a winter landscape with hoar frost lying heavily over the whole scene. (She has such an eye for natural beauty! I was glad she gave me permission to use her photo.) I intended to make the scene look like the photo, but the painting seemed to have its own plan. 

Preparing to start my painting, I manipulated the photo using filters and other editing tools, and then I desaturated the color from the photo to arrive at all black and white for a better understanding of the value, the dark to light passages, in the scene. There is a quote that goes around in artist circles that has been attributed to lots of different people, and it is appropriate here: “Value does all the work, but color gets all the credit.” So by using my black and white edit of the photo, I leaned on the value to make a painting that is believable and still shows what I find to be most inspiring. I think my favorite part of the painting is the light trees against the slightly darker sky. I also love the dark trunk of the tree that crosses the horizon to make vertical path to the top of the painting.

Along with sharing this first work of 2025, I am finally allowed to share something exciting! My painting, Duly Noted, was awarded an Honorable Mention in the prestigious 41^st Annual Art Competition by Artists Magazine! While notified of this news last year, chosen artists were asked to wait to share the news until the magazine became *available. Ever since I started painting in earnest, I have enjoyed Artists Magazine (which I would call one of the top art magazines in print) and being chosen for this competition and winning a prize is way more than I could have imagined. This is the third of my paintings to be printed in an international art magazine, and it is the most encouraging, most significant recognition in print yet!

Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

*This issue of Artists Magazine will be available at stores on January 7.