"Novellas" by Tom Maakestad

TOM MAAKESTAD NOVELLAS

TOM MAAKESTAD

Tom Maakestad works and lives in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, where he has maintained a studio for the past 24 years. Raised among a neighborhood of farmers and surrounded by a vibrant artistic and intellectual community in Northfield, Minnesota, Tom has always been drawn to the hills and valleys of this lush, Midwestern region. He is best known for creating large oil pastels and oil paintings with complex, atmospheric skies. These pieces explore the visual intersections between the landscape and human interactions. Tom’s work is collected throughout the United States and overseas.

ARTIST STATEMENT

In this exhibition I am working with subject matter that I’ve encountered throughout the year and I am using a variety of media to fit the specific subject.

For example, in the winter I was skate skiing, mainly at William O’Brien State Park near Marine on St Croix. I developed a series of dry pastel drawings from these daily trips, responding to the specific color palette of the winter woods and prairie.

During the spring and summer I transitioned to working with images from the St Croix River where we often float a pontoon and spend lazy afternoons and evenings. These pieces have evolved into small and larger oil paintings on canvas and board.

Finally, I’m working on summer landscapes from around the state during the verdant, sometimes hot, late afternoons. These are completed in both oil pastel and oil paint. The overall body of this exhibition is a group of novellas — long short stories or short novels.

- Tom Maakestad

Moon over William O'Brien 2022 | pastel $1,350. image: 10 x 17" | frame: 16.5 x 22.75"

East to Dennison 2022 | pastel $1,400. image: 14 x 17" | frame: 20 x 22.5" INQUIRE

Marsh Dawn 2022 | pastel $1,350. image: 14 x 17" | frame: 20 x 23" INQUIRE

Opening - William O'Brien 2022 | pastel $1,350. image: 13 x 15" | frame: 19.5 x 22"

INQUIRE

Beaver House 2022 | pastel $1,275. image: 10.5 x 16.5" | frame: 17 x 23"

INQUIRE

Winter Trails 2022 | pastel $1,400. image: 14 x 17" | frame: 20 x 23" INQUIRE

Behind the Barn 2022 | oil on canvas $1,500. image: 18 x 14" frame: 19 x 14.75"

Cloud Shadows 2022 | oil on canvas $650. image: 10 x 8" | frame: 11 x 8.75" INQUIRE

Contour

Layout

2022 |oil on canvas $3,200. image: 30 x 40" | frame: 37.5 x 41.75" INQUIRE

Farm in Light 2022 | oil on canvas $3,200. image: 30 x 40" | frame: 31.5 x 41.75"

Early Drive 2022 | oil & oil pastel on panel $3,600. image: 20 x 48" | frame: 21.5 x 49.5"

Hill Farmstead 2022 | oil on canvas $500. image: 5.5 x 8" | frame: 6.25 x 9.25" INQUIRE

Vertical Farm 2022 | oil on canvas $750. image: 11 x 9" | frame: 13 x 10" INQUIRE

Nerstrand Landscape

2022 | oil on canvas $500. image: 6.25 x 6.25" | frame: 7.25 x 7.25" INQUIRE

North of Valley Grove 2022 | oil on canvas $1,750. image: 18 x 18" | frame: 19.5 x 19.5" INQUIRE

Ridge Top Farm 2022 | oil on canvas $700. image: 6 x 12.5" | frame: 7 x 13.5"

Valley Grove Church 2022 | oil on canvas $700. image: 6.5 x 11" | frame: 7.75 x 12.25" INQUIRE

Evening Trees 2022 | oil on canvas $975. image: 14 x 10.75" | frame: 15 x 12"

River Point 2022 | oil on canvas $650. image: 6.5 x 12" | frame: 7.75 x 12.25"

St Croix Summer 2022 | oil on canvas $750. image: 12 x 7" | frame: 13 x 7.5" INQUIRE

Silent River 2022 | oil on canvas $1,200. image: 9.75 x 20" | frame: 11.75 x 22"

Swing Bridge 2022 | oil on canvas $1,275. image: 6.75 x 23.5" | frame: 7.75 x 24.75" INQUIRE

Summer River 2022 | oil on canvas $1,750. image: 18 x 18" | frame: 19.5 x 19.5" INQUIRE

This exhibition is supported by a 2022 Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support for Individuals grant, allowing for the purchase of materials and the artist's time to produce this series. It is through support like this that the artist is able to expand on an idea and the grant application process encourages the artist to think specifically about, and state ideas that support such a project.