----------painting

website

2011-12-13T07:49:00.000-08:00

If you're interested in current posts of my work, I've moved online operations to my website www.adamswanson.com. Thanks and I hope to see you there!

Over the Town, Across the Water

2011-03-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

18" x 24"

four more for "Feast of Bikes"

2011-02-16T11:37:00.000-08:00

Feast of Bikes

2011-02-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

A show of new paintings at the Vanilla Bean in Two Harbors, MN March 2011.

Classic Orange at The Lake

2011-01-14T10:27:00.001-08:00

acrylic on board 28" x 18"

Bikes, bikes

2010-12-19T14:59:00.000-08:00

A Ride With Karen in the Woods 48" x 32"

Caught up with White Pine 32" x 42"

These will all be at Lizzard's Gallery, reception tomorrow.

2010-12-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

A culmination of efforts in painting supported by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Artist's Grant at Lizzard's Gallery in historic Downtown Duluth. Opening Reception Thursday, Dec. 2 6-8pm featuring Kathy McTavish on cello.

Just Married Snowplow (Rachel Kilgour CD Cover)

2010-11-24T09:06:00.000-08:00

24" x 18"

2010-11-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Tractor Pull 42" x 28" $400

It Comes With a Price 42" x 32" $400

2010-11-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

Excitement In The Alley 32" x 24"

At The Laundromat 24" x 24"

2010-11-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

Our Lives as They Are Spent

Carried Away

Taking out the Trash

2010-10-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

20" x 48"

admiring bike

2010-10-19T12:42:00.001-07:00

acrylic on board 18" x 24"

Penguin Rides Again

2010-10-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

acrylic on board 18" x 24"

A New Page

2010-10-13T12:08:00.001-07:00

adamswanson.com

2010-10-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

More information on each piece is posted with on my website adamswanson.com.

Should We Get Outta Here or What?

2010-07-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

32" x 24"

Tricycle and the Orange Sky

2010-06-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

16" x 18"

Where's He Going?

2010-06-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

36" x 32"

Red Land

2010-06-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

24" x 32"

Dog on Fire!

2010-06-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

24" x 32"

Green Cruiser

2010-05-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

38" x 32"

Yellow Balloons

2010-05-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

32"x 24"

Top Bike in Spanish Alley (a portrait)

2010-05-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

32" x 24"

Magnificent Connection

2010-04-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

24" x 32"

Penguin Ride

2010-04-22T23:23:00.001-07:00

28" x 24"

Bicycle and The Goat

2010-04-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

24" x 38"

Christa's Bianchi (a portrait)

2010-04-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

32" x 24"

Robot Chasing Low-Rider Remastered

2010-04-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

48" x 32"

Beach Bike Balloon

2010-03-21T00:07:00.000-07:00

24" x 38"

Cool Reason

2010-03-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

Cruiser and Balloons

2010-03-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

32" x 35"

Blue Boots Wood Duck

2010-03-06T00:15:00.000-08:00

32" x 48"

Tricycle with generator at Windy Hills

2010-02-28T09:41:00.001-08:00

32" x 24"

Bike Portraits

2010-02-19T23:25:00.000-08:00

I will do a portrait of your bicycle for $200. 24" x 36" ready to hang. If you are interested, email me at adampswanson@gmail.com.

Penguin Rides Bike

2010-02-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

36" x 48"

Birds and The Flaming Tree

2010-02-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

24" x 36"

Penguins among Towers

2010-01-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

32" x 48"

Heart of the Matter

2010-01-16T09:25:00.000-08:00

24" x 32"

Stag among Towers

2010-01-16T09:23:00.000-08:00

24" x 32"

Friends At Last

2010-01-14T19:55:00.000-08:00

32" x 48"

My Fair Lady in the Desert

2010-01-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

32" x 48"

Greenie and the Towers

2009-12-16T13:57:00.000-08:00

24" x 36"

Day of the Dead

2009-12-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

24" x 36"

Show

2009-12-08T11:48:00.000-08:00

In addition to my current show at Mohaupt Gallery, I will be showing art this Saturday Dec 12, 9am-4pm at Beaner's Central, a sweet little coffee shop and music venue in West Duluth. Stop on by for some brand new, un-posted paintings.

Copper Bike Wind

2009-11-24T14:04:00.001-08:00

24" x 36"

Penguin Rain

2009-11-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

32" x 48"

I have new website!

2009-11-02T09:40:00.000-08:00

Check it out www.adamswanson.com.

Special thanks to Nathan Davey (for building it).

Tall Seated Bike at play

2009-10-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

24" x 36"

Penguin Stands Alone

2009-10-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

36" x 24"

Animals Among Towers

2009-10-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

36" x 24"

Penguin and Turtle

2009-09-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

24" x 36"

The Water isn't always Blue

2009-09-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

48" x 32"

Men making Plans in the Wild and Unknown

2009-09-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

Octopi (Octopeds) and Ship

2009-09-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

36" x 24"

Balloon Animals over Windy Hills

2009-08-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

Bike at Windy Lake

2009-08-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

24" x 36"

Red Tree

2009-07-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

24" x 36"

Bike Among Towers

2009-07-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

36" x 24"

Trees Alone

2009-07-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

Cruiser and The Tower

2009-06-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

24" x 36"

The Cabin Kitchen

2009-06-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

24" x 36"

Orange Bike at Lake

2009-06-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

36" x 24"

Tree at the Lake

2009-06-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

My Fair Lady

2009-06-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

Orange Bike

2009-06-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

48" x 48"

Blue Bike

2009-06-15T09:33:00.001-07:00

32" x 48"

Animals in a Burnt Forest

2009-05-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

48" x 32"

Penguin at the Bar

2009-05-14T09:00:00.001-07:00

48" x 32"

Angry Hippo

2009-05-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

48" x 32"

Some Trees

2009-05-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

Driftwood Arms

2009-05-05T20:43:00.001-07:00

36" x 24"

Cliffs and Wind

2009-04-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

48" x 48"

More Wind and Trees

2009-04-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

36" x 24"

Wind and Trees

2009-04-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

36" x 24"

Trees, Wind and Water

2009-04-14T19:32:00.001-07:00

36" x 24"

Leaving Home, Parting Ways

2009-04-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

36" x 24"

Penguin fighting Squall

2009-04-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

48" x 32"

Penguin in Rowboat

2009-04-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

36" x 24"

Robot and Penguin

2009-03-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

Animal Islands

2009-03-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

36" x 24"

Balloon Animals

2009-03-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

close up

Carry Me Home

2009-03-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

Balloons

2009-03-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

32" x 48"

Lakeshore with Cormarant riding Goat

2009-03-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

48" x 32"

close up

sprung reflecting jack in the box, reflecting a different bike

2009-03-07T12:22:00.000-08:00

24" x 36"

Robots Aloft

2009-03-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

"Robots in the Wind"
48" x 48"

Robot's Gift

2009-02-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

"Robot's Gift"
48" x 48"

Jack in the Box

2009-02-24T16:57:00.000-08:00

"Sprung Reflecting Jack in the Box"
24" X 36"

Trikes!

2009-02-20T09:52:00.000-08:00

"yellow tricycle with generator and projector"
32" x 48"

"mobile robots with wind turbine arms"
48" x 32"

Two more paintings

2009-02-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

The title of this hot little number is "Turquoise and Red"

48" x 32"

"Caught Up"
48" x 32"

It's not much, but it's a start.

2009-02-10T12:56:00.000-08:00

This is my first new painting. It is a portrait of a powder blue low-rider bicycle, a robot and a forest. It's 4 feet wide by 2.5 feet high. Sort of a low resolution photo, but you get the idea. More to come.

Snow and Ice

2009-02-06T09:44:00.000-08:00

I have moved to Duluth, MN for two months, at least. I found a room with attached studio near Hawk Ridge and within walking distance of everything. Leaving the cabin and northern wilds yesterday was not easy, but after two weeks I am ready for figure drawing groups, wireless internet and coffee shops. And I still have the Lake. I will hopefully be posting paintings sometime soon. Here are a few parting shots of time on the North Shore.

Father Baraga's Cross is smoking

the cabin was a studio

photo of me by Nathan Bahls

deer under the tree

abandoned fish house

deer out the window, on the cliff

Dyer's Lake
so long my old friend

The North Shore

2009-01-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

At the cabin again. I have been here for a week now painting, thinking and walking around. I have accomplished many things that weren’t on my to-do list but after I did them I put them on it and checked them off since they were so worthwhile. I have discovered a local bar, a cool neighbor to hang out with and today I was fortunate to see a few sled dog teams crossing the Sawbill Trail during the Beargrease Sled Dog race. I have also dialed in where to pick up free internet and take a sauna and shower. Really, it’s absolutely lovely here here. I visit the Lake every day, show it my new tattoo.

I have learned some interesting things since arriving here. The Sawbill Trail is a road nearby that heads due north. People calibrate their compasses by it. There is a dairy on Gunflint Trail that sells dairy products fresh from the udder. Schroeder used to have a whorehouse in the logging days to keep the loggers from going to Duluth to spend all their money. There more is more local trivia, but I’ll leave you with those gems for now. Here are a few photos of the days here on the mystic North Shore.

Waiting for the dog sled team

They arrive!

Bonfire for Beargrease volunteers and spectators

The Temperance River at dusk

Beargrease Volunteer HQ

Tower at the dairy (is this too mundane to post?)

Milkers, I assume

Lumber Mill on the Gunflint Trail

Glorious Lake, looks different every day

Beneath the Sea

2009-01-10T11:20:00.000-08:00

The past month has been filled to the brim with movement and difficult choices. I am in Colorado, a best man for my friend and hero Jono, who will be wed this afternoon. The days in the Rockies are clear and bright. I spent yesterday snowboarding on the mountain and reuniting my wrists with the ground and my legs with pain. It was phenominal.

Prior to this I spent an eventful week at my family cabin on Lake Superior. New Year's Eve was wild and reflective and I, along with a few brave friends, jumped into the frigid water at the stroke of midnight while Nathan and April shot off fireworks and toasted things to come.

Inside the cabin kitchen

After a week here, I plan to head back to the Twin Cities, spend some time with my family and friends and then head north to Lake Superior again, with my painting supplies in tow.

Cabin deck

Temperance River

Temperance River New Year's Day snowshoe

View from the cabin porch

Inside the cabin

April and I at Baraga's Cross

April, Hasty and Ruby on the beach

Still Going

2008-12-22T12:41:00.000-08:00

The back yard of Kim and Adam's home, where I stayed this past week. Drinking their beer and learning how to cross-country ski again.

It's true, I'm not in South America anymore. But I am still living, so I have decided to keep my blog rolling. Perhaps it won't be filled to the brim with photos of far flung locations. Floating islands and curiosity's crooked finger. But perhaps it will. Indeed, there are billions of captivating places in the US. And of course there are also plenty of things to take photos of and write about. So this blog will change, as it did during my move to the South American road from Antarctica. It's been a slow trek north.

I am currently in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, staying at the home of my dear friends, Matti and Sarah. After more than a week in Ithaca, collecting my personal affects, spending time with friends and saying goodbyes to a former life, it feels good to be somewhere new in my homeland. I am comfortable here, and though I have never been to Cape Cod before, I know how everything works. I can speak comfortably with the gas station clerk and find my favorite coffee. I can drive and know a number of places to sleep. I walked my hosts' dog today, winding through the streets along the lakeshore, waving to neighbors. They think I live here.

Taughannock Falls in Ithaca, NY my home of 3 years

My truck is laden with everything I own and ready for the voyage.

Our first challenge en route to Cape Cod, MA.

The "pond" across the street from my friend's house.

I plan to stay here through Christmas and then drive west to MN before the New Year. For now it is holiday fashion with good friends.

Flying Tomorrow

2008-12-11T18:25:00.000-08:00

After a year away, I set off to the US tomorrow. Two solid days of flights will land me in Ithaca, NY, where I will pick up my truck with all of my belongings stuffed into the back and head into the future. For now, however, it is time for great pondering. This trip has been like a dream to me. After Antarctica, a divorce, and a plethora of life decisions, traveling has been a cleansing, perspective inducing experience that has changed and rejuvenated me. I head back into the world, ready and willing. Looking forward.

The last few weeks have been spent primarily on the move. I have traveled from Machu Picchu, westward to the Peruvian coast. South by bus to the floating Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca, made of reeds. And along the Pacific Coast to Chile, the northern beachtowns of Arica and Iquique and finally on to Santiago, where I have spent these last few days, touring the Concha y Toro winery (Casillero del Diablo) and generally enjoying these final travel days with my lovely traveling companion Carla. Awaiting my flight tomorrow morning.

Tying up our boat on the Uros Islands

Luis, my sullen tour guide, at Pacha Papa

Children at my homestay on Isla Amantaní

Isla Taquile

Women walking

Arica, Chilean beach town

Hill in Arica, desert dunes run into the ocean

Arica

Iquique, Chile

Concha y Toro winery

Casillero del Diablo, they say it´s haunted

Goodbye summer sun. Hasta Luego South America.

Machu Picchu stones

2008-11-29T16:46:00.000-08:00

Time here has been tumultuous; teeming with possibilities and despair. Strolling through histories of violence and occasional inspiration, fit to boggle the mind with complexity. My spanish is much improved (I have come to utter the words ¨no, gracias¨ with the ease of a native) and South America has taught me many lessons. My most recent day of note was at the fabulous Machu Picchu. After a series of bus rides and a shortwinded bout of food poisoning (giardia?) I made it to Cusco, Peru where I sit today. A town of 400,000 people and the historic capital of the Inca Empire (1200s-1532). Despite Spanish influence, the Incan influence is still quite evident in the structure of the city. Stone structures, set in the 1300s serve as foundations to todays markets and churches.

View from street in Cusco, there is an alpaca in the shadow

One is able to take a train from Cusco to Aquas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo, the stopping off point to enter Machu Picchu) everyday. It is three and a half hours, fairly expensive and a joy to endure.

Aguas Calientes is wild with unplanned tourism and not much of a place to hang out. But a 1 hour bus ride at 5:30 am brought me to a monument shrouded in mystery.

The Guard Tower at Machu Picchu

I didn´t see the mountains until the mist blew away

Wandering the ruins

View from Huayna Picchu, a nearby peak that offers lovely views of the former empire. After the severe hike to the top of this mountian I decended to share a good bottle of wind among the ruins.

What a cool place to build an empire.

The Tomb beneath the Temple of the Sun

At about 11am thousands of people began to arrive, and the place was flooded with people. School groups, tourists, a man with a whistle who whistles at you whenever you are stepping on something inappropriate.

Here are a few interesting facts about Machu Picchu:

-Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders Of The World.

-The site was built around 1460 but abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers after a century.

-The site was forgotten by the world until 1911, when it was discovered by Hiram Bingham, an American historian.

-Machu Picchu was the center of the Incan Empire through which the Urubamba River flows. The river is a partially navigable headwater of the Amazon River.

-Machu Picchu is built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls.

-Machu Picchu comprises of around 140 structures.

-The Intihuatana stone located at Machu Picchu is one of many ritual stones in South America. Researchers believe that Intihuatana stone was built as an astronomic clock or calendar.

-In 1911, some people were found living on the site and a number of female mummies were also discovered.

Now, back in Cusco, purchasing tickets, wandering the streets, enjoying music, and looking forward to Lake Titicaca.

Mountain Time

2008-11-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

Peru. I came to this country with almost no expectations. All that I had heard was that it was easy to get giardia and that the people were friendly. After more than a week here I can say that it is all of that and much more. I am currently in Huaraz, a northern town at the foot of the Cordillera Blanca, a mountain range in the Peruvian Andes.

It is a small and pretty town of about 100,000 people. Women in tall hats and mountains at every angle. Huaraz is clean and well organized, and even though the locals don´t use turning signals in the streets, they are more or less kind and gentle to travelers.

view from my hotel

street in Huaraz

I was able to take a four day trek through the Cordillera Blanca on the Santa Cruz trail. It is a stunning trek through mountains and valleys. Our second camp was at 4278 meters, which I think is the highest I have ever camped. I had the help of a guide, a burro (donkey) tender and a daily ration of coca leaf tea. Plus the good company of two Italians, a Frenchman, a Brazilian fellow and Carla. Many people do this trek without the help of a guide, but I have become a lazy man. And it was helpful to garner information from someone who was raised in the area.

The highest mountain in Peru, Huascarán (6,768 m), is located here in Huascarán National Park.

Proud Warrior at Vaqueria, the start of our trek

girl on her way to school

working my way down to the trail, you can see it in white, snaking through the valley

valley floor, after our descent from 4750 meters

The cows are basically wild. The local villages take one or two for food as needed, but for the most part they live and die naturally. I saw one dead in the river, just upstream from where we gathered water for the night.

local man walking across a bridge

turquoise lake

our burro tender and his stallions

wild goats, roaming the countryside, drinking the same water as me

Tomorrow evening I will board a bus and move south to Lima and then, on to Machu Picchu. I have a good book (Riding the Iron Rooster), a bottle of wine and some terrific scenery to look forward to.

Life is a Whirlwind of Change

2008-11-14T18:14:00.000-08:00

Sao Paulo, the frantic mingle near the mercado municipal

Goodbye to Ilha Grande, my avalon! I am back in Sao Paulo, living the life of a city-man, through market throngs, eating sushi and buttoning my pockets. Tomorrow, or rather in 4 hours, I leave for Peru. First, to Huaraz to do some treking and then on to Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Hilarious Monkey, Ilha Grande

Goodbye, island life

Lovely wooden boat at Saco do Céu

It has been good to wear my flip-flops, and enjoy the sun and caipirinhas these last few weeks, but now it's back to the dusty trail. With all of the people, worries, history, and happenstance that make travel seem so profound (usually on hindsight).

Andrea, my Sao Paulo host and friend, and I tonight after dinner