Dawn In America

This painting is another idea I have been wanting to paint but just have not got around to it until now. The image of a bald eagle speaks to many Americans on so many levels that I wanted to paint one that did not include a soaring bird or had mountains in the background to distract from the beauty of the bird itself. Instead, I included the preamble of the Constitution in the background to make a direct emotional connection to the image.

So many of my paintings are somewhat muted in the color usage so I also wanted to paint something with a bold splash of color. There are 11×20 prints available of this painting for $50.00 each. Go to the product page and hit the wildlife button. The original of this painting is available and if interested please email: steve@bergerfinearts.com

Custer Rides A Harley Davidson

As long as we are on the Harley Davidson subject this painting needs a little explaining. If general George Armstrong Custer had the opportunity to ride a motorcycle I believe it would be this army issued Harley. I started out painting the bike and felt it needed something a little more and being the history geek I am I finished up with this. Signed 11×17 prints are available at www.bergerfinearts.com for $30.00. Go to the products page and click on the car icons to order.

Harley Davidson Guy

I was paging through some Harley Davidson Brochures the other day and for what ever reason this image popped into my head and I hurried and sketched it out so I could paint it later. The tattoo on the back of the head seemed to fit this image nicely. I originally had some other stuff in the image but gradually kept simplyfying it until I got this. It seems to talk to those who ride. Prints of this are available as well as the original. signed 11×17 prints are 30.00. Go to www.bergerfinearts.com and click the products page then click on the car Icons button to order.

Wonder Girl Of Argyle Ct.

The wonder girl of Argyle Court. What is she going to write about next? It could be a novel, short story or maybe just a grocery list. At any rate this was a fun painting to do. Prints are available at: www.bergerfinearts.com. Go to the Portraits on the product page.

The Ironmen from Clinton St. Mary's

This Painting was to incorporate a feeling more than things and objects it shows. The newspapers may be old but they are saved in attics and scrapbooks all over the country. The letter jacket no worse for wear now than when it was worn. The helmet still ready to be strapped on, and the brick, all that is left of a school that had a proud history but ceases to exist. This original painting measures 36″x24″ and is an acrylic. Prints are available. Go to wwww.bergerfinearts.com to the products page and click on the high school prints button.

William "The Conqueror" Cat

This cat has so much attitude it deserves to have a portrait done of it. Like all kings there are usually oblivious of the obvious. This painting can be found on my website "bergerfinearts.com" look under the car portraits. You can order signed prints there if you like it.

Everythings's Kosher

This was just a fun painting to do. Something off the track a little bit. After a few landscapes it is nice to venture off and do something totally different. This painting is categorized as a portrait and will join the other portraits on my website "bergerfinearts.com" look under the portrait button so you can order signed prints of this limited edition painting.

Chevy 283 Engine Art

The finest car engine Chevy ever made. That is my personal opinion. The small block was the beginning of all the engines that were legends of the Seventies. This is another car icon that will join the rest on my website "bergerfinearts.com" look under the car icons.You can order signed prints there.

Sacred Ground

Whenever I am walking through the woods and find an abandoned car or worse a group of them it is unsettling. This scene shows a place that has multiple abandoned vehicles. It looks almost like a graveyard. I hope it conveys that same type of feeling to you. This concludes the first phase of the "Ghost on the Prairie" series. I will be doing more but I have to work on my next series of landscapes.

The Ghosts Of The Prairie Series Meaning
The ghosts of past generations are all around us we just can't see them. Whenever you see an abandoned car it has a history that is as intriguing as the people who originally owned it. The places it went, the miles it traveled all add to the mystery of its final rusting place. On the prairie and in the forests the spirits of the deceased visit these relics often and guard them.

If you are interested in prints of this or the original go to the web site: www.bergerfinearts to the product page in the landscape category.

Ghost Scouts Of The Prairie

Left alone in a field to rust away, what a waste. The only winter scene of the series. It makes you wonder why and what happened to the vehicle. If you are interested in prints of this or the original go to the web site: www.bergerfinearts to the product page in the landscape category and you can make a purchase.

Prairie Ghosts Of The Night

This is the first painting of this series that depicts the prairie at night. It also does not show a full body spirit. This piece of art seemed to need something a little different. I also experimented with colors in the sky and tried to put stars and a moon but the shading became an issue and it just became too much and not as interesting so much so that I felt it was taking away from the key focal points. If you are interested in prints of this or the original go to the web site: www.bergerfinearts to the product page in the landscape category.

All American Icons

This painting shows a different view of an abandoned vehicle. But you can not get more American than a Chevy truck and American flag. This is a little bit of a change-up to the ghosts on the prairie series but I think it adds to it. The original measures 24"x36" and is for sale. Signed 22″ x24″ Giclee prints on canvas are available of this painting for $150.00. The original is abvailable. If interested in the original please email: steve@bergerfinearts.com.

Go to www.bergerfinearts.com if you are interested in purchasing any of this series or any other artwork that I have done in the past.

Ghost In The Woods

This painting is large 24"x38" and as you can see the imagery is much more complex. The colors of fall lend themselves to rusting vehicles like the one shown here but I am currently working on painting do this series that has fall colors, very vibrant. I should be ready to post in a few weeks. I have to stop myself from having the trees and grasses completely envelop the vehicle it just is hard knowing where to stop.

Go to www.bergerfinearts.com if you are interested in purchasing any of this series or any other artwork that I have done in the past.

Returning Veteran Painting

I have run into a few returning veterans and I wanted to do a painting that celebrates their arrival. This painting is trying to depict that certain feeling of coming home from across an ocean to a waiting loved one. All the bags surrounding the veteran are finally on American soil ready to be unpacked and taken home.

Go to www.bergerfinearts.com if you are interested in purchasing this painting or any other artwork that I have done in the past.

Ghosts On The Prairie 6

Another with a little lower view. I did not know where to stop the grasses. I like the idea of the grass enveloping the vehicles but it does not lend itself to be an interesting painting. Color combination in the grasses are interesting to paint.

Go to www.bergerfinearts.com if you are interested in purchasing any of this series or any other artwork that I have done in the past.

Ghosts On The Prairie #5

Back to the series, this painting is a little bigger 24"x38" than I usually do but I like the feel of it. I have been debating on how transparent to make the native Americans in these paintings. Too much and I miss details too little and it looks confusing. I have notice that each one I do has it subtle changes to style to them.

Go to www.bergerfinearts.com if you are interested in purchasing any of this series or any other artwork that I have done in the past.

Kids Portrait

Something different I thought I would post this recent portrait of kids being kids. Fun painting to do. You can look for more portraits at my website under the Portrait section. Go to www.Bergerfinearts.com to see more.

Ghosts On The Prairie #4

The fourth of the series does not depict a car but an old train car. Left abandoned on the prairie it has company. I did have a buffalo in this painting but decided to leave it out. It just became to busy and I will have time to incorporate buffalo in another painting down the road.

Go to www.bergerfinearts.com if you are interested in purchasing any of this series or any other artwork that I have done in the past.

Ghosts On The Prairie #3

This painting offers a different view of a rusted relic. That could an ocean in the background or horizon or something else.

Go to www.bergerfinearts.com if you are interested in purchasing any of this series or any other artwork that I have done in the past.

Ghost Of The Prairie #2

Noted in my previous post I will continue to update this series here. This one depicts a field with the combination of a Model T or A a wagon wheel that does not show all here in this image and Native American women on horseback passing through. I wish the colors would show up better in these posts.

Go to www.bergerfinearts.com if you are interested in purchasing any of this series or any other artwork that I have done in the past.

Ghosts Of The Prairie

I have been working for some time on this series that incorporates rusted hulks of cars abandoned in the middle of nowhere and the Native Americans of years past that use to inhabit the areas where you find these old delapidated rusted out vehicles. I always wondered how these vehicles got to their final resting place (or should it be rusting place?) and how long before they totally disintegrate back into the earth. They almost look like bones that scavengers have pick through over time. Fun series to paint and as you will see with follow up posts I have been busy.

Go to www.bergerfinearts.com if you are interested in purchasing any of this series or any other artwork that I have done in the past.

Blonde Looking

Here is a reverse portrait. The challenge was painting someone from behind and make it look interesting. The soft choice of colors combined with the stark detail of the blonde hair became a very striking picture and one that can goe in almost any room if your blonde.

Potrait of Beverly

It has been a while since I painted so many portraits and this is just another to show another style of painting. Unlike past portraits and posts this one is a little softer in tone, reflecting a quiet but steely look. These are really fun to do.

Western Iowa Bridge

Here is another bridge close to Winterset. Beautiful setting for this in early Fall. I have a few more bridges on the board from Madison county and will post as soon as I get the time to finish them. At least now that I have them started it is fun to review the bridges and their construction as well as the time spent in western Iowa painting them. Truly a beautiful part of the country at any time of the year.

Covered Bridge In Winterset Iowa

This is a recent landscape painting I did from watercolors I painted dating back to the late 1970's from Winterset Iowa. I spent three days traveling about western Iowa painting the covered bridges in the area. Wonderful place and wonderful time.

Jack Jablonski Portrait

After I saw what happened to this young man I was compelled to do something for the family. I painted this to help show visually that Jack as well as the whole family is in Gods embrace, always. I hope it helps them as they go through the rehab process.

Twilight On The Plains

I classify this as Western art but some may call it more landscape art. Either way it depicts a time and a way of life that has passed on. The colors here do not reflect very well from the original piece.

Governor Mark Dayton Portrait

As promised here is the second famous Minnesotan portrait. Governor Dayton. I painted Governor Dayton in a non traditional pose because I believe he is definitely not a traditional politician. He seems to be a genuinely nice man who cares for other people. So the gentle smile and downward look I think helps to capture his spirit.

I was a little upset when I heard that the previous Minnesota Governor had an artist from another state do his official portrait that hangs in the state capital building. I am sure there are plenty of Minnesota portrait artists that would have loved the opportunity to do the work for him. Better to source it out I guess.

At any rate this gives you a pretty good idea of where I would go with the subject matter.

Senator Al Franken Portrait

After the holiday I did quite a few portraits and forgot how much I enjoy doing them. I will post a couple today of famous Minnesotans so that people can recognize who they are. This one of Senator Franken is purposely painted without any of the political props that come with his name since becoming a senator. I like to keep it uncluttered and to the point. Senator Franken has a unique smile and look and and definitely has a lot of hair to work with.