After tinkering with it and moving to canvas, artists would prep a canvas with an animal glue (called sizing) and then paint over that with an oil ground made of titanium white, linseed oil and lime (the mineral, not the fruit).

Sizing is the glue or layer that goes directly on a canvas before adding a ground or gesso. The oil in an oil-based ground and the oil-based paints will attack the cotton or linen fibers of the canvas and eventually deteriorate them. That is why you need a sizing to protect them.

Ground, gesso, and primer are all different terms, but perform the same basic task: they protect the surface from the paint that will be applied on top and provide a solid under-color, usually white.

In 1955, ‘acrylic gesso’ was created and is a combination of calcium carbonate with an acrylic polymer, a pigment and other chemicals that ensure flexibility. Typically, this new gesso is what most people think of when the word gesso is used. It allows the artist to apply two to three layers of one quick-drying medium in order to protect the surface. Acrylic gesso is now the most used product for preparing and protecting fine art paint surfaces.

But, there is that word: acrylic. All acrylic products are made from petroleum-based polymers. Other chemicals are added as well. Acrylic gesso is not an earth-friendly product. The original gessoes made from rabbit-skin glue, as horrible as it sounds, are more earth-friendly.

What is this relationship between Sizing, Ground and
Gesso on a canvas?

Traditionally, sizing goes directly on the raw canvas and is meant to work its way into the fibers and weave to protect the canvas from the base-coat of white oil ground and top-coat of oil paint. With the newer acrylic gesso, a sizing is not needed, as the acrylic gesso does not attack the fibers, like an oil-based ground or primer would.

If you are painting with oil paint and don’t want to use acrylic gesso, you still need to use a sizing before applying an oil ground or some base color for your painting.

Traditionally, the sizing has been rabbit skin glue. Today, another acrylic product has been created to replace the animal glue. It is called Sizing, because it provides the function of protecting the canvas.

Experiments in Sustainable Sizing and Gessoes

Lately, I have tried using Methyl Cellulose from Natural Earth Paints as a sizing to protect my canvases. It is a plant-based glue that is non-toxic and archival. I have not been happy with this as it seems too brittle for long-term viability on canvas. It comes in powder form and is very easy to mix with water and keep in a jar for a long time. I feel like it might be best for panels and paper, not canvases.

I have also tried a plant-based non-toxic gesso to put directly on canvas. I applied it to five canvases and let it dry before painting on it. The first thing I noticed, once it was dry, was that when I handled the canvases I would get a chalky substance all over my hands. It was as if the gesso did not have a binder in it that would bind it to the surface it was painted on. This became annoying very quickly as this powder would get on my hands, and then on my clothes, and then on doorknobs and anything else I touched.

I thought, since it doesn’t have enough binder, I could perhaps apply a sizing over it and mix it in really good so it would bond nicely to the canvas. I used a stiff brush to apply the sizing and worked it into the powdery gesso and the canvas underneath. This seemed to work well, at first. I painted over this gesso with some oil paint. Things seemed to be working well, but one day I leaned the canvas against a counter in my studio. A couple days later I went to move it and some of the paint, where it was leaning against the counter, came off. Underneath this exposed area was the chalky substance again. The sizing-gesso mix did not bond to the canvas. I picked at the paint and I could peel it off the canvas. This, of course, is unacceptable so I had to remove the canvas from the panel and throw it away. I then removed four other canvases that I had stretched on panels or stretcher bars as the same effect was happening.

What Am I Doing Now?

I have decided to backtrack a little on my approach to create the most earth-friendly oil painting on the planet. I am currently using PVA sizing for the initial layer on the canvas. It is an acrylic medium, so petroleum-based. I am not using the natural non-toxic gesso on top of the sizing or instead of the sizing. I am falling back to what I have been using for several years, which is oil ground. Oil ground is not made from petroleum but is made from titanium white, linseed oil and lime (the mineral, not the fruit). It takes two coats and then you have to wait a week, to let it cure, before painting on it. I have enjoyed using oil ground and am happy to stick with this.

I will soon try using rabbit skin glue for sizing, which is something I used years ago for a short period of time. There is an added step of hydrating and heating it, but it is worth it if it leads to a more earth-friendly painting.

Stay tuned to see what happens.

I hope you are all doing well — living the life you want to live, loving and being loved. Below is what has been happening in my studio this summer and what is to come in the near future.

Featured Painting

Water Pattern VII
Oil on Canvas
40” x 30”
$3,000

Part of this summer, I have been focused on creating a series of paintings about water patterns. Lately, I have been pushing those paintings towards abstraction. The great thing about water is that even a somewhat realistic painting of water can still be an exercise in abstraction. One of my favorite things to observe is patterns and transitions. In the instance of this painting, I was interested in the surface pattern overlaying the pattern on the bottom of the lake and how to transition the patterns from one to the other in a convincing and natural way.

Exhibits

River Rememberings

The Legacy Lofts, 1240 2nd Street S. Minneapolis, MN 55415
July 17 - October 29, 2026
Reception: Sunday, August 23, 3 pm - 6 pm

This is a very fine group show about highlighting different ways of interpreting the aesthetic, material, and spiritual power of the Mississippi River and its environs from the Twin Cities to Red Wing. Other artists in the show include: Regan Golden, Dan Mackerman, Anika Schneider, Karen Goulet, Jim Meyer, John-Mark Schlink, Lisa S. Truax. The reception is a small art walk with two other exhibits in the area and in conjunction with a yearlong initiative called Sacred Water, Shared Future.

Minnesota State Fair Fine Art Exhibit

Fine Arts Building, corner of Randall Ave. & Cosgrove St., Minnesota State Fairgrounds
August 27 - September 7, 2026
Free Preview Night: Tuesday, August 25. 7 pm - 8:30 pm

I was one of the lucky ones who got into the State Fair show this year. More than 3,100 pieces were entered. Only about 380 pieces make it into the exhibit. With rotating judges you never know what will be chosen. I am excited to have a good reason to go to The Fair this year - I don’t go every year. The Preview Night is always packed and fun with electricity in the air. When you get to The Fair, go check out the fine art show and look for my piece.

TAG Gallery

5458 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Date: TBD
Opening Reception: TBD

I am very excited about my upcoming first solo show in Los Angeles. I don’t know when it will be, yet. Sometime in 2027. I am waiting anxiously to hear. But, I am currently on the TAG Gallery roster and you can find that webpage here: https://www.taggallery.net/vtag-artists. More info to come about the show, when I get it.

20th Annual Red Wing Plein Air Week

Red Wing Arts, Depot Gallery, Red Wing, MN
June 20 - August 16, 2026

I had the wonderful pleasure of partaking in the 20th Annual Plein Air Week in my hometown of Red Wing, MN. This year I had a little more opportunity to get out and paint. I created two paintings of the same scene, the view of Barn Bluff from Colville Park, one vertical and one horizontal. I was able to paint for two days. The first day was full of Mayflies getting stuck in my palette and on my canvas, and not to mention my hat, shirt and everywhere else. The second day was quite windy. No Mayflies but a lot of holding the canvas on the French easel while painting. There were about 80 people who signed up for the program and quite a few are excellent painters. The final exhibit is very strong.

As always, Red Wing Arts handled the 10 day long event with professional aplomb. The awards ceremony, to be held outside under a tent, was interrupted by a storm that just about blew the tent away. But, we moved indoors and all went very well with wonderful detailed explanations from the judge, Kami Mendlik, about each award and why it was awarded. If you have a chance, catch the show before it is gone.

Red Wing Area Studio Tour

July 25 and 26

I opened up my studio for the local studio tour. It was a nice time meeting neighbors and others and talking about art. My favorite visit was from a woman who had grown up in my house. Her grandparents built the house. She brought me old photos of the house from as far back as 1906 (my house was built in 1870). It was great to hear stories about the house and I found out that she and her siblings had drawn chalk drawings on the brick exterior that are still there. The drawings are more than 60 years old! I’m happy I haven’t washed them off.

What’s Cooking in the Studio

Painting Racks

My studio had become impossible to traverse, so I made a couple of racks for storing my canvases. I put them on wheels and filled them up, right away. And now I can walk around my studio, set up and take down work tables, and invite people over. I am a much happier artist now.

A Clean Studio and Floor

Well, once I had everything on my floor up in my new storage racks, the floor looked terrible. So I cleaned it. That’s pretty good for a studio floor! That feels really good!

Big Canvases

I seem to have gathered several large stretchers, 5’ x 4’, 6’ x 4’. I purchased 15 yards of canvas and am busy stretching them.

Writings

I had some time to write a couple articles for my Substack, where I talk about art and my experiences.

Minnesota Values are a Humble Ramp is a reflection on Minnesota values after visiting the memorials for Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

What is it Like to Show in a High-End Art Fair? is a reporting of my experience at the Scottsdale Art Week this past March.

Since the Minnesota State Fair is approaching, take a gander at my article, Is There Something Wrong with the Minnesota State Fair Art Exhibit?, recounting my experience judging the exhibit.

Up next will be an article in my continuing series, The Adventure to Create the Most Earth-Friendly Oil Painting on the Planet. Part five will be about gesso.

Until next time. Peace.

Although this was only the second year for the Scottsdale fair, the experience at all of these fairs is similar for artists who are involved. Many times the artists do not attend these fairs and are allow the gallery to represent them. I was very lucky in that bG Gallery was exhibiting my art and willing to do all of the work involved: hanging, talking to customers, taking down, etc. Of course, I helped with all of that just to help out and to enjoy the experience. But this also gave me plenty of time to observe and experience the fair.

When arriving to drop off work, it is hard to find a parking spot and to know just where to park. You want to park close to the entrance near your booth so you don’t have to lug your artwork too far. I parked and entered into the fair to find the booth and identify the closest door. Once inside the building all was chaos.

Crates, boxes, shipping supplies and art litter the space. Some booths have a lot of large work and sculptures to install. They were already there working away. It took awhile, but I found the booth and Om Bleicher, the owner of bG Gallery that was hosting my work. I delivered my work in-person as I drove to Arizona with it in my white cargo van (Vanna White). I kept my packing simple, mostly protecting the edges of the frames.

I was shown the closest entrance. Carts were available, if you could catch one. I wheeled in my three large paintings and placed them where Om wanted them to be hung. I unpacked them and proceeded to measure the wall and hang the paintings.

Once the artwork was up, I explored a bit. The amount of debris on the dark carpet was surprising and I had no idea how they would get all the Styrofoam pebbles, bits of paper, plastic, string and who knows what up before the opening. The most horrifying was that in every aisle, on a large piece of cardboard, there was a paint roller sitting in a roller pan full of white paint for touching up the walls. How one of these did not accidentally get stepped in or how a trail of white dribbles didn’t spread across the black carpet I will never know.

But the next day, just before it was time to open, the place looked immaculate. The chaos of install was replaced with a sense of calm, like a calm before a storm. Everyone was smiles and a bit chatty, happy that the install was over but knowing the endless engagement with the public was just around the corner. Attendance for the first day was pretty slow. I think most people were waiting for the opening party that night. Then, when it was time to party, people showed up.

The crowd was interesting. Most people were dressed up a bit. Even those wearing jeans seemed to think about there ensemble. There were many men with cowboy hats and boots, many women in dresses and jewelry. There were long time collectors who dropped by the booth and talked in a comfortable familiar way with the gallerists. There were small groups of young attractive women who were all dressed up (sometimes a little risque) who, I am told, were fishing for a wealthy man. There were small groups of well-dressed young men who walked around confidently, laughing with each other a little too easily, trying to portray some kind of presence. My Midwestern self also found the amount of plastic surgery, on men and women, a bit astonishing. I think this is a Scottsdale experience more than an art fair experience, in general. The show made good people watching.

Most of the fair there was a slow steady stream of people with some lag times. I was able to converse and get to know the other artists and gallerists at the booth. Om had pulled together a nice group of people. I also took some time to look at many of the other galleries, wanting to find one that might represent me. A few gallerists made their way over to our booth to look at my work. I am currently in conversation with one of them.

People come by and ask about the work. Some were from the Midwest and were drawn to my landscapes. Others liked the intimacy of the pieces and the feeling that you could step into them. The other artists and gallerists at our booth were always happy to talk and engage with people. During the slow times, food would show up. Either items that were brought in a chest or a bag or purchased at the show. There was a cafe and bar in the center of the exhibit, a VIP lounge, and an area for presentations.

Then, after four days of talking to people about art it was time to pack up. Depending on the booth, the crates started showing up the last three hours of the fair. By the time it was officially over, a few booths were empty. But many gallerists were still talking with potential buyers and waiting for the rush of other booths emptying out before taking down their exhibit. Soon the box, crate and shipping supply chaos was back in full swing, although a little more tired. Everything got packed up, leftover debris and food items were thrown in the trash. The artwork was moved back out to the trucks and vans from which they came and soon the place was once again empty.

These fairs, in general, have an ebb and flow of activity. There are stretches of slight boredom. Then there are times of fun interactions with people who are genuinely interested in what you are doing as an artist. Unfortunately, none of my work sold at this fair. But it was a good introduction to these fairs and what they are like. I enjoyed getting to know Om and the other people in the booth. I continue to talk with Om and another gallery about showing my work and seeing where those relationships can go. Except for the fact that each day of the fair the outside temperature was above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, I very much enjoyed the experience and learned a few things along the way.

Many thanks to Om Bleicher for exhibiting my work and to Amy Delaporte who connected me with Om and bG Gallery.

I left a comment that I live in a small Minnesota town and that I have lived in Minneapolis and Saint Paul and have seen that most Minnesotans have similar values, no matter where they live. The only difference is that in the Cities you have a denser population, so people have to learn to get along in different ways.

A couple days ago I visited the Alex Pretti Memorial. As many of you know, Alex was killed by ICE officers. I had not been there yet, but my job gave me an excuse to check it out, so I went. The memorial is located on a very busy street in South Minneapolis. It is tucked along the sidewalk with a traffic lane closed to allow for the objects and signs that people leave behind. After having visited the George Floyd Memorial over the intervening years and having designed and installed part of the Philando Castile Memorial, Alex’s memorial was starting to feel familiar to me. There were flowers (real and fake), signs with simple words and phrases, poems and long expositions, and images of Alex (painted, drawn, and digitized). There were stuffed animals and other trinkets having an unknown personal meaning one can only guess. All of this was neatly spilled along the gutter and the narrow boulevard between the curb and sidewalk. These memorials truly are a communal work of art.

There were other people there, walking the sidewalk or in the closed traffic lane reading, pausing, thinking, and feeling.

Then I noticed it. In fact, I stepped around it. There was a ramp that went from the street to the top of the curb. It was a rather poor example of a ramp made out of some small lumber and chipboard. It looked beat and worn and barely functioning. I walked to the other end of the memorial and saw another one, looking even more beat. But there they were – the quintessential Minnesota value. In the midst of the remains of a horrific event, in this place of grief, amongst the heartfelt debris cast on the ground, lay two thoughtful, humble attempts to make life easier for others.

My eyes watered as I thought this is the most Minnesotan thing I have ever seen. No matter the situation, no matter the danger, no matter what others may think, some Minnesotan, somewhere, is going to do something to make life easier for someone else. It is not always the heroic stand-your-ground action, but it will be filled with beauty and hope. Just as these ramps were put there so people who cannot easily navigate a curb can see the beauty of the memorial from all sides and have hope in a day when this chapter will end.

Alex’s memorial is not far from Renee Good’s memorial, so I went. There, too, were identical ramps, beat and worn, made of lumber and chipboard. It made me happy to see them. They told me this was a place where people look out for each other, take care of each other.

I have seen this throughout the state of Minnesota, people doing gestures large and small to help others. From fundraisers, to caregiving a sick friend, to pulling loved ones out of a drug den, to adopting unwanted children, to creating programs by and for the disabled, to organizing meals for people who cannot leave home for a variety of reasons. I have met fellow Minnesotans who have done all of this, and more. Yes, there are a few bad apples in every barrel, but I have seen Minnesotans rise to every occasion, as they have done again and again, rural and urban, no matter the color of their skin, and no matter their political affiliation. I don’t know if there is one word or one phrase that summarizes what this is but, as an artist and a visual person, I know an image that encapsulates Minnesota values fully, perfectly, unabashedly: a humble ramp.

Featured Painting

Benton Bluff
Oil on Canvas
30” x 24”
$1,750

This is a painting of a bluff on the Root River. It is located on a bend in the river and with its shape this started looking like a fish-eye portrait of the bluff - so I went with it. I do not know if this bluff has a name, but this painting also started having the feel of a Thomas Hart Benton landscape - so I went with it. I like borrowing the style of influential artists at times. They have informed my own style and understanding of art, so its good to visit them and acknowledge them once in a while.

Exhibits

25th Annual Poet Artist Collaboration

Red Wing Arts, Depot Gallery, Red Wing, MN
April 17 - June 8, 2026
Opening: April 17
Poetry Readings: April 26 & May 17, 2 - 4 pm

My current exhibit is this wonderful collaborative exhibit that has been running for 25 years. 25 poems were juried into the show by author Jeanne Lutz. These poems were then shared with 25 artists, juried in by artist James Turner. I was assigned a poem by Hannah Kosek titled How Do You Envision Time? It is a poem that hit me solidly. While traveling to Arizona and Los Angeles, I created my art piece on my weekly calendar pages that I create each week to keep track of what I am doing.

I will be in attendance and talking about my artwork at the May 17 poetry reading.

Please read more about this exhibit and see all six pages of my artwork I created in response to the poem.

Pierian Spring

Gallery 13, Aloft Minneapolis, 900 Washington Avenue South
May 21 - June 9, 2026
Opening: May 21, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Come join me for this opening! I have some large works in this show and am honored to show with these excellent artists.

Red Wing Arts Member Show

January 23 - March 8, 2026
Opening: Fri, January 23 from 5-7pm
Depot Gallery, 418 Levee St, Red Wing, MN 55066

This was my second year in this exhibit. I chose an ooey-gooey painting of poutine this year. I enjoy this show for the community. It is always good to meet other local artists, see what they make, hear who they are. I was heartened to see that I knew several more artists in this my second year in Red Wing.

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Anderson Center in Red Wing, MN
December 6, 2025 – February 7, 2026

I started the year with another local art exhibit at this wonderful venue known more for their artist residencies. But they have fine art exhibits, too. Many of the artists were from the area. And I sold a painting, which is always a good thing. You can read more about the show at this link.

Scottsdale Art Week

March 18 - 22, 2026

My art was represented at this fantastic art fair in Scottsdale, Arizona by bG Gallery of Los Angeles. I am very excited to have had my work in this impressive fair and also excited to work with bG Gallery. I will write more about this experience soon.

What’s Cooking in the Studio

Red Wing Arts ArtSpeak Studio Visit, February 10, 2026

I opened up my studio on February 10 to about twenty visitors as part of Red Wing Arts ArtSpeak. This program brings in artists to talk about various aspects of having an art career. I talked about my art, my process(es), and answered questions.

Studio Visitor

I had Winnie, my daughter’s dog, visit my studio for a few days. It was nice having a companion while I painted.

Empty Studio During March

I was on a trip to Arizona and Los Angeles for the month of March. Not much happened in the studio. I will write more about my trip soon.

Plein Air Week on Mallard Island, August 9 - 15

Come spend a week with me and other artists on Historic Mallard Island. Up to ten artists will be gathering on Mallard Island from August 9 - 15, 2026. We will then have a show in the Fall at Everett and Charlie Gallery in Minneapolis. Only two spots are left!!

For more information, please check this link.

Nature Revisited - the Book

I have 20 full-color paintings illustrating the book Nature Revisited: Stories of Hope for a Planet and its People. The book is a series of interviews from the podcast Nature Revisited with Stefan Van Norden. Its a great book with inspiring interviews, beautiful layout, and wonderful illustrations. Click here to purchase.

Nature Revisited Podcast

February 23, 2026

I was interviewed about my art for the podcast Nature Revisited. It was a deep interview with host Stefan Van Norden about my art and my approach to nature. You should also listen to some of the other inspiring interviews and follow this podcast for inspiring stories about nature and people’s relationship to it. My interview was released on February 23, 2026.

Until next time. Peace.

Mark

August 9 - 15, 2026

This Historic Site includes some of the most beautiful Northern Minnesota landscape you will ever find. Nestled amongst the Review Islands 11 miles east of International Falls, this rustic retreat center, with its unique historic buildings and rugged landscape, is the ideal location for plein air artmaking. The island holds only ten artists at a time. There are a few spots left.

The island is rugged and is very rustic (outhouses, no running water, no wifi, rocky pathways, etc.). Participants must bring their own food and each evening we partake in communal dinners. After dinner, we will gather for some simple sessions about the history of the islands, their previous owner environmentalist Ernest Oberholtzer, and a review of art created during the day. In the fall, dates TBD, there will be an exhibit of works from the week at Everett and Charlie Gallery in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Cost is $450 per person for the week. Any artform is welcome as long as you can be plein air. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact me at mark@markgranlund.com. To learn more about Mallard Island and the Oberholtzer Foundation, check out eober.org or their Facebook Page.

25th Annual Poet Artist Collaboration

Red Wing Arts, Depot Gallery, Red Wing, MN
April 17 - June 8, 2026
Opening: April 17
Poetry Readings: April 26 & May 17, 2 - 4 pm

My current exhibit is this wonderful collaborative exhibit that has been running for 25 years. 25 poems were juried into the show by author Jeanne Lutz. These poems were then shared with 25 artists, juried in by artist James Turner. The artists chose their three favorite as potential poems to be inspiration for art. I read all the poems, but when it came to selecting I suggested they give me the very last poem available. I assume that is what happened. And it ended up being just the right poem.

I was assigned a poem by Hannah Kosek titled How Do You Envision Time? It is a poem that hit me solidly. I create a weekly calendar of activities that I am following every day. The calendar includes the printed meetings I have for my day job as a public art administrator and in the evening and weekend hours I write in, by hand, the things I need to do for my art career and repairs and chores around the house. Sometimes I feel like a prisoner of my agenda, which the poem references.

For my artwork, I took six weeks worth of my weekly calendars and doodled imagery on them conjured up in my mind by the poem. I drew with the pens that I use every day to track my progress and add items to the calendar. I also included words and phrases from the poem. “Mental glock” is one of the phrases in the poem, thus the gun. The six pages were submitted on my clipboard, which I clip my calendar pages to and use every day. The clipboard was then propped up on a pedestal next to the poem. The art piece is titled Work Calendar.

The opening was well attended. There will be two afternoons of the poets reading their poems and the artists talking about their corresponding work. There are so many poems that the readings are spread over two events. The first is Sunday, April 26, 2 - 4 pm and Sunday, May 17, 2 - 4 pm. The poem How Do You Envision Time? will be read by Hannah and I will talk about my work at the May 17 event. I hope to see you there, if your schedule permits.

2025 Recap

2025 started in January with a Red Wing Arts Member Show in my new home town of Red Wing, MN. One of the highlights of the year has been getting to know Red Wing Arts and this great arts community. I also …

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In 2023, the City of Woodbury put out a request for proposals for artwork fo…

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As I careen toward retirement from my 40-hour a week job, I am having some anxi…

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Come join me this Saturday at this art opening of nature-inspired art in South Minneapolis.

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Featured Painting

From the Estate
Oil on linen
37” x 26”
$2,250

This painting was inspired by a trip to the galleries in Santa Fe, NM. One gallery there had a small …

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From July 31 - August 9, 2025, my art exhibit 2°C is also a fundraiser for Freshwater Society, a leading Minnesota-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving clean, sustainable water.

Freshwater does an amazing amount of work to protect and preserve our water. They are engaged in promoting public policy, conducting independent research to advance sustainabi…

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2°C - A Climate Change Art Exhibit

Tickets ($35) are now available for:
2°C Performance: August 7, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Join us for an intimate music and spoken word performance on Thursday, August 7, at Hamilton Studio (3112 West 28th St., Minneapolis, MN 55416). Seats are limited, so please reserve your spot at link below. Doors open at 6:30…

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On a more joyous note, I have several events coming up where we can gather and support each other and those who are making a positive difference in this world. Please find the time to join me.

Here’s what has been happening with my art…

Featured Painting

Unshakable
Oil on Canvas
72”x 30”
SOLD

Some paintings sell quickly and I do not get a chance to get to know them, to hang with them, to have them influence the next batch. This is one of those paintings. This is a large canvas of a rock shore on Rainy Lake, MN. It took quite a while to paint, but then once it was completed it sold. I’m not complaining. I came across this image the other day and only then remembered the painting, even though I had only painted it four years ago. The life of being an artist is a variable thing, unlike the unshakeable rocky shores of Northern Minnesota.

You can always contact me directly if you are interested in any artwork you see in this newsletter or on my website.

Exhibits

2°C

A Climate Change exhibit by Drevis Hager and Mark Granlund and Fundraiser for Freshwater Society

WHEN:      July 31 - August 10, 2025

WHERE:     Hamilton Studio
3112 West 28th St
Minneapolis, MN 55416-4384

Opening Reception: Thursday, July 31, 6 pm - 9 pm

Performance: August 7, 7 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) - Prudence Johnson, Dean
Magraw and Kyle Tran Myhre

Gallery Hours: Saturdays, August 2nd and 9th, 12 noon - 4 pm.

I am so excited to announce this show!!!!

2°C (two degrees Celsius) is an exhibit that uses powerful metaphor, provocative imagery, and dark humor through the language of paint to confront humanity's complex relationship with our fragile planet. The exhibit consists of oil paintings, on canvas and panel, by artists Mark Granlund and Drevis Hager. Exploring the landscapes of the Midwest (and the mind) these two painters provide a unique vision of the future. 2°C invites viewers to contemplate our pivotal ecological moment through works that are at once beautiful, unsettling, and a little bit quirky.

Freshwater Society is a leading Minnesota-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving
clean, sustainable water.

Opening Reception and Saturdays are free to attend.

August 7th performance is a ticketed event.

For more info and tickets: www.freshwater.org Wait until July 10, when website will be live.

And more info to come, here on my Substack and at my Socials.

2025 Red Wing Arts Plein Air

The Depot Gallery, 418 Levee Street, Red Wing, MN 55066
June 21 - August 24, 2025

I am very happy to announce that I have a piece, Hay Creek, in the annual Red Wing Arts Plein Air Exhibit. The exhibit is the culmination of 10 days of plein air (painting outdoors on site) activities in and around Red Wing, MN. I am also happy to announce that I won an Award of Merit - Open Class, for my painting. I was a little shocked to win the award, as I had very little time to spend painting during the festival due to a family surgery, the installation of my commission, and…oh yeah, I have a full time job. But I am very appreciative of the recognition given by judge Nina Weiss.

If you are in the area, stop in and see the show and then come see me.

Red Wing Area Studio Tour

618 East Avenue, Red Wing, MN 55066
Sat, July 26 10-5
Sun, July 27 10-4

I will have my Red Wing studio open as part of the Red Wing Area Studio Tour. Come on down and visit my studio, as well as several other studios in the area. You can read more about the tour here.

Summer Show: Gallery 13 at Aloft Hotel

Aloft Hotel, 900 Washington Avenue, Minneapolis, MN.
May - September 2025

I have two artworks in Gallery 13’s summer show at Aloft Hotel.

Brick and Mortar Galleries

Everett and Charlie Gallery in Minneapolis, MN. — You can always see a sampling of my art at E&C, located in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis

Online Galleries

The New York Optimist

Studio Visits

If you are wanting to see my artwork in person, we can set up a Studio Visit either in St Paul or Red Wing, MN. Contact me directly, if interested.

And, of course, you can always see new and old art at my website:
markgranlund.com or markgranlundstudio.com.

What’s Cooking In the Studio

City of Woodbury Lookout Ridge Commission Completed

I have been working on the Lookout Ridge Mural Project for more than a year and a half and it is finally installed! In the pics, you see the final printed images across the walls of the space. Obviously, the renovations of the building are not yet complete and will include a climbing structure rising up from the floor.

Many thanks to the great staff at the City of Woodbury, especially Josh Kinney, Parks Planner, and Teresa Keller, Senior Engineering Project Coordinator. And many thanks to the vendors who did an excellent job of printing and installing: Vlad Revniaga, Project Manager at Twin City Acoustics, Inc.; Mitch Stier of Mitchell Stier Productions; and Paul Lilienthal, President, Pictura Graphics.

In some ways it was exactly what I envisioned, while being SO much more… and BIGGER!

Watch this newsletter for a more detailed description of the steps of the process, along with final photos with the climbing structure, and a Grand Opening date. Whew!!

New Series Unveiling: Oil Portraits

At the 2°C Exhibit and Fundraiser I will be unveiling a new series of nine paintings titled: Oil Portraits. The painting here is Mike Hennigan at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge.

The Oil Portraits series features oil company CEOs posed before threatened or fragile Mississippi River habitats near my home. These works are deliberately constructed as metaphors for our planet’s destruction, using sustainably sourced materials—organic cotton or linen, sustainably-harvested wood and pigments, and traditional oil ground—as their foundation, representing the natural paradise we still possess. In a powerful material statement, I use petroleum-based tar to render the figures' clothing and shadows, knowing the tar will gradually destroy the canvas and corrupt the paint. This self-destructive element mirrors how these executives' decisions threaten both the depicted landscapes and their real-world counterparts, posing the haunting question: which will last longer, the painted landscapes or the real life landscapes?

Finishing Touches

It has been one year since I purchased my house in Red Wing, MN. I am so happy I made the move. There are many things to like about Red Wing. It is a typical small town that has its issues, especially around sustaining businesses, but it is a beautiful natural area along the Mississippi River with its bluffs, winding rivers, backwaters, islands, and bike paths. As an artist, I couldn’t ask for a more naturally inspiring place to live.

Another bonus is the fabulous arts community that is anchored by the Red Wing Arts organization. They produce an amazing amount of programming for artists and the community. From Member Shows, to artist talks, to free concerts in the park, public sculptures, to a 10 day Plein Air Festival, to collaborations between visual artists and writers, to rotating gallery shows, to… you get the idea. Not just do they do voluminous amounts of programming, it is all very well run. They treat artists extremely well, never taking them for granted, and try to create programming for all citizens. The Anderson Center at Tower View is also in town and provides some wonderful gallery shows and programming, as well.

I am now a member of the Red Wing Arts and Culture Commission. Although I haven’t been to enough meetings yet to feel like I know the lay of the land, I am enjoying experiencing this perspective of the local arts scene.

Beyond being a wonderful location, what has the move meant? I am someone who is very focused on the task in front of me (but, boy, do I love to distract myself). I am finding moving down here has helped me to focus more easily on things I want to do. Maybe I had too much history in the Twin Cities and I was needing to start over somewhere fresh. I’m not sure. I am still in the Cities two days a week, at least, for my job at Metro Transit, but it is a completely different feel. I do feel like the task I was hired to do at Metro Transit has been completed. I thinkn I

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A spirited interpretation of grass reflections on a Northern lake. The sage green and brilliant blue reflections pop from the canvas and draw a reaction. Painting comes framed in a stained oak frame and is ready to hang.

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