Up coming show at LuLu Beans Coffee Shoppe, June 2nd, 2023 Trees, Trees.."I think that I.."

Inspired by their beauty and J. Kilmar's poem "Trees" at an early age, this show is dedicated to these big plants!

Hope you can join me at the opening.  D. L. Houseman

 This particular fun show entitled "Libations, Vessels and Toasts" opened at the Wild Hare Bistro in April and ran through July.  It was quite successful selling several works, including two large woodcut owl prints in addition to ones from the Libation pieces.  Since that time, my wife and I have moved to Willmar, Minnesota.  My fondness to coffee shops continue.  All with this woodcut and linocut show, I'll have a couple of my barn series "Barns are Noble" and my children's books at LuLu Beans in downtown Willmar from December through January.   A book signing this Friday, the 17th from 9-11am and 1-3pm.  Come for coffee and my artwork.

Don 

I have recently completed a Woodcut and Linocut series entitled "Libations, Vessels and Toasts".

Having started this series on October 29th, 2020, I was excited to actually finish it in 2020 on 

December 31st.  The showing is already booked at the Wild Hare Bistro in Bemidji for April, May and June of 2021.  The images are a light hearted look at beverages and containers we often lift in celebration of multiple events.  I admit this is not serious art, but it is this artist's look at the peculiar

ceremony we perform.  I hope you can join me and raise a glass, a snifter, a shot, a mug..etc.  You get the idea.

D. L. Houseman

 

Whoa!  It's been a very difficult year for all.  I'm very thankful for so many things.  Prior to the pandemic explosion, I was able to donate a kidney to a former student and player.  I had known this young man and family since my teaching/coaching days.  That was January 20, 2020.  Privious to this, I had already committed to several Art Festivals for the summer as usual.  Unfortunately, they were canceled.   So, at this late time of a lost sales year,  I've decided to show what new work I've created since last fall.  I've designed a plan to open my Stuff On Paper studio/gallery for three days next week.  They are Thursday Oct. 15th, Friday Oct. 16th and Saturday Oct. 18 from 10am to 3pm each day.  I have created a Pandemic Preparedness Plan as required and follow all protocols.  This includes wearing masks and social distancing while in the gallery.  I'm limiting it to individuals and groups of family to 4 persons.  There are 10 - 30minute time slots per day and you must reserve your slots by calling         218-766-1167 to make your reservation.  This is a First CALL viewing only.  My studio is located on my resident property at 21849 Erdahl CT. Tenstrike, Minnesota.   Once you are near, just follow the signs directing you to my place.

Take care and be safe,  Thanks Don Houseman - Artist

Since the pandemic started, I decided to try something different.  So, here's my attempt at a Anna Mary Robertson/Grandma Moses/Americana dare I say Primitive painting style.

Whew!  That's a mouthful.  I had a hard time not showing perspective and fought it off, but didn't win.  This kinda reminded me of my childhood drawings when my drawings were small and tiny trying to get everything into the composition of scene.  Most likely this will be my one and only venture.

Finally back with some new work to show!  I'm also getting ready to post our 2nd Gull Lake Christmas Studio Tour.   First, I don't have a title for this piece....SO if there's anyone out there with an idea, please send it to me.  Saw this barn on Hwy.1 heading over to Ely this summer.  Loved it!  Will post more information about tour another time.  So far it will be December 6, 7 and 8th this year.  I believe our times are 10 am to 4pm each day.   

Since re-opening the studio March 30 and turning the heat back on...it's been busy at Stuff On Paper!
First, I completed a acrylic painting and framed it.  Now, this week I've started of series of linocut prints featuring two Pileated Woodpeckers.  I've chosen "Up and Down" for the title.   See below:

"Autumn Chalice" - acrylic - 20"x 24"

Wow!  What a winter this was!  Seemed like I was shoveling or plowing or blowing snow every day.  Three art related businesses (all on the lake) and myself collaborated to put together a Christmas Tour.  It was quite successful and we plan to do it again next year.  Also joining was a collectable shop called "Junk and Disorderly".   Well, after Christmas, I closed the studio/cabin by turning off the heat.  Brought my paints into the house. 
 April 1st, I started the studio back up and completed the above painting in three days!  I really like it.  I went back to my painting knives to do this piece and I would guess 95% knives were used to create it.  I found a perfect frame in a second hand store in 
Forest Lake called the Green Door.  It is perfect!

It's been a busy summer this 2018!  Visited new and some old Art Festivals.  First the Freedom Fest in Goodridge, Minnesota on a very hot summer weekend.  Surprisingly, it was good day for this artist with three originals sold.  It fell on the same day as the Blackduck Woodcarvers, so maybe next year I will have to return to that venue.  I also attended the Northwoods Art Festival in Hackensack and the Celebrate Art & Coffee in Willmar, of which both were semi-successful.  Here are two works that I just finished this past few weeks.  "The Red Barn" near Solway, Minnesota  was a commissioned work and the other is a barn I saw years ago up by Baudette, Minnesota, which has called me to paint over the years.

After signing a contract back in 2016 to bring my artwork to The Rourke Gallery in Moorhead, Minnesota for April and May 2018...I'm beyond excited to announce it is now here!  You are officially invited to join my wife Jan and I on Saturday, April 7th from 1:30-3:30pm in Moorhead, Minnesota at the Rourke Gallery.  My show is entitled "Barns Are Noble" and "Harvey and His Friends"..the Artwork of D. L. Houseman

I hope you can make the date!

Greetings from Up North!  It's been a while and there's lots to talk about.  The year of 2017 was very busy for this artist.  My summer was filled with art festivals and preparing for a two month show at Wild Hare Bistro in Bemidji.  That show being "aadizookaan" sacred stories of indigenous peoples.  This was followed by a very success Studio Art Cruise in same months of October/November.  As the year came to an end, I was working pretty much full time on my one man show coming up at the Rourke Gallery in Moorhead, Minnesota for April and May 2018.  At present, I'm beginning the process of final framing and cataloging over 50 artworks for this show.
I'm very excited to come to the Rourke and presenting my work.  I plan to make several "artist talks" to students coming from schools in the Fargo-Moorhead area.  The show is built around my "Barns Are Noble" series and the original artwork from children's books built around the "Harvey and His Friends" animal stories.
It's especially rewarding to me as this particular gallery is where as a college art student I spent many hours reviewing and critiquing major artists for my art classes.  Some of these artists were my mentors and instructors from Concordia College, who showed professionally.  These artists included Dean Bowman, Cyrus Running, Elizabeth Strand and Orland Rourke, whose name along with his brother James Rourke graces the Gallery. 
Here are a couple new paintings which will be shown.

Keeping a promise is very important...so after two years of "on and off" work, the story is finished!

My granddaughter Annika gave me the title at a summer lunch in 2015, when she asked her Grandmother Jan this question:  "Grandma...How Should I Eat a Pickle?"   Well, that got the whole thing started.  This spring, I finished the illustrations for the story that began two years ago.  I wrote the original draft right after her original question.  I'm happy to say the book will be ready for sale July 1, 2017.   Thank you Annika!

Arrow Printing of Bemidji will print the book and my company Stuff On Paper is the publisher.

Hope to see you down the road this summer at several art festivals.  The first is the Cannon Falls Winery on July 15th and 16th.

Coming this Summer 2017

Several new things this summer for me and Stuff On Paper.
First Call Studio Tours start this coming Tuesday May 2nd.  I'll be in my studio and open for business each Tuesday except for the month of November and then in December I'll be back open prior to Christmas.   It's called "First Call"  as you can call to make an appointment on other days as well during the week and those Tuesdays.  It's a neat opportunity for visitors vacationing Up North to check out the local artists.  I have brochures and can send them out if you send me your address.   They are also available at resorts, motels and hotels in the area and Tourist Center in Bemidji.
Here's a couple of new pieces that I've done on the theme of Native American Legends.

The Bemidji Library has invited me to do a reading of one of my books on Saturday February 11th.  The reading will be from 10:30-11:30.  I'm thinking I will work from The Great Fishing Adventure.

The event is open to the public and I will have all three books available for sale.   Please join me for this fun event.  The above image is one of my favorites illustrations from that book.

Hey..Hey...I'm back!  Maybe you missed me?  Seems like I needed some help getting back to posting.  Thanks to my son, I've got new STUFF for Stuff On Paper.   Above is a little different look at barns. This work will be viewed first at The Reif Center in Grand Rapids starting December 12th. with an opening reception December 17- 6:00pm

Here's one of my new "barns are noble" series paintings which I'll have along for Stagecoach Days in my hometown of Mantorville this coming weekend.   The events run from Saturday June 25th to the 26th Sunday.   Stop by and say "Howdy".   Don

This is a shout out to the 3rd Graders at Kasson-Mantorville Elementary!  Get ready, because here I come.   I will seeing you on Tuesday, May 3rd.   I am so looking forward to working and talking with  you about Art.  See ya soon.   Here's my recently finished portrait of my third book's animal characters.  

Oh my! I sure had fun last Friday night in Grand Rapids when my former student teacher Victoria Kragthorpe invited me to join her for the city's First Friday Art Walk.  It took place in Grand Rapid's famous Old School House loft area where Victoria has an Artist Spot.  I did a book signing and connecting with new and former patrons of my books and art work.
Thanks Victoria!

It was great news the day I picked up our work at the Rourke Gallery in Moorhead.  Turns out the gallery sold 4 of my 7 art works shown in the Studio 10 - Northern Artistry showing in January and February 2016.
The Rourke Gallery also offered and I accepted a contract to do a one man show in 2018.
I am truly honored and excited to have this opportunity to show my work.  The dates for this show will be April 6th - June 1st, 2018.  I have lots of work to do.
Here's my latest and first painting of 2016.  A commission work for Jack and Janice Gustafson.

Greetings from Up North...I've got to hand it to The Rourke Gallery in Moorhead, Minnesota..they really did it right.  Friday night Member's Opening of Studio 10's show "Northern Artistry" was a huge success.  This is due largely to their staff, members and patrons who hosted a warm "coming out" in Minnesota Tough conditions.  It appears that 100+ visitors passed through our show during -20 degree weather on two days.  On Sunday, I was honored to speak for our artist group the gallery's Artist Talk.  It made me brush up on  our members in Studio 10, so I could talk knowledgeably each of them.  On a personal note: I had to do a little happy dance as two of my pieces had sold by Sunday. (pictured above) Yahoo!  In addition, 16 books of "Harvey and His Friends" found new homes.