Art Gallery

If you are interested in exhibiting at the FiftyNorth Gallery,

please contact the Michelle at (507) 664-3707

Next Artist Reception is: Thursday, June 12, 2025, 4pm

Now Showing in the Gallery:

Kathy Miller – Watercolor

 Gallery Show: June 2 – July 10

Artist Reception

Thursday, June 12 from 4 to 5pm

“For the Love of Color” – Kathy Miller Watercolor Exhibit

I am a watercolor artist who lives in Northfield, Minnesota, and spends part of the year with my husband in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Earning both a Bachelors and Master’s degree in education, I spent 22 years as a 4th and 6th grade classroom teacher, mostly in the neighboring town of Lakeville.

A year before retiring in 2007, I shared with my 4th grade students during our Morning Circle discussion, “I think there’s a painting in me somewhere,” and soon after I took my first watercolor class. I immediately fell in love with the medium. The new retirement chapter of my life enabled me to focus all of my creative energy on learning as much as possible about the medium of watercolor.  Throughout the next several years I attended numerous watercolor workshops in Minnesota, as well as New Mexico and Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France. I now teach watercolor classes and workshops in my downtown Northfield studio, as well as various other venues.

Nature has always been my constant source of inspiration for my paintings, as is evident in my landscape, flora, bird and still life pieces that evolve from photographs taken of my surroundings.  Although I see my compositions as abstract patterns of overall shapes and values, for most of my painting career I have portrayed my subject matter in a realistic style.  I love rich details and highly saturated colors that I juxtapose with soft edges and muted colors that often create a rather impressionistic manner. My goal is always to capture the moment in time when the light turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.  My love of color and light are an integral part in all of my paintings.

For the last few years I have felt a shift coming in my approach to capturing what I have to say on paper. This transition has come to reality in a form that might be called “Abstract Realism” or perhaps “Abstract Expressionism.” In addition to painting with watercolors, I have begun to add acrylic paints and acrylics inks, often applying the paint directly from the tubes with palette knives or the inks with eyedroppers.  Most of the newer pieces have been mounted on cradled birch panels and preserved with UV protective acrylic varnishes.  Each painting has become an experiment of “I wonder what would happen if . . .”   Because of this approach, the effect created is quite different, often much looser with fewer details, other times more geometrical and bold. In every painting, no matter what style I’ve used, there seems to be an urgent need on my part to get as much richly saturated color on the paper as possible!!!  It brings so much joy to me – and hence the title of this exhibit at Fifty North – “For the Love of Color!”

All of my work can be seen on my website at www.k.millerwatercolors.com. I can be contacted at kathy@kmillerwatercolors.com.  Any questions regarding the paintings or anything else can be directed to my email address.

Thank you, FiftyNorth, for the opportunity to share my artwork.  I hope FiftyNorth visitors enjoy the exhibit!

Mark Daehlin

Mark Daehlin, an award-winning fine artist, has been painting professionally since 1979.  He’s mastered airbrush, acrylics, oil both in studio and in the field (Plein aire).  He has taught beginners to professionals alike in dozens of classes over the years.  Mark studied plein air painting under Rich Kochenash and Bryan Stewart. He has written several articles in professional journals and authored dozens of instructional videotapes.  His work is collected across North America, Europe and Malaysia.  He loves teaching and sharing the joys of discovery in the arts.

Coming up Next in the Gallery:

Mark Daehlin – Mixed Medium

Josie Prins – Pyrography

 Gallery Show: 

July 14 – August 29

Artist Reception

Thursday, August 7, 4-5pm

Josie Prins

My work is inspired by nature’s ability to speak to the soul, extending all that is good, true and beautiful to our hearts. References for my paintings are taken primarily from my own photography which gives me the opportunity to appreciate and reflect on the innate creativity and beauty that is found in nature. Through my art I create space to pause and experience the conversation between nature and soul, witnessing its ability to heal, inspire and transform.

Using pyrography and watercolor, I create paintings that explore this conversation. Each element that is used in my artistic process is very intentional. Wood is used as a canvas for my paintings to bring an element of growth and natural beauty. The wood grain adds movement to each piece as the eye explores the various aspects of the work. For my underpaintings, I use burning to map out the composition in order to make way for renewal and creation. Watercolor fills these voids providing a sense of renewal and clarity allowing for the story to peek through. It adds an element of transparency that gives space to experience the conversation between wood, burns and pigments much like the conversation between nature and our soul.

With each season in life, I am finding myself in need of transformation and healing, longing for love and truth to settle my heart. I have felt this deeply as I continue to evolve in my sense of self as a wife, mother and artist. The world has thrown many challenges into my life in ways I would have never expected. They had left me spiraling and uncertain, lacking trust and balance. I finally found peace in my soul when I took time to reflect on the truth that is found in nature and be present in the moment. As I faced new challenges, I found myself returning to nature to find refuge in witnessing the undeniable beauty and finding peace in that connection to the spirit. As a result, I have seen a transformation in my inner self that continues to evolve each day.

I invite viewers to experience this connection with me as I explore the intricate beauty that has been created around us. I invite them to discover the moments of light that emerge from the ashes of our past when we are healed and renewed, much like nature’s ability to remain balanced through changing seasons giving space for loss and life.

Artists, we are excited to showcase your art here at FiftyNorth, where hundreds of people visit each day!

Our exhibits run for approximately 5 weeks and can be an individual show or a group of artists working together. Contact us for more details.

Gallery space:

• 3 glass cases – 16in x 16in shelves (4-5 shelves per case)
• 4 wall spaces – 6 ft long x 4 ½ ft tall
• 1 long wall – 40 ft long x 4 ½ ft tall