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Paul Fosaaen

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This is my first three-dimensional painting in almost a year. After taking some time away to explore watercolor, it feels good to get back to working in three dimensions.

"Aposematic Form", acrylic and paper on canvas, 20 x 20", 3/30/25

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#mnartist #mplsart #3Dpainting #dimensionalpainting #paulfosaaen by @paul_fosaaen

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2 years ago

My first three-dimensional painting of the new year! This one was a fun study for me. I made this a little bit to focus on vertical formatting like I mentioned in a different post. I also did this to study the palette of a Frank Stella painting at the MIA that I've appreciated over the years.

About a year after I started making these three-dimensional paintings, I came up with the idea of doing a series based on the Frank Stella painting "Tahkt-I-Sulayman Variation II". I realized each section of circles in his painting contained a palette of their own, and I thought it would be fun to make individual paintings based on those palettes. Swipe to the end to see the section I reinterpreted. Since 2023, most of my square format paintings have been part of this ongoing series.

While, I technically already did one in the purple palette back in 2023, I was never quite satisfied with the colors. The background wasn't the right shade of purple. So, this painting was my way of studying his colors more carefully before committing to another larger square painting.

Before I wrap this up, I just want to mention this for other painters out there. The background is a combination of Phthalo blue green shade and Dioxazine purple. Depending on the light, it can appear muted or deeply saturated. I love how the combination shifts in light. Color can sometimes play fun tricks like that!

"Aposematic Form", acrylic and paper on canvas, 6 x 12”, 3/12/26

"Tahkt-I-Sulayman Variation II" (detail), acrylic on canvas, 140 x 240", 1969, Frank Stella (1936 - 2024)

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#mnartist #frankstella #dimensionalpainting #3dart #paulfosaaen by @paul_fosaaen

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7 months ago

I wanted to challenge myself with this one. With older paintings in this series, I felt like the emphasis on white in the forms had gotten a little monotonous and overbearing. With the last two paintings from last year, I incorporated a loose brushed pattern onto the forms but I knew there was more that could be done. Like a recurring character, polka dots came back in to the picture. I think they help balance out the movement created by the lines accenting the blue and brown form. Either way, this is definitely the most energetic piece in the series so far and it feels like a step in the right direction.

And for those of you who’ve been wondering, I’ll eventually get around to explaining what this series is all about. In the meantime, I am curious what you all think it could mean.

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#biomorphicart #dimensionalpainting #reliefpainting #mnartist #mplsart #paulfosaaen by @paul_fosaaen

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3 years ago

My new three-dimensional painting is finally here! And I did something a little different for this one.

When I started working on this, I had the idea to make a swatch card that includes all the colors exactly as I used them in the painting. I did this a little bit to offer people something as a collectible, but I mainly did this for conservation purposes. This is something I hope to do with every 3D painting going forward.

Sometimes when art conservationists need to restore a painting, they'll do a pigment analysis to ensure they're using the right paints for a particular color. That often involves taking a small sample from the original painting. That's where the swatch card comes in. There's no need to extract a sample from the painting when the card is right there.

This was also a fun exercise to do from an artistic standpoint. I didn't try to replicate the painting perfectly. What would be the point of that? But I enjoyed translating the basic elements of the composition into a two dimensional space.

This swatch card also serves as a roadmap for a lot of the things I look for when I'm making these paintings: how forms are broken up, how colors contrast, and how I decorate the forms.

Incidentally, this painting became a companion to my first "Aposematic Form" painting from 2025. I think they look nice together and the palette I developed for both ended up looking toxic or acidic to me. The pink background of my 2025 painting was so intense, it actually induced chroma fatigue for me and made my surroundings look pink!

It's not often I make a painting that's physically difficult for me to look at but I've managed to do that twice now. That's just how sharp some of the contrasts are, and that's how powerful color can be sometimes!

"Aposematic Form IV", acrylic and paper on canvas, 1/5/26

"Aposematic Form IV Swatch", acrylic on paper, 10/5/26

"Aposematic Form", acrylic and paper on canvas, 3/30/25

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#mnartist #mplsart #3Dpainting #dimensionalart #paulfosaaen by @paul_fosaaen

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4 days ago

It's been a while since I've shared any of my mindfulness studies in watercolor. I took some time earlier this year to reflect on what this practice means to me. Now that I've redefined how I engage with this way of painting, I feel more comfortable sharing what I've made since July.

I won't say what any of these studies are about. Like I said, I've spent this year reexamining my relationship with this practice, and I've decided that it's purely personal for me. Whatever shows up in these paintings is something I needed to reflect on. That's why I don't sell them anymore. I only teach the mindfulness-based process now.

With this process, I incorporate mindfulness skills before and as I paint. I start with a breathing exercise and then I paint whatever emotions or sensations show up in the moment. If I lose the image in my mind, I return to the breathing exercise and start visualizing again.

This is also exactly how I teach the process in my "Mindful Mark Making" class. There are no expectations or required skills. You just paint what shows up for you. I'm grateful that everyone who's taken the class has said they found something meaningful in the process.

I'm also grateful that I'm able to offer this class. I think that everyone deserves to have a space where they can reflect and check in with themselves. A lot of things in life make us feel like we have to move faster, and because of that, I think we all deserve to have something that allows us to slow down and be in the present moment.

I'll be teaching this class again on the 17th at Gladje Gallery in Lindstrom. You can find more information on the CALENDAR page of my website or Gladje's website.

Untitled watercolor studies, watercolor on paper, 4 x 5.5", dates listed on each painting

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#mnartist #mplsart #mindfulnessandart #artteacher #paulfosaaen by @paul_fosaaen

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11 days ago

I had so much fun at the opening of Removing Barriers at @creativeflowartcenter! I got to see a lot of artists I know and admire, and I got to see a lot of great pieces from artists I haven't met yet!

I appreciated seeing how everyone interpreted the theme of the show. Barriers can look like a lot of things to other people, and this show was a reminder that we are all capable of extending kindness to others and to ourselves. We all deserve to be here regardless of what barriers have been placed in front of us.

I also appreciated getting to talk to other artists about their works. I loved how @karaalbrecht took mulberry paper, a material I've used for years now, and used it in a way I would've never thought to.

I loved how @raewildeart openly embraced uncertainty in their painting "The Weight". They show us that we all have the potential to become something greater than our past selves could've ever imagined.

Darla Robeck was one of my students for my first three-dimensional painting classes. I admire how she always incorporates different materials into her work, and she blends it all together so seamlessly.

I'm grateful I got to see more of @deniseemanuelclemen's work in person and we got to be in our first show together! Denise has a way of creating rich stories centering women in her elaborate collages. New and surprising details emerge each time you look at her work.

I didn't get a chance to meet Jenna Pauline at the opening but I saw this painting and it immediately caught my eye. There's something so surreal and dreamlike about it that I wanted to share it here too.

I'm so glad I got to be a part of this show! It runs until October 30th, so be sure to check it out!

"Aposematic Form", acrylic and paper on canvas, 20 x 20", 1/31/24

"Aposematic Form III", acrylic and paper on canvas, 10 x 20", 3/25/24

Images protected by ArtShield.io

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#artexhibit #mnartist #mplsart #3Dpainting #paulfosaaen by @paul_fosaaen

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18 days ago

A little art to go with your morning coffee! This MAG mug features artwork by @paul_fosaaen, one of our extremely talented members of our community!!! I’ll have it with me at Social Hour tonight to show off, but orders can be placed through our website. We’ve got plenty of other MAG merch too, from tees and totes to socks, hoodies, hats and notebooks. More artist-designed pieces are coming next year, but these are the ones we’ve got right now!
More information at https://www.mnartistsguild.com by @paul_fosaaen

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22 days ago

My paintings do something AI can’t: they exist. They exist in three dimensions like you and me and everyone else in this world. And there’s power in existence. To place yourself in the world and declare that you belong is a powerful thing to do.

I’ve been thinking about AI and why they are desperate to convince us we need it. They want us to feel powerless. They want us to rely on them. It’s not lost on me that this is what follows after a decade or more of being told we can’t trust the news, our neighbors, our scientists.

We lived before AI and we will live after it.

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#mnartist #mplsart #3Dpainting #noai #paulfosaaen by @paul_fosaaen

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25 days ago

This painting just sold! I wasn't expecting one of my older pieces from five years ago to catch someone's eye, but I'm so happy it did!

This painting is very special to me. It's part of a transitional period when I stopped using fabric for the dimensional surface and started using paper. I was also still treating the surface more as a sculptural relief and not delineating it into tangible forms like you see in my current work. The painting itself was an object, not a space for objects to emerge.

This painting, and the transitional period it belongs to, also reflect my resourcefulness at the time. I could only afford certain colors back then. If you're a painter too, you know certain pigments are inherently more expensive. This is why my palette was more muted compared to now. Sometimes you just have to work with what you have and there's nothing wrong with that.

I also had a lot of scrap paper from a different series. I didn't want it to go to waste. It's the same paper that I use for my current three-dimensional paintings. In many ways, the paper that was a byproduct from a different series ended up informing this transitional period and beyond. I've also been working on showing this connection more clearly side by side, but I'll hold off on saying more about that until later (I promise it's worth the wait).

I've written a bit about the history of my use of paper in my three-dimensional paintings. If anyone is interested in learning more, check out my blog post "An Evolution in Paper" on my website!

So, to wrap this up, I'm very grateful for the person who bought this painting. Like I said, this painting means a lot to me and it represents an important transition in my artistry. So, thank you for supporting me as an artist, and thank you for seeing something special in my art.

"Epithelium II", acrylic and paper on canvas, 10 x 10", 10/21/21

Full details for the remaining paintings on www.paulfosaaen.com

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#mnartist #mplsart #3dpainting #artsales #paulfosaaen by @paul_fosaaen

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a month ago

Today is the last day of the Minnesota State Fair. In many ways, it's been a whirlwind of an experience. It's also been an opportunity to reflect on the last six years since I got back into making art.

Some of you know I mostly stopped painting from about 2014 until 2020, and I didn't show my art again for another two years. Looking back, why that happened doesn't matter. I'm making art again and I've met many incredible artists since then and that's what matters.

The State Fair fine arts exhibit will always be special to me because several artists I admire, and some I've shown my work alongside over the years, were also in this show. I'm grateful to be in this space with people I respect.

When I started showing my art again in 2022, I was in a show at North Suburban Center for the Arts. I remember some things about it: where my painting was, some of the surrounding pieces, and a sculpture by @kordulacolemansculptures. Kordula's sculptures will always be a part of my memories of getting back into showing my art again. I'm grateful that we've now been in three shows together.

I was also thrilled to find out @carolebersin was going to be in this show. We got to know each other over the past few years. Before I even saw her work, I was struck by how immediately knowable she is. There's no pretense about her and it shows in her work. She paints people truthfully and imaginatively. I'm lucky to have been in two shows with her now.

And finally, this is the first time I've been in a show with @adamturnervisuals. I got to know Adam through his daughter and his wife. I worked with his daughter for about a year and she's talented in her own right. Truthfully, I think that's how I was supposed to know Adam, through how he cares for others.

While it's been an honor to be in this show, what sticks with me is the gratitude for the people I've met over the years. Art doesn't exist in isolation, nor do artists. This has been a reminder of how we connect with others, and I won't forget that anytime soon.

"Aposematic Form", acrylic and paper on canvas, 20 x 20", 3/31/25

Images protected by ArtShield.io

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#mnartist #mplsart #3dpainting #minnesotastatefair by @paul_fosaaen

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a month ago

I'm very excited to share that I'll have two paintings in "Removing Barriers" at Creative Flow Art Center!

I'm also excited because this will be the first time being in a show with @raewildeart! It's been great getting to know them over the past year, and it's been so cool seeing all of the different ways they've been exploring with their art!

This show is going to be very special. I saw the call for art and I knew I should submit my three-dimensional paintings because they relate to the different ways we put up barriers as humans. This will also be the third time I’ve shown these two paintings. I showed them earlier this year in a show with @iannystrom and they were first shown in “Mindfully Bright” at @artreach_stcroix last year. I’m very grateful to have had all of these meaningful opportunities.

My paintings are a reminder that reality is constructed by the senses and our thoughts. We divide lands and peoples, oftentimes out of fear. These paintings give shape to the way those divisions form, and they remind us to step back and observe with curiosity and compassion. When we do that, we see that all things are connected and the only barriers that exist are in our minds.

“Removing Barriers” runs from September 19th to October 30th. The opening reception is on September 24th from 6 to 8pm.

"Aposematic Form", acrylic and paper on canvas, 20 x 20", 1/31/24

"Aposematic Form III", acrylic and paper on canvas, 10 x 20", 3/25/24

Images protected by ArtShield.io

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#mnartist #mplsart #3Dpainting #artexhibit #paulfosaaen by @paul_fosaaen

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2 months ago

I participated in a speed curating event at @artreach_stcroix last Thursday, and honestly, it was a lot of fun! I got some great feedback from the guest curators, and everyone seems to agree that I should get into making sculpture.

Sculpture has been on my mind for a while. Obviously my paintings have sculptural elements to them. The only question I have for turning my three-dimensional paintings into free-standing sculptures is how to retain the organic development of the forms. That's a question I know I'll find the answer to the more I explore this idea. I'm in no rush to answer that, so we'll see what the future holds!

But back to the curating. I was honestly excited going into it. I used to dread critiques or talking about my art when I was younger. I never knew what to say. The older I get, the more I realize art, like a lot of things, is just a conversation. And like most things, you get better at it with repetition.

I've talked about my art a lot in the past several years. I've written (and rewritten) many artist statements just about this series alone. Some things have stuck with me when I get ready to talk about my art:

You have to like talking about your art. To do that, you have to like your art; and to do that, you have to like yourself. This is why I struggled with critiques when I was younger. I wasn't satisfied with the art I was making and I let doubts keep me from being confident in myself.

The other thing that sticks with me has also really helped with writing artist statements: talk to your friends about your art! Call your friend. Write them a letter. However you do it, share your excitement, your concerns, what keeps bringing you back to your art. The rest usually follows from there.

So, I'll close this by asking other artists: do you like talking about your art? What are some things you've done that help you with that?

"Aposematic Form III", acrylic and paper on canvas, 10 x 20", 3/20/24

"Aposematic Form III", acrylic and paper on canvas, 12 x 16", 6/16/25

"Aposematic Form", acrylic and paper on canvas, 6 x 12", 3/12/26

Images protected by ArtShield.io

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#mnartist #mplsart #speedcurating #3Dpainting #paulfosaaen by @paul_fosaaen

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2 months ago