Every scene Douglas Aagard paints has a spirit. It’s something in the glow of the aspens, the shadows on mountains and is present in a field of cattle. It’s the spirit of a place that compels him to put it to canvas and share it with others.
In October, Legacy Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, will host A Weekend with Douglas Aagard—a two-day event celebrating the artist’s acclaimed landscapes, during which attendees will have the opportunity to watch Aagard paint live.
Late Evening Light, oil, 36 x 48 in.
For Aagard, the act of painting is more than recording a place; it’s an expression of joy, gratitude and wonder. Each painting carries an emotional connection to the land, often sparked by small details in the landscape the artist witnessed.
“I love colors and composition, and I know I have something special to be able to be there and be able to witness it. I feel grateful to God that he put it all here for us—that we can enjoy it,” says Aagard. “I kind of feel a sense of almost responsibility to let people feel that through my art, that same joy and appreciation for the scene…it’s hard to put on the canvas.”
Pleasant Creek Ridge, oil, 40 x 58 in.
His work tells the story of a life shaped by landscapes, even before he started painting. Growing up, Aagard was drawn to the mountains, lakes and cliffs of western Montana and spent part of his teens helping his grandfather run a sheep ranch in Utah.
The paintings in this upcoming show, grounded in Aagard’s lived experiences, reflect the quiet moments readily available in nature and wonders present in ordinary life.
“What’s so interesting is you might pass something a hundred times, and then, one day, the light is different, the atmosphere is different and then suddenly you see it. I don’t look for the mundane or ordinary as much; it’s just that sometimes…nature puts a frame around something for you,” Aagard muses. “Not everybody sees it, but I do. I tend to bring out some colors that I like. I want to, especially in the paintings with distance, I want to feel those mountains far away or feel them looming there.”
Color After Rain, oil, 48 x 60 in.
Aagard creates remarkable depth, movement and texture in his paintings, while working almost exclusively with a palette knife. With bold strokes and soft colors, his work mimics the natural world. When viewed up close, each stroke is visible and can be appreciated as part of the whole, like a blade of grass in a field. However, when viewed from across the room, the painting takes on the awe of nature.
“If I’m going to be bold, I need to do it in the foreground. Because if you’re getting real bold with your knife in the distance, it tends to emphasize that…when you have more texture in the front, it makes it feel more present somehow,” Aagard explains. “It almost seems like every painting is a new trial. I have a short memory, so it’s almost like every painting is trying something new. I’m always learning; every landscape’s different, so every process is different.”
Preston Farm, oil, 36 x 48 in.
This fall, Aagard will turn paint into emotion, welcoming viewers to observe his ever-evolving process up close at Legacy Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A Weekend with Douglas Aagard will take place on October 9-10 from 11 to 4 p.m. —
Legacy Gallery 225 Canyon Road » Santa Fe, NM 87501 » (505) 986-9833 » www.legacygallery.com
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