Hanseatic Art Gallery--The Painting

Hanseatic Art Gallery -- Summer 2012      Oil Painting by Karsten Topelmann

 

On her summer visit to Ephraim, daughter Lisa expressed a wish to her father that he enshrine the gallery in an oil painting. After all, she said, this is a beautiful, historic, century-old building with lots of character. And the gallery has been a part of our family's life for over forty years. Karsten liked the idea. Over the summer the painting progressed from Lisa's wish to Karsten's concept to a completed work of art. Oil on linen. 16"x20".

Victorian Night Lights

 

The lush scent of lilacs fills the air as the last rays of the setting sun shine on this elegant Victorian home. See those lights glowing in the windows? They're beckoning you. Can you hear the music playing?  There's a party waiting to happen and you are invited. Oil on canvas. 20 x 24"

Tenerife--A Day in the Life

 

Daily life on the island of Tenerife, Spain. Busy, bustling and simply beautiful.

Painted by Ellen in acrylic on canvas. 20 x 24".

Winter Whites and True Blues

A painterly vision of an idyllic winter's day in Wisconsin. As the snow swirls, kids and puppy dogs play. The incredibly bright blue Door County sky transforms dancing snowflakes into shimmering, sparkling points of light.  And in the background, snow-clad Horseshoe Island beckons the brave to snow-shoe to its shore. 8 x 10" acrylic on canvas. $300.

Winter's Warm Glow

 

Despite the cloudy sky and snow-covered landscape, Ellen's winter

scene is warm, festive and filled with glowing color.
12 x 16" acrylic on canvas.

Spanish Chapel with Geraniums

 

Bright red blossoms dramatically dominate the foreground of this oceanscape giving the viewers the feeling that they are right there on the water.  The dimensional effect is so real that you can almost feel the sun's warmth and hear the church bell ringing in this Spanish seaside town.

16 x18" watercolor on Arches paper.

 

After the Rain in Spain

 

Washed clean by an early rain, these stone buildings present a fresh face when the afternoon sun emerges. You can almost see the buildings glowing brighter as the rain clouds fade into the distance.
16 x 20" oil on board by Karsten. $1,200.

Door County on Parade

 

Door County loves its festivals and parades. This small yet energetic high school band played with such enthusiasm that Karsten was inspired to celebrate the occasion with a colorful oil painting featuring vibrant reds and brassy golds.  16 x 20". Oil on canvas.

Under the Southern Sun

One bright and sunny morn, Karsten packed his painting gear and set off to hike on the Spanish island of Tenerife. He came upon this street where the colors of the village houses and flower boxes were playing hide and seek with fleeting shadows created by a partly cloudy sky. Karsten chose transparent watercolor to capture the subtle color play of the day. 15 x 15" $780.

Cana Island Lighthouse

 

In this wonderful winter painting, the glow from the Cana Island lighthouse brightens a gray day. As one often sees in Ellen's paintings, children are at play on the snowy lakeshore. The sky is warmed by the beacon blinking while slivers of brighten the silvery late afternoon sky.
12 x 16" Acrylic on canvas.

Wild Horses

 

Ellen captures the wild and free energy of this trio of spirited steeds with her amazing acrylic painting technique. 12 x 16".

Clever Cows

 

Herds of gentle cows dot the landscape of our dairy state. Black and white holsteins are blessed with hides that are fun to look at .... and even more fun to paint. One day, when Karsten was out walking, he spotted a cow that sported a clever spot design. It was shaped like a silhouette of Wisconsin's Door County peninsula. Can you find it?
Goache on Arches paper. 8 x 20". $500

Colors of the Day

Pennan, Scotland, is a quaint fishing village perched on the very edge of the North Sea. A sleepy little town, it is the home for a handful of people. On its beach, Karsten finds fresh, contrasting colors in the lazy line of rowboats basking in the midday sun. Oil on canvas 16" x 20".

Sisters

In Ellen's watercolor, two sisters glide through a winter's afternoon at the skating pond while their pet cheers them on with unleashed enthusiasm. 16 x 20 inches Framed in gray wood frame, white mat with pink accent $ 850.00

The Announcement

A young couple announces their engagement at a family gathering and--judging from their faces--everyone has a different reaction to the "big news."  Acrylic by Ellen Sprogoe-Topelmann.  24" x 30" $ 5,000.00

Feathered Fireman's Helmet

From a friend's collection of European firefighting memorabilia, Karsten has created this bright and shiny historical still life.  The composition includes a beautiful brass helmet and flashy bugle with colorful tassels set on a decorated banner. Look closely and you will see that the artist is reflected in the helmet.  Oil on canvas. Gold frame with linen liner and gold lip. 24" x 20". $1,400

Lively Still Life

To create this elegant watercolor, Karsten placed a tall Chinese vase against delicate, pink blossoms. Then he added the radiant yellow lemons and gently set the display in the folds of a colorful fabric. 20" x 14". Gold frame with triple mats--white, brown and gold accent. $ 980

Peninsula Park Golf Course

In this oil painting, Karsten captures the comraderie of the sport plus the spectacular view of Eagle Harbor and Ephraim from Peninsula Park's lush greens and fairways. Oil on linen 12 x 24". Gold leaf frame. $ 1,600