Decorah artist Carl Homstad is well known for his woodcuts and outdoor murals across the state, but he is also a painter of one-of-a-kind landscapes and other scenes. This selection of pieces being shown at Iowa Artisans Gallery focuses on landscapes from the Upper Midwest. Homstad characterizes them as naturalistic, not photographic. The work will be on display from May 1 - 28, 2012.

An artist for 35 years, he muses, “the hardest thing is to be simple. I have always been fascinated with Asian art, and I have been to China and Japan to study it. What I hope to accomplish is to bring that "zen" sensitivity to my pictures of Northeast Iowa. Although my pictures are based on certain times and places, they exist only in my mind.” A native of Colorado, Carl is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Iowa Artisans Gallery was established by artists in 1984. The gallery features work by American artists and specializes in Midwestern artists. Daily hours are Monday-Wednesday 10-6pm; Thursday 10-7pm; Friday 10-6pm; Saturday 10-5:30 and Sunday 12-4.

http://www.iowa-artisans-gallery.com