Watercolor 20 in x 28 in
The theme of this piece is a sense of place, the land and the natural wonders of the valley all rolled into one design. I went with a multiple perspective of the agricultural fields and orchards of Sutter County intersected by the river leading off to the horizon. Rising out of the distant clouds is a Maidu style basket inspired by the Sutter Buttes. Accompanying symbols are scattered about in the sky and land as a form of mystic naturalism. Glyphs, bubbles, or crop circles are for story telling. Migrating birds in flight as well as a salmon stream are highlighted. This is a watercolor, a design for a mural I am currently painting. The mural,an acrylic on a panel, is on display at the Sutter County Museum in Yuba City.
Archival Print 13 in x 12 in – Bare Print $35.
The original watercolor is part of a triptych and was my first painting of a view of the valley from space. After moving to Chico, I became fascinated with how man-made agricultural fields intersected with waterways and areas left wild. The triptych was exhibited in “Chico Icons – Heart and Arteries” at Avenue 9 Gallery . It is now in a private collection.
Watercolor, 26 in x 20 in, $850. Currently on display at ART Etc on First Street in Chico
A meditation on nature right here in Chico
Watercolor, 12 in x 12 in – Available as a framed original $400 or a bare archival print for $45
Part of a series of watercolors featuring the four main elements, Earth, Water, Fire and Air.
Prisma Pencil, 12 in x 12 in
Part of a new humoristic series about sink holes and other calamities and natural disasters…
Nicolai Larsen is known for his inventive visionary painted imagery, fine art canvasses, award-winning large scale mural art and architectural painted environments. He has been internationally commissioned to create works for public, corporate and private clients.
He studied art at the San Francisco Art Institute and the Academy of Art College. When faced with earning a living he became a sign painter for a few years. He was selected to work in the CETA Art in Public Places Project in San Mateo County, CA. Later he became a set designer at Marine World/Africa USA. Enventually he operated his own visual arts company specializing in fine arts, murals, trompe l’oeil and graphic design. He has exhibited his work in many venues including the Peninsula Museum of Art, Diablo Valley Planetarium, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, NASA Aames Research Center and the Vorpal Gallery in San Francisco.
I have been living in Chico for almost 10 years now. I moved from the Bay Area with my wife, son and dog. I have grown to appreciate the North Valley for its wide open space and the pace of life. The valley and its surroundings provide a wealth of imagery for an artist to respond to, and a more quiet contemplative place to develop new work.
Come by at the Chico ART Festival May 11 & 11, 2024. I will have some originals, prints and cards for sale or we can simply visit. You can also see my mural work, plus more, on my website HERE.