A Visit with Painter Brock Larson, Co-Founder of the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art.

"Alder Grove" -- Brock Larson

One of the exciting developments in the Twin Ports arts scene was the decision by Jeffrey and Brock Larson to establish the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art (GLAFA) here in the Northland. I first learned of the school’s planned formation in the summer of 2016. I'd gone to hear co-founder Jeffrey T. Larson give a talk at the Tweed Museum of Art on the subject of “Training the Eye to See.” As it turns out this message is essentially the heart of what this school is about.

GLAFA is located in the former St. Peter's Church at 818 West Third Street here in Duluth. Their teaching approach follows the Atelier method, the standard approach of guild artists from the middle ages to the 19th century. Over a period of three years the students develop mastery of the essential toolkit of skills and knowledge.

"Damp Leaves" -- Brock Larson

The other co-founder is Jeffrey Larson's son Brock, who is himself a painter of exceptional skill. Brock is also an instructor in the school. This coming week the two will be headed to Charleston for their first 2-man show, hosted by the Helena Fox Gallery. It will be the first time they’ve shown together as equals. (Brock has had some of his pieces shown as an add-on in some of his father’s shows.)

"Morning Lit" -- Brock Larson

Brock's work had been recognized from a fairly young age, winning a number of awards before the age of 10 for his painting. He not only had his father's example, his grandfather Marvin Espe was also a professional painter. Growing up he would sometimes paint with them. It's cliche but I will say it: sometime the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.

Brock's academic art training began with Master Copy portrait painting. What this means is that the student attempts to reproduce portraits painted by the Masters.

Here's the concept. All painter are, in essence, interpreting reality. For example, when they paint a beach, they do not paint every grain of sand. Rather, they translate the three dimensional lakefront landscape onto a two dimensional surface.

In the same way, portraits are an artist's effort to convey the three dimensional face and head onto a two-dimensional surface. Instead of a math problem, it is a visual translation problem. By reproducing the works of the Masters, student see and internalize the manner in which these great artists have resolved the issues of interpretation.

Or as Brock explains, "by reproducing existing portraits you learn how other great artists translate 3D to 2D. You get inside their methods by painting it rather than just looking at it. You learn more this way."

Brock's advanced training included five years at the Atelier School where his father taught, after which he taught evening classes for two years.

At a certain point in time Brock and his father discussed the idea of starting a school together. "It started rolling from there," Brock said.

I asked the 27-year-old veteran painter if there was ever a time when he felt intimidated by how talented his father was.

"At times I have," he admitted, "but then I remind myself that it all comes down to working hard, being patient and gaining experience. I try not to compare myself to anyone out there painting, mainly just on improving my work and enjoying the process."

I then asked if he would care to elaborate on this central concept of the school: “In order to paint a subject one must learn how to see the subject."

"Learning to see is the key element to how we paint, disassociating our preconceived ideas of what nature looks like. Seeing in abstract colors, values and shapes is foundational and is a large part of the training at GLAFA," he said.

Of his many awards I found this one to convey a sense of special honor. The young Larson was selected to annually paint the Minnesota State Bar Association’s presidential portrait, published on the cover of MSBAs magazine, Bench & Bar.

The school, GLAFA, is now nearing the end of its third year. The renovation work that was taking place in year one is now a thing of the past. The students have ingested some incredible experiences here, and in May the public will once again be invited to see their progress.

Meantime, Brock is busy framing and preparing 12 landscape and still life paintings for the Charleston show.

Painting of Palisade Head in progress. Below the large canvas is Brock Larson's field study.

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Another topic we touched upon is the upcoming Northland Plein Air Fest, slated for the summer of 2020. Plein air painting, or "in open air" involves artists going out to engage their subjects rather than painting in the controlled environment of the studio. This past year Jeffrey Larson approached Tweed director Ken Bloom regarding the possibility of making Duluth a premiere destination for plein air painters worldwide.

While we do not have a monopoly on beautiful scenery, we most assuredly have settings and scenes comparable to anywhere in the world. Few places have the variety. 365 days out of the year the Great Lake itself is sensational.

According to Brock, there is a  lot of excitement building from plein air artists with whom they have shared the vision. "We're still working on the details," Brock added.

It's an exciting story unfolding here.

Related Links
Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art  
Jeffrey Larson at the Tweed