Night vision

The light that lives after sundown

This new collection from Jake Gaedtke explores landscapes after dark. Rooted in years of observation and a lifelong connection to the night, this collection inviteS viewers into a world shaped by moonlight and reflection. The result is a body of work that listens, lingers, and reveals the beauty most people sleep through.

This July, Cassens Fine Art is honored to present “Night Vision,” a solo exhibition by Montana-based painter Jake Gaedtke. Known for his love of plein air work, Jake turns his attention to the beauty of the nighttime hours. These nocturnes capture the hush of the evening landscape with rich color, sensitive observation, and a painter’s sense of calm. “Night Vision” is an invitation to slow down, look closely, and find presence in the stillness of the night.

The Work Was Always There

When Jake was in second grade, his class took a field trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts. The moment they arrived, something shifted. The artwork pulled him in so deeply that he wandered off on his own, lost in the experience while the rest of his classmates moved ahead. That was the moment he knew what he wanted to do. From a young age, Jake had a love for illustration. He would spend hours flipping through magazines and books. But as he got older, his desire to become an artist was met with doubt. People told him he couldn’t make a living doing it and should choose something more practical. What he didn’t realize then was that art had already chosen him. He never really had a choice.

Even while working other jobs, he continued to draw and paint on the side. The art schools available at the time didn’t offer the kind of training he was looking for. He wanted to learn the fundamentals: drawing, painting, composition, not abstraction or novelty for its own sake. “What I admire most about Jake is his discipline. He didn’t just dream of being an artist.” says Michelle Cassens, owner and curator of Cassens Fine Art. “He studied, painted, and built a life around it. His dedication turned talent into mastery, and that persistence is something I deeply respect.”

After moving through a few different careers, he eventually reached a point where he couldn’t ignore the pull any longer. His interest in western subjects led him to figurative work, and his love for hiking and camping deepened his connection to the natural world. Still, he didn’t yet know how to paint the landscapes that moved him. That changed when he quit his high-paying career and signed up for a plein air workshop with Jay Moore. It was a turning point. He connected immediately with landscape painting and never looked back. 

Jake painted constantly, putting in the hours and wearing through canvas. A one-on-one mentorship with Jay Moore helped bring his work to a professional level. A workshop with Matt Smith focused on foundational skills and had a lasting impact on his approach. The two remain close friends. Jake was also a founding member of the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters, a group that lasted for 20 years. During his time there, including four years as President, he painted alongside artists he admired and grew within a community that shaped his path. Today, Jake continues to learn and refine his vision. He allows his work to evolve naturally, rooted in his way of seeing. His influences include George Carlson, T. Allen Lawson, Vladimir Kiriov, and many contemporary Russian painters.

The Process Was Always Fluid

In the studio, Jake often begins with a small study of the piece he plans to create. It’s a way for him to pause and ask himself: What story is this painting telling? How will that story unfold? The study helps him make key decisions ahead of time, so when he moves to the final canvas, he has a clear sense of direction. That clarity opens the door to something deeper; it lets him connect emotionally with the work as it develops.

Music plays a central role in his process. It shapes the energy in the room and often guides the feeling of the piece. Sometimes music can take him right into the landscape he’s painting. Other times, it taps into the emotions behind the scenes. It even affects the rhythm of the brushwork. Whether he's in the studio or painting outdoors, there’s always music present in some form, even if it’s just playing in his mind while he works.

Jake doesn’t follow a fixed method from painting to painting. Each piece sets its terms. “His process isn’t rigid,” says Michelle, “it’s responsive. It changes with the story he wants to tell, and I think that makes the work feel alive.” Occasionally, Jake starts with a monochromatic underpainting; other times, he sketches out a detailed drawing on the canvas, or he might dive in more loosely, drawing with paint. He might build the surface with layers or bring in texture if that’s what the story needs. His approach stays flexible, allowing the painting to guide the way forward.

under an evening sky

18 x 24 in | Oil on Linen Panel

The Night Was Always Calling

Nocturnes have long held a special place in Jake’s work. He’s always been a night person, drawn to the quiet, solitary hours when most of the world is asleep. Before becoming a full-time artist, nearly every job he held took place in the evening or on the graveyard shift. Those late hours felt natural to him, what he refers to as “rock & roll hours,” between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. “His paintings of the night carry such clarity,” says Michelle, “It’s as if he’s showing us how to see in the dark.”

There’s something about the night that continues to pull him in. The stillness, the mystery, the way the landscape transforms under moonlight, all of it invites a different kind of presence. When he was learning to paint nocturnes outdoors, he would often drive into Rocky Mountain National Park in the middle of the night, painting by the light of a full moon. The colors, the atmosphere, the wildlife, it all felt like stepping into another world, one that few people see. Through his nocturnes, Jake offers a glimpse into that hidden world. It’s a way of sharing the beauty, silence, and wonder of nighttime places that most people never get to witness.

The Moments Were Always Waiting

100 yards from his home, and many nights he would step outside at dusk, facing the foothills, and simply sit with the landscape. With Debussy’s Clair de Lune playing, he would watch the sun slip behind the mountains as night settled in. 

Evening's blanket

24 x 32 in | Oil on Linen Panel

“Darkness would bring her blanket over the landscape while I listened to this beautiful piece of music,” Jake recalls. “It was very magical for me, and I never tired of it.” That sense of quiet wonder stayed with him, and it found its way into Evening’s Blanket, painted years later from a location at Mad Wolf Ranch in Browning, Montana.

Clair de lune

9 x 12 in | Oil on Linen Panel

These two works are companion pieces that speak to the heart of Jake’s nocturne work. Both paintings capture the soft color and stillness that settle over the landscape when the day ends and the world quiets down. For Jake, these moments are deeply reflective. "It’s the time when you reflect on the day that has just passed, before welcoming the anticipation of the day to come,” he says. “In the meantime, you enjoy the quiet and the stillness that the evening has to offer.” Each painting invites the viewer into that space: present, peaceful, and serene.

What the Night Offers

Cassens Fine Art is proud to present “Night Vision,” a collection that honors the beauty of the world after dark. Jake Gaedtke is an artist whose work is rooted in presence, patience, and a deep respect for the land. These nocturnes are not about spectacle; they are about seeing with sensitivity, trusting stillness, and honoring the spaces that often go unnoticed. “In a time when so much demands our attention,” says Cassens, “Jake’s work invites us to slow down. These paintings offer a sense of calm and clarity, reminding us that meaning can be found in the quiet, and that beauty is still there when we take the time to look.”

JOIN US FOR THE EXHIBITION

Join us for the artist reception on FRIDAY, JULY 11, FROM 5-7 PM. The exhibition will be on view throughout July. We hope to see you there.