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A new art exhibit featuring watercolor paintings by Lloyd Backus is coming to The Knot art gallery next week.

Backus said he started painting after he retired from medical practice. It was his wife's idea. She suggested he sign up for a watercolor class.

"At first I had no interest, but Jan persisted and I finally agreed, and painted for the first time since kindergarten," he said. "It is now more than 25 years and the excitement has continued to this day."

While Backus primarily paints landscapes of the rivers, lakes and scenes of northern Minnesota, he has also done cityscapes, portraits...