Country Road

 

Click Here For More Info:  $135, 8x8 inches, acrylic on Ampersand gessobord

This was painted a while back and although I liked the painting it needed something to finish.  So it sat and sat.  I thought maybe a cow in the field but it didn't feel right.  Eventually other things grabbed my attention, holidays came and went then someone commissioned me to do a crow.  The light bulb went off and the crows ended up being the perfect something.  Did you know that a group of crows is called a murder of crows?  I think it might have to do with superstitions but check it out.

I use professional heavy body acrylics and Ampersand gessobord is an acid free museum series panel.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

The Prize

 

Finally getting back to painting again after the holidays and other stuff.  This is a commissioned piece so will not be available for sale however I'm into crows right now so working on a few ideas.  Crows are fun to watch but only occasionally find their way into my backyard and it's usually when I'm feeding peanuts to the blue jays and squirrels.  They don't like to be watched and fly away when going to the window to watch their antics.  Trust needs to be gained I imagine.  

(I cropped a reference photo from pixabay.com)

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©  

Rum River Reflections

 

Click Here For Info:  $135, 8x8 inches, acrylic on Ampersand gessobord

I stumbled across this painting the other day which I never posted because in my opinion wasn't good enough.  It brought back memories of my awesome artist friend, teacher and mentor Paul Boecher who we recently lost.  He was always a source of encouragement and inspiration with that "you can do it" spirit, and the first artist who encouraged me to paint plein air (outdoors).  My heart is full with many memories of sitting next to him on the bank of a river.  Thank you Paul for the confidence to say this painting is good enough.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Studio Pintura Small Works Show Nov. 29 - Jan. 4th 2024

I have four acrylic paintings on display at Studio Pintura's Small Works Show in Minneapolis if anyones interested in visiting and seeing my original works.  It's always fun to see a show of original works by different artists and at reasonable prices.  All my works at the show are for sale so you can treat yourself to a Christmas gift for you or others on your list.  Merry Christmas!

Studio Pintura is in the warehouse district:  1500 Jackson St NE, Ste 294, Minneapolis MN

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

The Garden

 

Acrylic on DaVinci Pro Panel, 12x12"

Playing with palette knives and abstracted images again with subject matter from my gardens, the painting is treated as a collage with a little story included.  We had a fancy pigeon that must have escaped and decided our yard was a good place to visit for the summer.  Looking him up on the internet I believed him to be a Saxon Pouter, he had these huge white feathers on his feet.  He always came for a meal of birdseeds, sunflower seeds, a drink, sometimes a bath and then a nap on top of the birdhouse in the painting.    He picked the birdhouse as his very own roost, chasing the little wrens away who had started a nest.  So there he sits next to the birdhouse for all time.  He became so familiar I had to give him a name, Sammy.  I miss him, he flew off when it started to get cold, his visits always cheered me.  I hope he found a safe warm place somewhere for the winter.  Maybe he returned home.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Festival Time

 

Acrylic on a DaVinci Pro Panel.  This painting is another in my 12x12" series using a palette knife and having fun with abstracted images.  To get away from florals I choose photo references of buildings then abstracted and reworked them.  For some reason it was a lot more challenging working with buildings and took a long time to get something that pleased me.  This one started out a different direction, turning the panel helped me see with new eyes.  My favorite part are the palm trees (I know, weird), they remind me of pinwheels.  It's a joyful bright cheery painting.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Recent Class Drawings

 

Working on some drawings for my virtual Rumriver Art Center drawing class coming up soon, Sept. 30th.  Wow it's almost here but I'm feeling ready and I have some cool reference photos: some mine, some pixabay.com and one borrowed with permission from a friend.  The blue heron above is my newest reference and the one borrowed from a friend.  Her husband sets out nature cameras to capture wildlife and somehow makes photos from videos.  There were geese on the right side but cropping them out made a much simpler and better composition for the class.  There are so many things you have to think about when looking for class reference materials; good contrast, simple yet interesting, and follows lesson plans.  Then time to experiment to see if the sketch will work in the class time frame.  Preparation is work!  But the kind I like.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©