Beach scene exercise

 

6x8' acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord

This was a quick little exercise for me.  I had fun painting with my granddaughter who was visiting someone in Sicily and shared this view of the beach from the apartment balcony.  We painted together via FaceTime which works out great since she also lives in California.  Sometimes technology can be wonderful, it allows us to share and create together.  Other times you want to throw everything out the window.  And yes, I would rather have been sitting on that balcony! 

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Cottage painting

 

Painting #2 from my Acrylic University class homework.  This was a practice painting from a black & white photo adding your own color renditions.  It was an exercise seeing values and translating them to color.  Super good exercise.  Notice it's the same subject matter in my Cottage drawing I posted below.  Photo reference from pixabay.com.  I'm deliberating on lighting the sky. ?

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Curious Koi

 

NFS, 6x8 inches, Acrylic on a linen panel

I painted this awhile back from another pixabay.com photo reference.  Something bothered me about the painting so it was never posted.  I never planned to work on it again but one day the problem suddenly emerged, a bothersome tail.  So tail fixed and it's ready to find a home.

This has been a summer exploring hand built ceramic pottery.  Feels so good to be challenging myself in a new creative way.  That said it's also been frustrating, working with clay is a lot harder than it looks and is taking me ages to finish projects.  So I'm taking a break from painting for the moment enjoying some 3D creations.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Treasured Things

 

Click Here For More Info: $150, 6x8 inches, Acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand Gessobord

My Mom brought me this really pretty paper weight from her trip to London years ago.  Mom has since passed so it's a treasured memory and it's sparkly glass paired nicely with the delicate peony.  And yes I treasure everyone of my peony blooms in fact so much so that it took years for me to even cut a bouquet.  

I've been spending this week drawing alpacas at a drawing camp.  Getting to know four beautiful boy alpacas who were recently sheared of fluffy coats.  At first I thought darn wish I could have drawn them with the fur but now I realize it's great seeing their bone structure which gets totally obscured by fur.  I may post some of my drawings later and may even do a painting.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©   

Living On The Edge

 

Click Here For More Information - $125, 6x8 inches, acrylic on Ampersand gessobord

The photo reference is from my favorite place to hike, Wisconsin Interstate Park where there are these fabulous cliffs bordering the St. Croix river.  One side is Minnesota and the other Wisconsin.  The best place to hike is on the Wisconsin side where the trails are all along the cliff.  The rocks, the views, the trails with moss and mystery are right out of the Lord Of The Rings.  Best time to go is morning in the middle of the week and you have it all to yourself.  I'd like to live on this edge. 

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Morning Get Away

 Click Here For More Info:  $130, 6x8 inches, Acrylic on linen panel

My first acrylic painting after a long break.  I think it would be so much fun having a little scooter, my neighbor has a red one she drives to work a few blocks away.  When I was a kid my parents owned a Tote Gote that my sister and me used to race around the desert with (grew up in AZ).  We had a blast!  Check out Tote Gotes on the internet.

The Vespa is a pixabay photo reference however the window in the photo didn't work so I Photo Shopped a new one with more interest and contrast.  Actually the window was taken from another one of my photos that I painted some years back so you may recognize it in my gallery.

Almost one week away from the start of my new class "Exploring Color With Mixed Media".  I'm pretty excited to share what I know about working with acrylics and color.  I'm not much about painting subdued color, you can see that by checking out my gallery on Daily Paintworks (link on the right).  That's just my personal preference and what inspires me.  Learning to mix and create color, just about any color is fundamental for those interested in painting.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Color Book Road

 

Click Here For More Info: $100, 6x8 inches, Acrylic on canvas panel

Landscapes have always been uninspiring so I'm giving myself the freedom to explore color and incorporate imagination.  Some of the changes made to the original photo reference:  I continued the road up the hill, added the tiny house, incorporated orange and pumped the color.  Perhaps the color captures the excitement of freedom to travel soon after a year of isolation.  Or maybe I just like color.

I experimented with other variations before settling on the final above incorporating more blues and purples.  I started with the acrylic sketch on the right. 

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Grandma Has Marbles

 

Click Here For More Info: $125, 6x8 inches, Acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord

This painting made me think up a little story:  A grandchild races in the house for a visit with grandma as parents follow behind.  The grandchild views a table and with eyes wide comments to the parents, "See grandma hasn't lost her marbles, they are right here!"  I'm a grandma and I still have all my marbles at the moment.  My mother suffered from dementia late in life and so did her mother.  Perhaps I will loose my marbles some day but at the moment they are right here.  It's also a reminder to enjoy each and every day. 

Last of my flower paintings for now, maybe some peonies as they bloom but that's a ways off.  This was a new experience for me to paint four similar paintings using mostly the same still life subject matter and rearranging it.  I note this because I did not get bored.  Thats a milestone! 

Enjoy your day!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright 

Runaway Marble

 

Click Here For More Info:  $125, 6x8 inches, Acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand Gessobord

These pastel type colors are fun to work with, so much that I may continue to incorporate them.  I continually get distracted with new ideas so who knows what the future will hold.   Just to point out I've completed three flower paintings in a row without getting bored, now that's a track record for me.  Keeping the inspiration flowing by trying new things is the trick.

I'm beginning to feel the pull for mixed media however so there you go more distraction.  Is it a distraction or more of the learning process?  I'm a forever student.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Navigating Stripes

 

Click Here For More Information: $125, 6x8 inches, acrylic on canvas panel

The pears look like they are sitting in a sea of stripes, so it seemed Navigating Stripes was a good title.  There's something about stripes and polka dots that add vibrancy.  I rely on them a lot for inspiration.  

I stopped varnishing my paintings, it seems to flatten the brush work which I work hard to incorporate.  I use professional acrylics of good quality and they will last a long time if well cared for.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Have A Heart

 

Click Here For More Information - $125, 6x8 inches on 1/8 inch Ampersand Gessobord

After weeks of health issues I'm trying to get back at painting again.  What a good way to start, with Valentines Day, I've always wanted to do a Valentine painting.  I love Valentines Day, to me it's a day to celebrate Love not just the romantic kind.  Maybe because of the fun stuff we did in grade school but I'm also a fan of vintage Valentine cards and art (I have a small collection). Sometimes I make Valentine cards when there's time and this year out came the mixed media stuff, oh so much fun, stamping, stenciling, spraying and more.  So I've included a few in this post, enjoy and Happy Valentines Day.  The world could use some more love don't you think.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

The Window Spot

 Click Here For More Information - 6x8 inches, Acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand Gessobord

This photo reference made me imagine walking in a restaurant (which I miss by the way) and seeing this lovely spot next to the sunny window.  This is the spot where I would ask to be seated with my lunch friends.  I wanted to keep it simple, let the light tell the story.  For me it's hard to let the details go but it's better when I do.

Happy New Year!  The vaccine is coming and I'm looking forward to a spot in the sun lunching with friends again.

My acrylic paintings are protected by an acrylic satin varnish and I use professional acrylic paints: Winsor Newton, Liquitex and Utrecht.  The Ampersand gessobord's are 1/8" thickness, a museum series panel which are acid free, archival.  All my paintings are signed, dated with the paintings information on the back.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Fall Pairing

 

Click Here To Buy It Now -  $125, 6x8 inches, Acrylic on Ampersand gessobord

Fall is pumpkin time and I always paint a few pumpkins every year.  I needed something to pull me back into painting again.  This years bounty of tiny crabapples was plentiful, the branches on my tree are heavy with them, the blooms this spring were beautiful.  I've wanted to paint the crabapples for a long time and pairing them with a pumpkin was a winning combo.  Do the birds eat crabapples during the winter I wonder?  It would be nice if they weren't wasted.  If the branch survives maybe there will be another crabapple painting, the leaves are going fast.  

My acrylic paintings are protected by an acrylic satin varnish and I use professional acrylic paints: Winsor Newton, Liquitex and Utrecht.  The Ampersand gessobord's are a museum series panel which are acid free, archival.  All my paintings are signed, dated with the paintings information on the back.

Please Note, the Click Here To Buy It Now link will take you to Daily Paintworks where you can purchase the painting if you want otherwise you are not committed.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Pepper Party

 

Click Here To Buy It Now - $100, 6x8 inches, acrylic on 1/4" Ampersand gessobord

My husband grew the most beautiful mini sweet orange peppers this summer.  They were perfect, so sweet and prolific.  They are slowing down now due to the cooler weather, it will be hard to say goodbye to them.  I was hoping to do another pepper painting, time is running short however and I've been busy planning my Zoom drawing class.  This painting is bright, cheerful and bold, it would be fun to do as a large piece.

Our continued issue with internet problems seem to have been resolved for the moment.  My wireless printer is up and running, the speed problem was fixed, and I bought a newer version of Photo Shop Elements (and it's working, yay!).  It's been over a month of one problem after another and the whole reason why I don't like changes.  Technology is wonderful when it's working but a major bummer when it's not.  

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Silver Showoffs

Click Here To Buy It Now - $175, 6x8 inches, acrylic on museum gessobord

It's almost as if these two silver pieces were saying to me, "see we can reflect life better than you".  They are such showoffs!  I made a happy discovery recently, the silver tea set believed to have been sent to Goodwill was actually wrapped up and still in storage.  Yay!  I've been looking for silver pieces so I could paint more reflections and upset with myself for having thought I'd given this set away.  A friend gave me this fun patchwork and embroidered piece of fabric which has been sitting around for over a year because I had no idea how to use it.  I set these silver pieces on the fabric and wham that was it, in fact I never even moved them for this painting.  Sometimes good things just happen.

On another note, capturing art work via photographs is challenging.  Colors can be off and then monitors are not all the same which can affect color.  In this case my camera is pumping up brushwork, things you don't see or notice when viewing the original painting.  The blue background area in the photo is an example, the brushwork just pops out, something you don't see much in the original painting.  I have to figure this out.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Meadow Belle

Click Here To Buy It Now:  $150, 6x8 inches, Acrylic on 1/8" museum gessobord

I'm inspired to paint animals right now so here is Belle.  She has a dreamy far away look or maybe bored and wants to be back at the barn.  I really don't know Belle but loved the photo reference and decided to give her a bright sky background with clouds.  I was thinking of naming this painting Belles In The Meadow but my husband wasn't fond of that title.  What do you think?

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright  

The Perfect Spot

Click Here To Buy It Now - $200, acrylic on gessobord, 6x8 inches

Visiting California a few years ago I ran across a group of plein air painters on the beach, how my heart longed to be painting with them.  This gal was very friendly, allowing me to chat and take photos then I just sat among them soaking up the sun and creative vibes.  Now that the weather is improving I will be out there soon with easel, umbrella, birds, sun and breezes - can't wait!

Due to the limitation and inconsistencies of various display monitors, the colors you see on your screen may not be a totally accurate reproduction of the actual painting but I work to get the best likeness possible.

(c) Deborah Ann Kirkeeide

Waterfall Sanctuary

Click Here To Buy It Now - $150, oil on gessobord, 6x8 inches

I thought about calling this painting Backyard Sanctuary; when I was a child my Dad built a waterfall pond in our backyard and eventually enclosed it into an addition to our home.  We loved that waterfall and the goldfish, it was our sanctuary.  This started as a plein air painting then I finished it in my home studio.  I deliberated over this painting for such a long time, at first it was to light then it was to dark and I couldn't seem to get it right.  I gave up at one point and put it away but I'm happy with the results.

Due to the limitation and inconsistencies of various display monitors, the colors you see on your screen may not be a totally accurate reproduction of the actual painting but I work to get the best likeness possible.


(c) Deborah A. Kirkeeide

Fairytale Cottage

Click Here To Buy It Now - $150, acrylic on gessobord, 6x8 inches

This is a real place in Door County Wisconsin.  Walking around one small town I happened upon this little cottage and couldn't resist getting some photos.  It's actually being used as a gift shop with all kinds of creative gifts.  I put off painting this sweet place because it didn't look real, it was so cute; I finally developed the nerve to try. I was lucky enough to visit Door County in the fall and the colors were amazing.  This is my second try at painting the cottage, my first effort was an oil painting. 

Due to the limitation and inconsistencies of various display monitors, the colors you see on your screen may not be a totally accurate reproduction of the actual painting but I work to get the best likeness possible.


(c) Deborah A. Kirkeeide

Fancy Top

Click Here To Buy It Now - $100, Acrylic on gessobord, 6x8 inches

Time for a new pumpkin painting or two and time to start playing with my acrylics.  I love all the fancy stuff on this stem.  There's a lot more color in the background than the photo shows, some deep blues and reds. 

Due to the limitation and inconsistencies of various display monitors, the colors you see on your screen may not be a totally accurate reproduction of the actual painting but I work to get the best likeness possible.

(c) Deborah A. Kirkeeide