Spring Impressions

 

 This is now posted and available in my Daily Paintworks gallery

Click Here For More Info: $100, Acrylic on watercolor paper, painted image 6x6 inches with a 3/4" border

An original expressive floral painting inspired by the energy and abundance of spring!  And I need some spring right now.  The reference photo is from my granddaughters photo of dry flowers at home.  We paint together via FaceTime occasionally and share ideas.  Just for fun and variation I cropped the photo while she painted the original size . 

The border around the painting is actually white not gray.  I like to leave a border making it easier to mat paintings that are on watercolor paper without loosing any of the image or you can include some of the little bleeds for interest.  A mat can be cut to fit an 8"-10" square frame.  

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide © 

Water Lilies

 

6x6 inch acrylic on gessoed watercolor paper

The title isn't very imaginative.  Perhaps It could be named "In Monet's Garden" since he was the master of the water lilies.  Would he appreciate my rendering I wonder.  

This is another fun play, experimenting with different brushes and brush work.  The colors are a very different take on the photo I used which made it hard to get the values right.  It eventually worked out and I'm happy with it.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide © 

Fish Stories

 

6x6 inch acrylic on gessoed watercolor paper.

Getting back to painting again after a long time off.  I'm experimenting with new techniques which is great fun.  This is pretty loose for me, playing with impressionism.  I've been gone from painting for so long I'm relearning, a good time to branch out.  

I took this photo at a lake near us.  I go to the lake and sit on the beach drawing sometimes and taking photos.  These youth were way off in the distance and I worried the photo wouldn't turn out.  The photo even though a bit fuzzy was still useable.  Can't you just imagine these two youths swapping fish stories?

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Skip It

 

Click Here For More Info:  $125, 6x6 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

Who could resist a great photo reference like this (another from pixabay.com)?  I couldn't, it represents everything, good memories of a simple life, grandchildren, pets and sunshine.  I'm working to loosen up and let details go, just simplify which isn't as easy as it sounds.  

A black gesso ground was applied to the watercolor paper before painting.  

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Sunset Drive

 

Original 6x6 inch acrylic painting on watercolor paper.  Finally feeling settled after my winter trip and making time to paint again.  I did this as a little practice piece and ended up loving how it turned out so I'm posting.  Catching light continues to be a fascinating subject pushing me forward to explore more challenges.  

I will be posting this for sale in May when I open my Daily Paintworks gallery.  And thanks to pixabay for the great photo reference.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

I See You

 

Click Her For More Info: $250, 9x12 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

I have been working on and off on this painting for over a year and truth be told, working more off than on.  Something about it bothered me so it sat (the off time) until slowly, very slowly the realization was the background trees weren't working.  What to do?  Well it should have been obvious but no, so it sat for awhile longer.  I finally made the addition of more colorful leaves covering the offending trees.  You can see the first version below.  So new additions deserved a new title and Hidden Purpose became I See You.  Now the question is:  Who is seeing who?

Deborah A. Kirkeeide ©

Hidden Purpose

 

9x12 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

This painting began a year ago with something like throwing color in the air, letting it land where it will then scraping it across the surface of the paper.  I didn't actually throw the color in the air more like dropping paint in puddles on the paper but it has that same out of control feeling.   So thats the fun part, the next step is what to do with it, that's when a lot of thinking and sketching comes to play.  The sketches were not making me happy so I shelved it and occasionally would get the painted background out to ponder.  Just recently I did a new sketch adding and rearranging elements including negative space ideas for this final design until satisfied.  This type of painting takes me way longer than my usual acrylic paintings.  I spent half my time just looking and pondering until something clicks.

It was intentional to keep the owl blended into the background but still keep it visible and identifiable letting the background enhance the image and vice versa.  What I love about this process is how it makes me go places never thought of.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Ladies Outing

 

This was a piece from my Exploring Color With Mixed Media class this past winter.  On this day we were exploring the versatile uses of acrylics using watered down acrylics for a watercolor affect.  The class took their 3 different watered down acrylics and poured them over the watercolor paper letting them run.  On my sample above I added collage and pencil, using my own figure stencil to create a thinner version of the figures.  I let the flow of colors show me where to go in creating the background.  This doesn't happen fast for me, I ponder the possibilities for days and even weeks.  It's important for students to see the process isn't always a fast one.

I will be posting some of my student work from this class soon.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Sisters

 

Click Here For More Info:  5 1/2" x 7 1/2" (an extra 1/4" around for matting), mixed media (acrylic and marker) on watercolor paper

Still having fun with mixed media while planning some new fall and winter classes I will be teaching.  These are a real departure from my other work and I probably spend more time painting them but they are fun, freeing and challenging.  They are sort of like taking a vacation. 

I did some fun sketches a few years back that I'm rediscovering.  My hopes were to do something with these sketches and this medium seems to be perfect.  I've been inspired by artist Karen Knutson who in turn is inspired by Gustav Klimt.  Gustav painted incorporating a bunch of small shapes to create a whole and the patterns are so interesting.  If you do a google search for Gustav you'll recognize his work.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Peace Among Thorns

 

I've been trying some of artist Karen Knutson's techniques to bring new life and inspiration to my paintings.  I feel like there is another inner artist in me begging to get out and explore.  This voice has been hollering at me for awhile so I better listen.  Where will this journey take me?  Will I be able to give myself permission for complete freedom before scurrying back to my comfort zone?  Will I ever be comfortable with abstract compositions?  Will my inner voice find peace?

The bird house is from one of my drawing classes and where I gave the students the option to add a bird.  One of the students added the bird in front of the birdhouse and it inspired me to create the design for this painting (my drawing had the bird on the fence behind the birdhouse).  So thanks Joan!  I'm always getting inspiration from other artists ideas.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Our House Final

I worked and worked on the large window with the figures and I'm pleased with how it looks.  My friend Jacque gave me the idea of adding some greens at the bottom of the window which I love, thank you Jacque.  I just learned something new, the art created during this pandemic is being called Isolation Art.  I'm part of a new movement but at a high cost.

For comparison here are some photos from the beginning of the project.  Below is the stenciled and stamped background before adding the images and the paste up plan.  If you are new to my blog, I've been posting updates from the beginning of this project showing the process step by step.

For your info: I'm the little girl in the big window, my Mom is the foreground little girl and my Dad is holding the puppy. My husbands grandparents are the older adults.

On a non art note, I've never been so excited about getting groceries as I was today!  I used Instacart for a store near us which worked great and they delivered.  We are trying to stay home, taking care of everything via the internet.  Its' amazing the little things you take for granted until they are gone.  Hmm just like that song "You don't know what you've got til it's gone", well maybe there's another future project brewing.

Peace everyone and continue to stay safe.  Thank you to all those continuing to work and provide services, praying for your safety.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Update #9

This update is really from a few days ago, I've painted since and will post that one in a day or two.  This paint session was all about painting the big window with the two figures and I can't even remember how many times I changed the frame colors, nothing seemed to work.  When I say changed the color I mean the dominate color since I always use a mix of many colors.  This version is the best so far and may be tweaked a bit in the future or maybe not.  The first version the frame peak was dark and that's where your eye went then right off the edge.  It needed to be painted in such a way to complete the window but not lead you out of the picture.  If you notice there is a circle pattern leading your eye around the composition for example follow the bright yellows: the foreground girl, the yellow in front of the man and the bush behind the man, the tree in the middle background then the grass in front of the tower house and back to the girl.  There is also a circle of orange within the circle of yellow and centers around the middle house.  It was both a conscious and subconscious effort.  I mean subconscious in this way, when you notice something is off yet don't know why or what's wrong but you know something is not working, that's when consciously you start to work out the problem.  Does that make sense?  It's part of being open to letting the painting lead you where it wants to go.

Part of me wants to get rid of the big window, the other part of me is saying keep working on it and make the window better.  Which voice will win?  I'm pretty stubborn and don't like to give up on things which is not always good.  How would you vote, remove or leave?

I've really enjoyed this project but I'm looking forward to moving on wherever the next inspiration leads.  Stay well, keep positive and HAPPY EASTER!  One of the things I love about the little girl (my Mom) is the Easter basket with what looks like a price tag still attached.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Our House Update #8

I'm starting to see an end to this project, maybe in 2 or 3 days depending on how long the paint sessions are.  I'm not real pleased with the little girl in the foreground so will continue working on her.  The stencils and the stamp came out and you can see some of that in the foreground close to the girl.  I'm going to add a few more of the curlicues on the other side of the girl to see how that looks.  At this point I have to be careful and not overdo keeping the fun stencil and stamp work from being obliterated.  For me it's hard to let go and leave things alone.  I will be so happy when all these little faces are done, they can drive me nuts.  What was I thinking adding all these people anyway, this was supposed to be about houses.

So are you Zooming?  Lots of people are zooming or doing some type of video conferencing these days.  I was on zoom this morning with an art group, so nice to see and chat with friends. Everyone is adapting and learning new things because thats what we do during hard times.  Over coming challenges makes us stronger so keep challenging yourself and stay safe.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Our House Update #7

I had another good day of painting yesterday, probably around 7 hours.  Once I start painting it's hard to stop, there's always one more thing to tackle.  After taking a photo for the day then I spend time looking at the photo to see what direction to take for the next paint day.  They say to stand back and look at your painting periodically while painting to help see mistakes and visualize, for me photos do the same thing.  And I really love working on the stenciled and stamped surface!!  It leads me in places I never thought of going.  Now I see areas where I'm going to add more stencils and stamps.  Getting excited!

I forgot to mention that my Daily Paintworks page is temporarily closed due to my travels to California over the winter.  When I figure out mailing during this pandemic it will be restarted.

Oh and if anyone has questions regarding my project and paint process please leave a comment I'd be happy to answer your questions.  If you are using Safari you won't be able to leave a comment for some reason, however you can using Google (Chrome) and maybe other search engines.

I hope you are healthy and staying safe, finding positive and maybe creative things to help keep busy.   For those still working and on the front lines God Bless You, I really cannot thank you enough.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Our House Update #6

The project is moving along, I put in a good day of painting today and finished the middle house.  I also realized I made a composition blunder by putting that house almost dead center.  It should have been off centered a bit, funny I didn't notice that in the planning stage.  My focus at that stage was to keep the tower house from being covered up.  Oh well hopefully the other design elements will keep the eye moving through the composition.  And rules were always meant to be broken, artists break them all the time.

I'm having a lot of fun working with negative spaces and looking to see what background can be left that works with the images.  For those not familiar with negative space, it's simply the space around the subject matter or images.  If you notice the vest on the figure was left the background textures and paint as are some of the fences (so the space between fence posts are negative spaces).  I hope to keep them but you never know what mood will hit me.

Our house is a very very fine house and I'm thankful to be in it staying safe through this pandemic.  Be positive, count your blessings every day.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright 

Our House Update #5

Yesterday was day 2 of painting as I continue to build houses on the project.  All those windows are starting to drive me a bit crazy but I do love them.  I realized yesterday that my color was tending to be a variety of blues and some other color needed to be introduced, the logical color for pop would be a complimentary color of blue which is an orange.  The middle house was perfect for a brick type color and really added the pop I needed.  Working all over the painting instead of focusing on one section at a time helps to visualize the piece, where it's going and avoid value problems.

I have help from my computer below for color and value reference where the photos are displayed while working.  I don't necessarily feel constricted to follow the photos but use it as a guide.  For instance the brick colored house in the painting was actually a white house, you can see it way to the left on the computer monitor.  Artist license is a wonderful thing!

I hope you are finding time to discover or enjoy new interests while staying safe at home.  And for those of you who are on the front line continuing to work to keep us healthy and doing all the necessary functions to keep things going for our communities, I am deeply appreciative for all you do and pray for your safety!  We cannot do this without you.

THANK YOU! 

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Our House Update #4

The paint process has begun!  Yesterday I made my first brushstrokes on this project, still not sure where it's going but will get inspired as it develops.  I'm already seeing possibilities with color, it helps to stand back to see the whole project.  This is the part where I want to paint 24/7 but that's not a good idea, you need to take breaks and get away from it for awhile.  Then you come back and see it with new eyes.  When I get really stumped it's best to leave it for a few days or maybe weeks.

And I have a tip about transferring images onto a painted surface (which some of you may already know) make a black charcoal carbon, it works perfect for small details.  This was particularly helpful with the figures.

Stay safe out there, be well and be positive.  This to will end.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Our House Update #2

The last couple of days I've been hard at work mapping my composition, this process helps me visualize the painting and hopefully avoid any bad composition problems.  It's been fun using Photo Shop Elements to alter my personal photos that I have chosen for the project.  I can then enlarge or shrink to fit each space and paste up on my work surface (16x20 inch watercolor paper).  Remember the finished piece will be a painting not a collage, so the photo you see of the paste up will only be used for composition purposes.  Also I'm trying for a collage type affect not true proportions.

At this step I can still rearrange subject matter and come up with a pleasing composition.  Taking a photo of the project and seeing it in a smaller version makes problems pop.  At least I can avoid the big problems before I dedicate any time to painting.  I already see something to work on, so more changes ahead.

Ok made a few changes I think it's ready to go and since nothing has hollered to be changed this will be transferred to the surface.  I'm getting antsy to paint which for me is the fun part and things will continue to evolve as it progresses.  I've used old family photos for the people, my Mom is in the front, Dad is with the dog, then I added my husbands grandparents.  Oh there is a little photo of myself slipped into the big window during my braid years.

Stay safe, stay positive!
Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Our House Journey

I've been in California most of the winter helping my daughter through surgery and recovery.  I returned just as things started heating up regarding the coronavirus then put myself on quarantine which ends this Saturday.  I'm well and planning to use this home time to hunker down in my studio, stay positive and create.  Things have been crazy for my family since last September, I won't bore you with the details only to say that I've not painted or created in a long time.  So looking for inspiration I pulled out some old pieces started for a mixed media class, a large one with a multitude of layers.  I had planned to tear the paper into smaller pieces once I layered it but now I want to work large.  I can't believe I said that!  Out of the blue I've become inspired to do something with houses and windows, I'm going to name it Our House after the song.  The plan is to create more of a collage look, bits and pieces incorporated to create interesting shapes and designs.  How this will work I've no idea, I'm just going to go for it, hope for the best and if it works great, if not there's always gesso or tearing into smaller pieces.  So I will blog this journey as the work grows, my successes, disappointments and failures.  I'm confident that this piece will evolve, change and grow as time goes by.  No hurry, stay well and keep positive!

Background
I'm hoping to leave the background showing through in areas, this will be a huge challenge.

Preliminary Sketch (very rough)
So now I have a plan, Lol, I'm already changing it.