Earthscape

 

Acrylic on wrapped canvas, 18x24 inches

This piece was completed awhile ago, it just needed to sit until I decided it was finished.  A few tweaks were added early today before giving the painting my approval.  Another experimental piece using a print making roller, palette knives then brushes making their entry at the end.  I love how the abstracted forms were pulled together by some detail.  The only reference used was the little farm building at the top.  

The painting will be for sale in my show coming up Sept. 13th at the Rumriver 21 Step Gallery,  Anoka MN.  More on that later!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

The Evolution Of An Abstract In 4 Stages - "Abundance"

 

This is #4 the final of a recently completed abstract that took over a year before it felt done.  The other stages are posted below.  It was painted on a 16 x12 inch deep cradled canvas found lying about in my studio and using professional acrylic paint.  I had no plans just decided to slap paint around and work on it between projects using left over paint.  You can see below that the painting started out very different in the beginning (#1 below) and very little of the original remained in the final.  The first two stages were worked with brushes, the last two stages I brought out the palette knives and reworked.  The palette knives gave it life as I tend to get putsy with brushes.  Click on the images to enlarge.  Also it started out horizontal, during the process it was turned multiple times until it ended vertical.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Memories

12x12 inch acrylic on a Da Vinci Pro Panel (cradled panel).  This is another of my abstracted paintings finished awhile ago and I have another in the works.  The painting process begins with palette knives then switching back to brush work.  Its a very challenging and time consuming technique but keeps me away from perfectionism which weirdly allows for more freedom.  

Once I figure out how to mail a painting this size they will be offered for sale.  Fall of 2025 there will be a solo show of my work at Rumriver Art Center in Anoka where my new paintings will be displayed for sale.  So if you live in the area save the date September 13th 2025. 

I've discovered the problem with my blog, it doesn't like Safari any more, there seem to be no problems when working in Chrome.

 Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Spring Profusion

 

Another abstract:  12x12 inches, Acrylic on cradled panel

Experimenting and playing with new techniques and materials.  I'm loving the cradled panels, palette knives and Catalyst brushes.  The abstracts are finally becoming a joyful process.  I play with them for days seeing where they will go, where they will take me.  

This one has been entered in a local competition, fingers crossed it gets in.  I will not be disappointed if it's rejected, I believe it's one of my better pieces.

Onward!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Deliberation

 

 NFS

My very first completed abstract that I like!  Something is clicking finally.  The palette knives came out which belonged to my Mom and were new to me but they added the texture needed.  They made such a big difference and guided me through the process.  Working with thicker paint, letting go of edges and just plain letting go was a great eye opener.  So much more fun than representational subject matter.  I'm moving forward with more abstracts!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Entwined

 

Click Here For More Info - $200, 8x10 inch, mixed media on watercolor paper

Finally finished, it's been a long road to completion.  Reminds me of the Beatle song "The Long and Winding Road".  Lol, I'm reaching but I did finally decide on a title.  These abstracts take so much more time and energy however I'm happy with the results on this piece.  Happy endings always spur me forward yet there's still a question whether to continue with abstracts.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Painting Step, pieces in progress

 

Continuing to work on these little mixed media abstracts I started a week ago.  My new pieces are painted now after the mask.  Next step below, mask removed from two pieces.

Next 2 steps are the hard part - collage and then bringing it all together.  With 3 pieces this will take awhile so I will post one piece at a time.  I'm seeing vines and maybe branches in the bigger piece, not sure where it will go yet.  Oh and I decided to use acrylics instead of watercolors and I'm happy with the results.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Uncontained

 

Uncontained seems appropriate for my new mixed media piece.  There really are no limits when you work with mixed media however you still strive for good design and composition.  That's always been a problem for me working with abstracts so I decided to get help by taking a virtual workshop with Karen Knutson.  She has amazing design skills and I'm beginning to get an understanding or feel for abstracts.  They are super hard for me so it's challenging, I spend way more time creating abstracts than my representational pieces.  It may look like I just threw a bunch of stuff on a board and walked away but each collage piece and pen work was very intentional.  I've got three more pieces started it will be fun to see where they go, even if they fail I will have learned something and moved farther along.  Still working to loosen up!

This painting is 8x10 inches and a combination of watercolor, collage and pen.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©