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 ©

Vines & Branches Continued

 

This is part of the ongoing project of three pieces started a few weeks ago where mask was applied first then paint and mask removed.  Now I have moved on to adding the collage pieces, you can see I've got this vine and branch kind of thing going on and it almost has an asian art feel to it.  I played with moving different pieces of collage around before gluing, it took me forever before envisioning something.  You can see that process below in the next photo.  It gave me a start and something to go by but it may move in a different direction, not sure at this point.  So the next step is to add a connecting paint layer in darks.  I started adding some pencil designs to the piece to help me along.  The title is only temporary making it easier to refer to.  

Postcards for Seniors

So the weather gets nice and I do some yard work then can't walk for two weeks.  The back is getting better slowly but again no painting, however my art center is collecting handmade postcards for a senior care center so I had to try and make some.  I've been working on these little mixed media cards the last couple of days, they are small: 4x4 inches and 4x6 inches.  Thought I would share and maybe give you some ideas of your own.  Mixed media is the best fun as I've said before, they are so freeing.  I used acrylics, oil pastels, collage, black pen and stencils to create these.  I also used some geli plate backgrounds I made for a mixed media class a while ago.  I keep every scrap of paper, experiments, old mail envelopes, etc. to use in mixed media pieces but really paper doesn't take up that much room.  It's so much fun to sit and put these together.  The phrases are printed out on my computer and some have painted washes on them.

Birthday Bouquet

Click Here To Buy It Now - $400, Acrylic on museum gessobord panel, 9x12 inches

When I receive flowers I have a hard time not painting them and this birthday bouquet was hard to resist.  Because flowers are so short lived I feel good about capturing them with paint, allowing them to live a little longer.

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.


(c) Deborah Ann Kirkeeide

Old Friends

Click Here To Buy It Now - $200, Acrylic on Museum gessobord panel, 8x10 inches

More vintage vehicles from the old car yard in Kingman Arizona.  Again I'm exploring acrylics by using drips.  Someone told me that this painting looked as though the viewer was looking through a dirty car windshield, I like that image.

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.


(c) Deborah Ann Kirkeeide

Once Was a Town

Click Here To Buy It Now - $200, Acrylic on linen panel, 8x10 inches

On one of my travels out west there was this cool ghost town, unfortunately it was not open to the public at the time.  I skirted around the fence taking as many photos as possible and so sad I couldn't see more.  I love working with drips you can create in acrylics, they especially lend themselves to old or vintage subject matter.  

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.


(c) Deborah Ann Kirkeeide

Riverside Willows

Sold - Acrylic on linen panel, 8x10 inches

My first plein air painting working with acrylics!  I love my Masterson Stay Wet Palettes, they make all the difference in keeping the acrylics from drying up on the palette.  Plein air painting is a challenge and this day I was so cold my teeth were chattering, towards the end I could hardly keep my hand from shaking to lay paint.  Yesterday's plein air painting I was wearing capris and sandals, crazy spring weather!

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.


(c) Deborah Ann Kirkeeide

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

Lakeside Snack

Not For Sale - Acrylic on linen panel, 8x8 inches

I painted this for an art competition with the theme "Artists In Flight".  I went searching through my photos of birds with no luck then remembered a trip with my daughter and grandchildren years before when they fed the gulls.  I took elements from several photos to come up with this composition then experimented with a red underpainting.  The lake is actually Lake Superior in Duluth MN which really feels like being at the ocean, even has a lighthouse.  I loved the expression on my grandson's face, he was mesmerized watching the gulls.  

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

Valentine Bouquet

Click Here To Buy It Now - $300, acrylic on gessobord, 8x8 inches

Flowers from my hubby for Valentines Day!  I've been yearning to paint flowers again but a little afraid due to unsuccessful attempts from previous flower paintings.  Time is a good healer, allowing me to forget past failures.  I love the leaf shapes in this bouquet, they were begging to be painted.

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

A Place To Sit

Click Here To Buy It Now - $300, Acrylic on gessobord, 8x10 inches

I am yearning for summer but it was the shapes from the house and umbrella that caught my interest.  The photo reference is from a friends patio a few years ago; it had a big dark planter behind the table that ruined the cool shape on the house so I removed it.  Creative license is so great!  Anyway I had fun with this, and looking forward to sitting in a warm place again to soak up the sun.

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

Succulence

Click Here To Buy It Now - $300, acrylic on linen panel, 8x8 inches

This is one of the paintings where I experimented with high flow acrylics for an under painting (see below).  I used the high flow acrylics as a washy value study which turned out pretty fun all by itself. I tried to save some of that cool drippy texture in the completed painting leaving the background very sketchy.  I learned a bunch from this experiment and hope to incorporate and continue to work with the high flow washes and drips.  My other under painting did not turn out so good in fact it will be a do over.  It turned out dark and for some reason in a much tighter style but that failure led to my success with Succulence. So which do you prefer, the completed painting or the under study wash?

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

Just Grapes

Click Here To Buy It Now - $100, acrylic, 6x6 inches

I had the urge to paint one day but no idea what to paint and no inspiration.  I wanted to paint something simple to get back into painting after my long absence.  Fruit can be a good choice but I only had some left over grapes and nothing else inspired me.  I wondered what to paint with the grapes and going with the simple idea I thought, why not just grapes.  And there you have it, "Just Grapes".   Grapes are super amazing with all their subtle color and highlights and this bunch had really cool stems.  I will have to try green grapes one day.

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

For Sale

Click Here To Buy It Now - $250, Acrylic on canvas panel, 8x10 inches

I took the reference photo for this painting years ago at an antique store.  These chairs were sitting just outside the door, I loved the light, shadows and all those spindles.  I could never figure out how to paint the scene until recently and for some unknown reason it just came to me.  Funny how that works, maybe it was just getting over my fears but I'm happy with the results.  I have some other chair photos, maybe time for another series.

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

At The Fair

Click Here To Buy It Now - $200, Acrylic on linen panel, 8x8 inches

Minnesota has a great state fair in fact they call it the great Minnesota get together and it is.  The fair is huge and attracts tons of people, its a fun place to photo people, umbrellas, animals and all sorts of things plus eat to your hearts desire.  I painted this from a photo of the fair I took last summer taken from a distance away and just happened to see this great row of colorful umbrellas.  Most photos don't turn out to be paint worthy but once in a while you get a good one, this was a good one.

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