Under A Lace Umbrella

Click Here To Buy It Now - $100, oil on gessobord, 5x7 inches

This painting idea all started because of a fun lacy umbrella I found at a flea market in California.  My grand daughter who visited this past summer was the model and who did not want to pose for me especially not dressed up, she is 15, posing is definitely not on her "cool" radar.  However I promised a modeling fee and worked fast trying to catch a pose.  Having lots of lacy blouses was not a problem but I had to be imaginative for the skirt, grabbing a lace table cloth and wrapping it around her jeans.  She also was prone to slouching which didn't work with the pose and I had to remind her to sit up; in past times it was not considered lady like to slouch, maybe corsets had a little to do with it (slouch and you can't breath).  Anyway I can't imagine life without jeans!  And corsets, pure torture but didn't the women look good?  

Due to the limitations 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

Summer Lunch

Contact the artist if interested in purchasing, oil on gessobord, 8x10 inches

I'm finally posting this painting completed this past spring using a reference photo from a few years ago.  I did the painting then traveled to California to spend time with my daughter and grandkiddos.  Life gets busy in the summer, so much to do and see.  That's what I love about this painting, everyone in Minnesota lives outside in the summer and "Summer Lunch" is a little snap shot of that life.  Us Minnesotan's, like anyone living in the cold winter climates, get out and soak up as much sun as possible in our short summers.  Fishing, camping, festivals, parks, biking, walking, gardening, so much to do, so little time!  Oh and the MN State Fair is coming, I hope to get another painting in this year, wish me luck.

Due to the limitations 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

Beach Birthday

Not For Sale - 5x7 inches, oil on gessobord

I have a niece who takes wonderful photos, this painting is of her little girl she photographed on the beach for her birthday.  The blue tutu is priceless and the birthday hat tells the story.  I loved the photo so she gave me permission to paint it.  

Crown Of Glory

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

Every time I see a lovely older lady with gray or white hair I think of Proverbs 16:31 which says a gray (or hoary) head is a crown of glory.  As I look in the mirror that Bible verse helps me through the day.

I camped out at the Minneapolis Conservatory (a wonderful glass building full of tropical plants and toasty temperatures) one day in the middle of winter in a hall way with windows all down one side.  The sunlight was perfect shining through on all the people walking the hallway.  I wish more photos would have turned out, even this one was flawed, as I snapped the photo a child popped into the left corner obscuring the young woman's feet.  Artistic license allows for making things up if you want or need to and I needed to paint this lovely white haired lady.  She reminds me so much of my Mom in the last years before she passed.

Due to the limitations 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

Sidewalk Lunch

Click Here To Buy It Now - $125, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

I should have named this my upside down painting because I painted it from a photo turned upside down.  I've been hearing that it's a good exercise to paint an image upside down as it frees you from over thinking the image and you look at shapes vs subject matter if that makes sense.  I loved the exercise and I made it all the way to the end without peaking although it was really hard not to cheat. There were also nice surprises when I turned it right side, number one - the people looked like people and all their parts were in the right places, number two - I never saw the baseball cap the girl was wearing until turned right side up.  Great fun, I recommend trying an upside down painting at least once.

Due to the limitations 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

California Trek

NFS:  oil on gessobord, 8x10 inches

Hiking in California with my daughter and grandson we came across these hikers.  They really look like serious hikers with their backpacks and go for it strides.  Since it's very dry in California in the summer the grasses are usually golden colored and in this case there was a lot of orange as well which is beautiful against the blue sky.  I'm also experimenting again with a very loose unfinished paint style and I'm really liking the affect.

Due to the limitations 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

A Closer Look

Click Here To Buy It Now - $200, oil on gessobord, 8x10 inches

I had fun taking photos of people looking at paintings in the Minnesota State Fair art exhibit this past August.  I was trying to catch someone looking at my piece but it wasn't worth the wait, LOL.  Anyway I wanted to try this one because the limited palette of colors posed a challenge.  I'm particularly fond of the way the lady's shirt turned out, it's my favorite part of the painting.  I have one more art admirer to paint plus some other photos from the fair.....lots to do!

Due to the limitations 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

Sidewalk Sunshine

Sold - oil on gessobord, 8x10 inches

I promised to give an update on this painting that was accepted in the 2015 Minnesota State Fair, well life got busy but I have great news.  The painting received an Honorable Mention, a Ron Merchant Award (local artist, check out his website) and it was sold.  I was so honored and encouraged by the recognition I received for this painting.  A huge thank you to Ron Merchant for his award to support and encourage a fellow oil painter.  He also sent me a copy of his book "Born By The River, People Of The Mississippi River Towns".  I'm still flying a little high but excited to get painting again.

Sidewalk Sunshine

Oil on gessobord, 8x10 inches

I'm excited to report that "Sidewalk Sunshine" was accepted in the 2015 Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition which opens August 27th and continues through September 7th.  It's truly an honor to be accepted as they only choose a few hundred out of thousands, so I'm feeling honored.  If your in town check out the show and enjoy the Minnesota State Fair, it's an event! 

The painting will be for sale at the MN State Fair and if no one takes it home I will post it for sale on Daily Paintworks.  

(C) Deborah Ann Kirkeeide

Lakeside Read

Click Here To Buy It Now - $100, oil on gessobord, 8x10 inches

I live in Minnesota and instead of oceans we have a lot of lakes and the people here make good use of them.  It was one of those indian summer days last fall and everyone was scrambling to get to a lake and enjoy some sunshine before our harsh winter begins.  I saw this lady on the beach and loved how the light was hitting her shoulders and reading material.  I wonder if she was doing some school homework or possibly something from work but no matter, just like many Minnesotan's she was squeezing in one more day before the big freeze.

Bike Time

Click Here To Buy It Now - Sold, oil on gesso board, 6x6 inches

I was following this guy on one of my early morning walks in California last summer.  The light was so great, the colors, the dog; I couldn't have asked for better subject matter.  This is another painting where I've been experimenting with different size and styles of brushes and also that scribbly/scratchy technique which is very fun.

Lady In Blue

Click Here To Buy It Now - $200, oil on gesso board, 8x10 inches

I photographed these ladies at a local art festival last summer.  I take a lot of photos in hopes of using a few for paintings, it always feels like Christmas when I load my photos and find one that inspires me like this one did.  These ladies were actually in the background and I cropped everything else out.  I also started experimenting with new painting techniques learned in a workshop this past winter and I'm having fun with scribbly scratchy brush work.

I need to note that the bright foreground sidewalk color is a tad more yellow than the photo shows but this was the best I could adjust the colors.

Morning Trek

Oil On Gessobord, 5x7 inches, Not For Sale

This summer I enjoyed many early morning walks with my sister in Colorado while visiting our brother.  This painting is a result of a moment captured on one of those walks.  We all live in different states and don't get together enough so these moments are treasured memories.  

Walk Of Light

Click Here To Buy It Now - $50, oil on gessobord, 5x7 inches

I planted myself on a bench along a corridor of windows, it was morning and the light was shining in so beautifully.  I caught several people walking through the light, this little girl was one of them.  I plan to paint another light walker one of these days when the mood to paint another figure strikes me.  

Summer Festival

Click Here To Buy It Now - $100, oil on gessobord (6x6in)

I love going to events and places where I can capture (via my camera) interesting groups of people.  This little group was captured at an Art Festival where I knew interesting folk would abound.  I was a bit overwhelmed with everything going on in the photo but decided to have fun and things seemed to come together.  My favorite part of the painting is the girl in the background with the red shoes.