The Garden

 

Acrylic on DaVinci Pro Panel, 12x12"

Playing with palette knives and abstracted images again with subject matter from my gardens, the painting is treated as a collage with a little story included.  We had a fancy pigeon that must have escaped and decided our yard was a good place to visit for the summer.  Looking him up on the internet I believed him to be a Saxon Pouter, he had these huge white feathers on his feet.  He always came for a meal of birdseeds, sunflower seeds, a drink, sometimes a bath and then a nap on top of the birdhouse in the painting.    He picked the birdhouse as his very own roost, chasing the little wrens away who had started a nest.  So there he sits next to the birdhouse for all time.  He became so familiar I had to give him a name, Sammy.  I miss him, he flew off when it started to get cold, his visits always cheered me.  I hope he found a safe warm place somewhere for the winter.  Maybe he returned home.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

The Yellow House

 This is a little 6x8" original acrylic painting on Ampersand gesso board that I finished recently.  I used a great photo reference from pixabay.com.  The orangish color is actually more of a pinky orange, funny how some colors don't translate very well but I love the captured light.  What a grand adventure it would be to visit this place and paint.  

In May when I get my Daily Paintworks gallery up and running, I will post this for sale.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Waiting For A Breeze

 

Click Here For More Info:  $250, 8x10 inches, acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand Gessobord

Passing through pixabay.com this photo reference caught my eye.  Those long stems created all this lovely negative space which is so fun to paint.  Crazy the things that inspire me, and you, others may pass by this same photo and not give it a second glance.  Although these dandy's make a fun painting, a single breeze however will release thousands of seeds looking for a nice watered lawn.

I use professional acrylic paints in all my acrylic paintings for permanence and longevity.  Ampersand Gessobord has a professional quality acid-free acrylic ground on a wood museum series panel.

Deborah A. 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 ©   

A Delicate Subject

 

Click Here For More Info:  $200, 8x8 inches, acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand Gessobord

Returning from vacation I was happy to find more of the peonies still blooming!  Their beauty is so short lived but I managed to capture a few more.  I discovered something about them this time around, the younger blossoms will close at night to open again in the morning.  How did I never notice that after 30 some years!  One more to post and they are done until next spring.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©   

Subtle Inspirations

 

8x8 Inches, Acrylic on a linen panel

Turns out we had a vacation planned just as my peonies were blooming!  Fortunately I had just enough time to get this one painted before leaving so these are a couple of the first blooms, first blooms are always the largest.  The subtle tones and values of peonies are so hard for me to capture and I have to confess to almost ditching this painting half way through.  A few choice words were said, brushes almost thrown and thoughts of never painting again promised.  I took a break or two.  Funny thing happened when I stood back to look at the finished piece, not only did it come together somehow it's my favorite peony painting so far.  Maybe a little blood, sweat and threats help.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Hope

 

Click Here For More Info - $125, 6x6 inches, acrylic on linen panel

Spring again and peony bloom time, yay!  I'm always hoping I'll get a chance to paint peonies every spring, sometimes it doesn't work out.  But this painting is about a different kind of hope, hope for peace, hope for unity, hope for those going through hard times and the list goes on.  I just felt like someone out there needs some kind of hope so here's thinking of you.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Summer Song

 

5x7 inches, Mixed Media on watercolor paper

This has been a summer of new landscaping, interior remodeling with a bit of health issues mixed in.  With all of that going on it's been hard to find time to create.  I've been playing with more mixed media to keep inspired.  This one was put away for awhile because I wasn't sure where it was going, it needed connection to pull it together.  I found a napkin with these big spots, moved it around and realized it was the missing piece.  Then the name just came, the painting said this is a song of summer because summer is busy, loud, noisy, swirling with constant movement, joyful and almost chaotic.  Summer wakes up with a scream, it sings and makes the most of having the little time to be loose and free, at least in the midwest when nature sleeps so long.  I hope you are having a joyful chaotic summer!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Sunflower Elephant Walk

 

Click Here For More Information:  $250, 9x12 inches, acrylic on linen panel

These were Mothers Day sunflowers I received from my daughter and her husband.  There were 15 sunflowers in all and they were too wonderful not to paint.  They were painted from life not a photo, I'm just late posting them.  Maybe I went a little crazy with the stripes but it makes the sunflowers vibrate (and I love stripes).  The elephant is a little bit of added whimsy. 

I'm taking some time to garden and do some experimental painting with inspiration from artist Karen Knutson.  I will probably add some mixed media into the process and see where it takes me.  

Enjoy your summer!  My crabapple trees were beautiful this spring, now the lilacs are blooming and soon the peonies which are heavy with buds.  The air is alive with bird songs and my toes are finally free to wiggle in the warm weather.  Ah summer!  

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

Opposite Attraction

 

 

Click Here For More Info:  $125, 5x7 inches, Acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand Gessobord

I'm really loving the pastels, usually my paintings are all about bright color, this is a nice change.  Most artists would understand the title but for those with little art background it has to do with the color wheel.  Pink and green (light green) are complimentary colors, they are opposite each other on the color wheel, they compliment each other.  If you have another meaning for the title let me know I'd love to hear.  One thing great about art work is it's a personal experience for the artist and the viewer.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

 

Three Cheers For Spring

 

Click Here For More Info - $175, 8x8 inches, Acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand Gessobord

I was in the mood to paint white daisies, these are actually white daisy type mums but they worked.  These little pastel vases were a Goodwill purchase some years back, they are favorites even with their tiny chips here and there.  I needed a third something and the little bluish bottle worked.  Now I have to find a third little vase in a pastel green.  The cheery bright colors are my response to spring and maybe the world getting back to a new normal.

My eight week drawing class for April was canceled, I'm a little disappointed but gives me more time to paint.  There is a virtual four week drawing class being offered as a substitute through Rumriver Art Center Anoka MN if anyone is interested.  It won't be set up as a basic drawing class but a time to get together and draw step by step with me while including some drawing principles.  

https://rumriverart.com/classes/virtual-art-classes/ 

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Feeling Spring

 

Click Here For More Information: $175, 8x8 inches, Canvas Panel

I needed some still life subjects, so these are no occasion flowers that brighten my studio.  And the lily smells so good!  I'm still working with the one inch brush and loving the look.  I've been trying to let go of details concentrating on shapes and values, the larger brush has been a big help.   Experimenting with different tools and techniques keeps me inspired.  There is something about this painting that reminds me a little of Van Gogh's style, I think it's the flowy leaves.

Little over a week to get my second vaccination.  Yahoo!

Keep well.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

 

Finally Tomatoes

 

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

We grew our own tomatoes this summer, first time in years, and I was so excited when the first ones ripened.  These are some of those first tomatoes, they were beautiful and tasted wonderful.  It's a reminder of the many blessings that surround us everyday.  Now it's many BLT's later, the tomatoes are slowing down and looking a bit worn due to heat and wind.  But my mini orange sweet peppers are still charging along and you will see them soon.

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

 

One That Lasts

Click Here To Buy It Now - $100, 5x7 inches, acrylic on 1/8" museum gessobord

This is the last peony I've painted for the spring season 2020.  I was going to name it The Last One but to put a positive spin on it the name changed to One That Lasts.  This is my favorite peony for 2020.  I had trouble finding a short glass vase, for some reason my short glass vase did a disappearing act.  How does that happen?  The stubborn part of me wouldn't give up until finally remembering my saved food jars under the sink, I found this short pickle relish jar which worked perfect after removing the label.  More info than you probably wanted to know, I just thought it would be fun to let you inside my imperfect world.

I did a gouache two color paint sketch (with white) and an acrylic paint sketch using bright colors yesterday.  I will post them soon.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright 

Peony In A Bottle

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

Goodbye peonies until next year.  I'm happy that a few from my garden made it to paint.  I have one more to post then sadly they are done.  I do however have some photos I took for those winter blues and the need for spring.  But summer is just beginning, the world is sunny and warm, yay!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Gifts From The Garden

Click Here To Buy It Now - $175, 8x8 inches, Acrylic on museum gessobord

The peony season passes so quickly, the wind and rain can also play a factor.  I promise myself every year to give the peonies their day in paint.  They started blooming last week, huge and beautiful but I was in the middle of something else and growing anxious.  To set my mind at rest I decided to pick a bunch and if nothing else I would photograph them for reference later.  Good thing because the rain and wind hit.  This painting was actually painted after the photo session and while the flowers were still fresh.  The lingering scent in my studio reminds me of those gorgeous blooms, oh how I wish they lasted longer.  They truly are a gift!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Flower Dancer

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

It's not always easy coming up with a title for paintings.  But I'm particularly fond of this title since bees always look like they are doing a little dance on top the flower to get at the pollen.  The little busy dancers covered in speckles of pollen are one of summers pleasures.  When I see a bee I feel like all things are right in the world.  Size has nothing to do with importance.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

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