All Ears

 

Click Here For More Info:  $130, 6x6 inches, 1/8" acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord

This is Guttorm and I truly believe he smiles.  My dog Niki learned to smile and greeted me with one everyday when returning from work.  This is another of the Boys from my week with the alpacas, you can read the write up on my blog.  Guttorm is a social butterfly or maybe it was just the treats we carried to entice the group.  Alpacas are so dang cute!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide © 

Surprise!

 

Click Here For More Info:  $150, 6x6 inches, acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand Gessobord

This is Boris from my week of alpaca drawing and photographing.  See my blog write up and photos of my alpaca week.  It was such a fun experience and so lucky to have the opportunity to see alpacas up close and personal.  This painting is from my favorite photo of the boys, there were four male alpacas all with different personalities.  I felt compelled to paint in a loose fun style to match the expression.  

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide © 

A Week With Alpacas

 

I spent all week photographing and drawing alpacas with six other creative people (I will try to post a drawing later).  This was a drawing camp offered by Rumriver Art Center in Anoka MN, https://rumriver-art-center.business.site.  We were a little disappointed that they had just been sheared but it actually turned out to be a bonus since it was easier to see their bone structure and the owner promised to have us back in the fall to see them with full coats.  Most the time the alpacas ignored us and were only mildly curious until we offered treats then things got interesting as you can see above with Guttorm looking over my shoulder.  Guttorm was also the know spitter of the group so we were wary of him otherwise they were pretty mild mannered.  The last day they got a little frisky and ended up arguing and spitting at each other.  Fernando the boss was always keeping Guttorm in line.  How lucky were we to be able to see the alpacas up close and personal, sometimes a little too personal.  What a great experience!  I will try to capture some alpacas in paint.

A BIG thank you to Beth!!

Deborah Ann 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 ©