Sacred Thorn Apple

Sunday was spent at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum with my sister and cameras in hand. Made many inspiring discoveries and came away with lots of reference material. One of my discoveries was this beautiful, elegant plant called a Sacred Thorn Apple. When I looked it up I discovered one of it's medicinal uses is to cure insanity...or drive you insane trying to paint it's white flowers. I'm finding white objects not so easy to paint and am determined to be able to see it's many hues and translate them through paint. There will most likely be more attempts at this and some of this plant's thorny fruit and its starshaped bud.

Sacred Thorn Apple
6x8 original oil painting
canvas hardboard



2007 Deb Kirkeeide
More paintings can be seen on my website

Got My Eye On You

This started out as a sketch, experimenting with color and shape. Really just doodling. But I like it. I like the texture of the partially wiped background and the sketchiness of it. Almost like a watercolor approach. I would like to experiment with a larger painting using layers and washes of transparent color like this.

I think this looks like someone observing a secret world through this tiny little window - maybe a window to the soul.

2007 Deb Kirkeeide
More paintings can be seen on my website

Earthy Snowflakes

copyright 2007 Sue O'Kieffe

I recently came across Sacred Circle Mandalas by Sue O'Kieffe. She creates mandalas using her wonderful photography from nature. In a conversation we had, I wondered what a painting would look like as a mandala. These are the results. She worked with an image of my painting of Minnehaha Creek and went further by combining it with one of her own images and the results are beautiful. I think they look like Earthy Snowflakes - combining the colors of our landscape with the the winters we are so accustomed to associating Minnesota with. Please go to her site for more images and details on her process. It's well worth it. This was fun Sue, thanks!

Still Standing

As I said, I was meeting with a friend to paint "en plein air". This is the result. We found this great old barn just down the road from her house. It definitely has had better days but it is still here and still standing. There is such a great character about old barns. They bring about a curiosity of the people who lived and worked the farm, the kids that played there, the animals it sheltered.
The day was perfect, the companionship, the surroundings and the joy of doing what you know you're supposed to be doing.

SOLD

After the Rains

After spending most of my week on the art of business and the business of art, I needed to paint. I find when I get pulled away from painting for a long period of time it feels like something is missing. And it doesn't flow as easily after a long break. The brushes, the paint, somehow feel rusty and it takes a little time to get reacquainted and get back into that old familiar groove.

I've mentioned before that this tree is my favorite. I look at it everyday and have decided to do a series of it at different times of the year or day. This is after a rainfall that left everything heavy with moisture and a cast of blue.

Today I'm painting plein air with a good friend and wonderful artist Kristin Grevich who's work has grown so much in the short time that I have known her. You should check her work out.

Quite A Colorful Group

The Painting of the Day is an earlier one of mine. I am often more drawn to produce in the store for it's shape and color over it's nutritional value. This still life was a result of one such trip. This group made such a colorful display sitting on my counter and it is now a colorful display for the wall.

Colorful Group
6x8 oil on archival panel

If you are interested in this or any other paintings please contact me. kirkeeide@mac.com
copyright 2007 Deb Kirkeeide

Little Creek Little Fall

This is a little fall that I came upon while hiking in Utah. This little creek ran alongside the trail we were on. This reminds me of the areas along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Northern Minnesota. Beautiful little creeks and rivers running through the trees all leading to the lake. I might have to make a trip up there soon.

Little Fall
8x6 oil on Archival Panel
Available

Inquiries? kirkeeide@mac.com

Copyright 2007 Deb Kirkeeide

Serenity

I've been thinking of the Wyoming mountains lately. The title pretty much sums up the experience of this little plein air. This was painted in Teton National Park. After an in-studio, four day workshop and battling a painful back issue, I got out painting with two friends on our last day in Jackson. We spent the entire day painting. It was serenity.

Serenity
6x8 oil on canvas panel
SOLD

Storm Comin'

This is one my first experiences at plein air. I attended a week long workshop at the 7D ranch in the mountains of Cody, Wyoming. What a fantastic experience that was. The weather changes quickly up there and this storm went away as quickly as it showed up, but we were spared. I love the simple lines and composition of this one. As simple as this painting is, it really takes on a life of it's own in different light. At times looking very 3 dimensional.

Storm Comin'
8x10 Oil on Panel



copyright 2007 Deb Kirkeeide

One Tree, two versions

This magnificent tree lives in my backyard or maybe I should say I live in it's yard since it has been here way longer than I have.
I love it and am fascinated by it's form and character. It has great presence. I've always thought to do a series of paintings capturing it's many guises throughout the year. These were done plein air on the same day the first being painted late morning and the other in the evening. Both are 6x8 oil on Raymar panels

copyright 2007 Deb Kirkeeide

Misty Morning

This is from a landscape project on the Wet Canvas site. The original scene has a road leading back into the trees mine became a stream. I love the mood and atmosphere in this one. To me it seems mystical and peaceful.

Misty Morning
6x8 oil on archival panel

Available

Inquiries? kirkeeide@mac.com

copyright 2007 Deb Kirkeeide

Bathed in Blue

This is of the Tetons towards the end of the day after the sun dropped behind the mountains. These mountains are amazing. So massive and rugged and always seemed to be bathed in blue. They never seemed real to me, but more like a painted backdrop behind the rest of the landscape.

Bathed in Blue
10 x 12, oil, Raymar Canvas Panel
Available

Inquiries? kirkeeide@mac.com

copyright 2007 Deb Kirkeeide

Minnehaha Creek

I love this one. It just feels so tranquil to me. The creek is near my house. Something compelled me to go for a walk and take my camera even though it was hot, overcast and air so thick you could swim in it. This was a view from the little bridge over the creek. What really drew me in was the reflections on the surface and the patterns of plants and sand beneath water. At any rate I came home and painted it and it just came together.

Minnehaha Creek
10 x 12 Oil on Raymar panel

Inquiries? Please feel to contact me kirkeeide@mac.com
Copyright 2007 Deb Kirkeeide

Last Light

I am on a landscape kick for the moment. This was from my trip out West last year. Heading back to the cabin late in the day. The sky was magnificent. I like the looseness and the sense of drama in this one. I decided to try a different style of brush than the type I usually use and I love the spring and tension in these brushes. I can't help but think of Carol Marine's comment a while back about her magic brush - they do feel magical.

Last Light
6x8 oil on Raymar panel SOLD
Inquiries? Please write kirkeeide@mac.com
copyright 2007 Deb Kirkeeide