Gone Paintin'

As the title says - I'm gone painting. I'm headed to the north shore of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota for a plein air competition for the next week. This is one of my favorite areas in Minnesota. Grand Marais is a wonderful and quaint little harbor town on Lake Superior that offers good restaurants, art galleries, Sven and Ole's Pizza and beautiful trails and vistas abound. The plein air competition starts today and we have all week to paint the area and then hand in our top 3 framed and ready to hang next friday at noon. I have no idea what to expect except the opportunity to paint all week, enjoy the area and meet some other artists.
The painting showing above is from my first real outing in plein air. I participated in a workshop in Cody WY with absolutely no experience in plein air painting. It took me a few frustrating days to get acclimated to the process but about midweek I finally hit my stride - this is one of those strides. This is also the trip that was the defining factor in my serious pursuit of painting. This one isn't for sale as it is my reminder of that time.
So unless I happen to find a way to post up there - which I doubt, I will see you all when I get back in about nine days. Hope your next week will be as wonderful as mine!

One Last Look - sheep painting

I've really found a new fascination with sheep. I'm not sure why now, but I really do like their look of cotton balls with stick legs.
My grandparents used to live on a small farm in Ohio and I remember at certain times of the day - probably morning and night - the neighboring farmer would move his large flock of sheep and they would always follow a path along the fence line that was behind my grandparents house. Maybe that's where my fascination came from - I just forgot about it for 40 years!

One Last Look
6x8 oil on linen panel

Thanks for your visit!
©2008 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

Little Bambi

Bambi was my favorite, favorite movie when I was a kid. I remember playing the record on my record player over and over and I knew all those songs by heart. As an adult when I watched it I realized how dark it was and really quite sad but never the less it still ranks tops in my childhood memories.

A co-worker of mine's cousin has trail cams set up on his property in northern MN and he emails the latest pics every week. It's really been fun and a privilege to see all the animals that come by the camera - even the boyscout troop! This spring we've been watching the fawns. One was caught on camera at a very very young age and as the summer has gone by we could watch it grow. There have been others - one doe had twins and the fun thing is that each fawn has a definite and unique pattern to its spots.
For some reason that never occurred to me.

Bambi
6x8 oil on canvas panel
$130 + $12 s/h

Thanks for your visit!
©2008 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

Little Kid - Tribute to Earth Series

Last week my daughter and I went to the zoo to take a look at the new Grizzly Coast exhibit. I was hoping to get some good reference pictures of the animals for this group of paintings. In theory it was a great idea, the animals however, weren't having it. Many, or I should say most, were asleep....except for the farm animals. This is where I found this little guy.In the petting zoo. He was so cute and full of personality. And goats really do try to eat everything - he immediately started chewing on our purse and camera straps.

Little Kid
8x6 oil on canvas panel
SOLD

Thanks for your visit!
©2008 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

Sunday Stroll - Horse Painting

Sunday Stroll
8x6 Oil on Canvas Panel
$140 + $12 S/H

Thanks for your visit!
©2008 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

A Big Ol' Teddy Bear

I haven't painted any animals in a while so this week I'm honoring the animals of Earth in our Daily Painters tribute.
Black bears are found in Minnesota. Usually pretty far up north. I think I've seen one once - from a distance and safe in a car. When I was a kid, we used to come here for our vacations and go camping with my Aunt and Uncle and cousins and the one thing that stands out in my mind was that if I ever saw a bear I should run as fast as I can. Luckily I've never had to test that theory.

Big Ol' Teddy Bear
8x8 oil on Linen
Sides are painted and ready to hang framed or unframed
$140 + $12 s/h
on hold

Thanks for your visit!

© 2008 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

Tribute to a Beautiful Earth - "Deja Vu"

I wanted to try the lily pads again, they aren't as easy as one might think. I pulled out my reference photos and zeroed in on an area that I thought would be a good composition and wouldn't you know it, I finished it and realized it was almost identical to my previous plein air piece. Crazy!

Deja Vu
6x8 oil on linen panel


Please contact me if you are interest in this one.
Thanks for your visit.
©2008 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

Tribute to a Beautiful Earth Series - Cape Cod Sunset

My daughter just spent a week in a cottage on Cape Cod and being the dutiful daughter she is, she sent me some inspiration. Not only did she experience this beautiful sunset but she also got to see whales. Now that would be amazing.

On another note, I just found out I was juried into the fine art exhibition and competition at the Minnesota State Fair. Last year there were over 2000 entries and only 345 accepted so I feel pretty good about it all. Minnesota's state fair is one of the biggest in the country. One of the biggest attractions (next to the art of course!) is what food on a stick can be found. One of the latest is that Minnesota staple - Tator Tot Hotdish on a stick with Cream of Mushroom soup dipping sauce....nummy!!

Painting on a Stick anyone???

Cape Cod Sunset
sold

Please contact me if you are interested in this or any other paintings. kirkeeide@mac.com

Thanks for your visit!

©2008 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

Tribute to a Beautiful Earth Series - A Lone Lake Morning

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle, 1855


The lakes are abundant here in Minnesota. Even in the city you can't go far without coming upon one. I feel pretty lucky to have such beauty all around me.

A Lone lake Morning
8x16 oil on canvas panel


Please contact me if you are interested in this or any other paintings. kirkeeide@mac.com

Thanks for your visit!

©2008 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

Beautiful Earth - Wildflowers

Emerson is quoted as saying the Earth laughs in flowers. They do seem to be the expression of pure joy.

Wildflowers
6x8 oil on canvas panel
$140 + $12 S/H
Please contact me for purchase.

Thanks for your visit!
©2008 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

Sail in the Sunset

I think will continue the water theme this week.
The beautiful, mysterious and powerful sea, setting the stage for a glorious sunset.

Sail in the Sunset
6x8 oil on linen board
$140 + $12 S/H

Thanks for your visit!
©2008 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

River Grasses - landscape painting

Tribute To a Beautiful Earth: Celebrating and Conserving Our Planet
During the month of August, Daily Painters will be celebrating the beauty and conservation of our planet. Some of our members will be discussing conservation and preservation through their paintings and blogs, and others will be showcasing the beauty they find in the world all around them.
This certainly is not a stretch for me as that is what my paintings are all about - a celebration of our beautiful world. Be sure to check out all the wonderful artists at Daily Painters

Today's subject deals with water - our beautiful streams, rivers and lakes here in Minnesota.

River Grasses
8x6 oil on linen panel
$140 + $12 S/H

Thanks for your visit!
©Deb Kirkeeide. all rights reserved.