Happy Birthday !

    

                             Happy Birthday Krista!

Today is my daughter's birthday. She is one who celebrates her birthday for at least a week - (a month if she can.) It's her favorite day of the year. So far the festivities are into day 4.5

so far there have been surprise visits from a college friend and her sister from out of state, dinners with friends out, the symphony, camping in Moab, UT (all organized by her boyfriend - you gotta love this guy!) and the best looking birthday breakfast I've ever seen... I really should be there right now!

 This painting is of her from when she was three or so. Hard to believe this little one is a grown woman now. When did all that happen??

Happy Day Krista! Hugs all over the place! maybe next time you and I will have some drinks and sing karoake to celebrate...

Flora, Goddess of Flowers

 Flora

24x18 Oil on Canvas

As this painting evolved, I wondered at what I was actually saying here (I'm still not sure, but does it really matter?) The name Flora kept coming to mind. So I wondered if there was a goddess somewhere by that name.
And of course there was! In Roman mythology she was the goddess of flowers and the season of spring. Being one of the fertility goddesses, her association with spring gave her particular importance at the coming of springtime. Her festival , the Floralia, was held in April or early May and symbolized the renewal of the cycle of life, marked with dancing, drinking and flowers. How else do you celebrate such things?

Anybody care to join me in a celebration?

Coming up:

Did I tell you that I was this weeks featured artist on Empty Easel? I got a nice little review on my animal paintings. Check it out - both my review AND the site. It's a great resource for artists.

Today marks the opening of the Spring Art Salon at Anne and Friends in Wayzata, MN with new nature inspired art. I was asked to participate with a wonderful group of artists. And April 30 is their ARTY PARTY to celebrate (with dancing, drinking and flowers???) Should be fun! Stop by if you are in the area.

And next weekend is the Lake Minnetonka Arts Tour in which I am participating. I will be the guest (I evidently don't live close enough to the lake, I am up for moving though) of another artist, sculptor Patty Carmody Smith. I love her work and it seems we both have a fondness for ravens, nature and the feminine spirit. Check out her wonderful art. And come and see us! We're at location 16.

Return to the Summer Queen

Return to the Summer Queen

8x16 Oil on Canvas

©2010 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

There are  paintings that sit here and stare at me. They whine ("am i pretty? I don't feel pretty... why is she prettier than I am?") and complain. And the longer I look at them the more I want to try and improve on them. Quite often I realize I should have left them alone and have just sent them off on their merry way to the island of misfit paintings. (my daughters have declared themselves rulers of this island)

So, I kept looking at this one from last year and agreed she looked a little pale and washed out so I decided to give her  a little makeover. I don't know that I improved on her, though she does have a lot more pizazz, I think. It gave me an opportunity to play and experiment with technique and it also ties in with another painting I've been working on lately, in theme and technique.

Obviously the summer Queen has no problem with hayfever. If this were a portrait of me, there would be a bottle of Zyrtec tucked in there. Spring has sprung with a vengeance here, pollen, pollen everywhere!

Sunny Days

Sunny Days

18 x 18 Oil on Canvas

Another large painting - at least for me it is. I think I am still fond of smaller paintngs - I feel like I have more control for some reason. But one has to grow and stretch and try new things! Right? Lots of thick juicy paint on this one - I'm hoping it will be dry enough to drop of for a show in a few days.

I started watching the series The Impressionists last night. I highly recommend it. It's inspiring and it allows you to see these artists as human - just like the rest of us!

©2010 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.

Here Kitty Kitty - a portrait of a leopard

Here Kitty Kitty

 a portrait of Sasha

12 x 12 oil on canvas

I thought I would try my hand at another "kitty". This is Sasha, a leopard that a friend of mine used to know. This was a bit of a challenge for several reasons. For one, I just haven't done many cats and am not all that familiar with their bone structure. But it was fun to do and I used both a pallette knife and brush for this one. I somehow feel compelled to use the knife when I pain larger. But I like the texture that it gives the painting.

This has been a challenging week with the loss of 3 family members in my close and extended families. Each unrelated, but very sad circumstances and it's been a rollercoaster of emotions with all being so close together. It's been a bit difficult concentrating on painting. 

So I want to dedicate this in memory of Jill, Dave and Paul. Our hearts are heavy that you have left us but full of light because you graced our lives.

Here Kitty Kitty

12 x 12 oil on Canvas

$425 + 15 S/H

please contact me if you are interested in purchase.

Thank you!

©2010 Deb Kirkeeide. All rights reserved.