Pear, Pom and Persimmon Still llife painting

Pear, Pom and Persimmon

 As promised, a couple days late. This is the mate to the previous painting. Here is how they look hanging out together. If you are interested in both, contact me and I can offer you a Collector's discount. kirkeeide@mac.com

Pear, Pom and Persimmon

12 x 12

The Pair......

Autumn Trio

This is one of two still life paintings that could be hung separately or as a pair. I'll post the other tomorrow. Both are the same subjects, have the same framing and look great together.

Autumn Trio

12 x 12 (15 x 15 framed)

$750 + SH purchase here

Shipping billed separately

Halo

Halo

8x9.5 Oil

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide
$250 unframed. Purchase Here

I've been cleaning house in the studio. Recycling some paintings and trying some new things on some of the more salvageable pieces. I cropped in on this one and add more texture to her wings. I like her much better now and for now she is residing in a gorgeous frame that I've had for some time now.

If you are interested in her framed version, contact me ( kirkeeide@mac.com)  for image and price.

Checkmate - original Raven painting by Deb Kirkeeide

Checkmate

6x6 Oil on Linen

©2014

I had this idea to try for an encaustic piece and decided to try working it out on a small scale. In oils. Not sure why I chose that route - maybe it's comfort level. I've also started the encaustic and have found to a lot harder to control than I thought. I will post that at a later date, when I finish it.

I like how this little one turned out. I have no idea why I chose the checkered background. It would be intriguing if I had some deep, mysterious subconscious statement I was trying to make. Most likely I just saw one somewhere and thought it would be fun to try. I may try more.

Single Lady

Single Lady

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

Seeing as Minnesota has been fast forwarded into winter in January... this may be a little wistful thinking back to summer when it was warm. And flowers bloomed and added color to the landscape outside my windows.

The Remains of Autumn

The Remnants of Autumn

6 x 8 Oil on Arches Paper

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

Buy Here $135

This is a little plein air from last Autumn that I forgot to post. I was with  Kristin Grevich at her cabin in Grand Rapids, MN. We decided to paint. Mother Nature decided to rain. So we stood inside her boathouse/cabin studio and painted looking out through the large sliding doors. 

I love how each plein air painting triggers such vivid memories of time past. More than any other activity, I remember each location the weather and the company shared. Always a good time!

Show Off - peacock painting

Show Off

6x6 Oil/Linen

SOLD

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

Male peacocks are amazing. And quite the showoffs. On a visit to an aviary I came across a male peacock casually strolling the grounds. One minute, Mr Cool, quite aloof to his audience. In the next, he was strutting his stuff, in full regalia, seemingly showing off and quite impressed with himself.

This is another little study that may become a larger piece.

Two Hens

Two Hens

6 x 6 Oil

SOLD

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

A little warm up for a possible larger painting. These two look like they're in quiet pause after running out of conversation. Or maybe just contemplating where in the barnyard  they will go next.

Late Summer Blooms - Original floral oil painting

Late Summer Blooms

14 x 11 Oil

A floral bouquet painting celebrating the colors of late summer. I was inspired by an ad, made a trip to Trader Joe's for some flowers and set up the bouquet in my studio to paint as a study. Very loose and impressionistic. I love these colors. It really reflects the colors of the trees right now with bright pops of yellows and oranges against the still green trees.

$450 purchase here.

Max the Cat - Pet portrait

Max the Cat

12 x 9 Oil

Sold

©Deb Kirkeeide

This is Max. I was asked by his people to paint this portrait of their beloved cat. He is a handsome fellow isn't he?

In their words: Max was a lap cat and he loved to cuddle. He was very loyal, almost like a dog. He would loved to greet us at the door with tons of meows and head nods. He was very vocal cat. Max loved his food and was so motivated to eat that he would perform tricks for treats. He was a big cat at least until he got older.  He didn't care much about being outside, but he loved to check out little critters and birds through the window. 

I hope this painting will bring them many smiles and happy memories.

Lavender Bee - painting by Deb Kirkeeide

Lavender Bee

8 x 6 Oil

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

My friend and fellow artist, Nora Wildgen White has recently taken up the Green Sword in protecting our pollinators. In fact, she's got a swell website where you can download a free poster and find lots of great resources for protecting our pollinators future. I know I'm more informed and inspired by her passion. Check it out! Get a free poster and learn how you can help! BeeSwell.org

"Woodland Interlude" - Barred Owl Paintng

Woodland Interlude

15 x 20 Oil

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

SOLD

Silent Wisdom - Orignal wildlife painting by Deb Kirkeeide

Silent Wisdom

18 x 18 Oil
SOLD

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

This is a larger version of a  6 x 8 owl painting I did late last fall.  I am really happy with how this turned out and it looks even more dynamic in person.

Floral Fantasy

Floral Fantasy

12 x 16 Oil

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

Something a little different than my usual subjects.

Over the years these recurring visions combining women and nature keep showing up in my sketches. As of yet I've not quite figured out my approach to them. What I see in my mind's eye is not what lands on the canvas and because painting figurative is not in my comfort zone it takes me forever to get something I'm somewhat happy with. Consequently I spend a lot of time painting, wiping and repainting! But the only way to get comfortable is to keep pushing and trying new techniques and approaches. As frustrated as I get and think I should paint some other things in between I find I am obsessed  with trying to get these to canvas. Evidently these ladies need to be revealed.

So, this is a start. I'm obsessed lately with over exaggerated nature elements and big fantastical hair of various hues.  She may turn up again as I work out different techniques.

Henny Penny - Hen painting

Henny Penny

8x8x1.5 oil on cradled hardboard

SOLD

For lack of a better title, all that comes to mind is Henny Penny. Maybe Turkey Lurkey will join her some day. Come to think of it, I did have a wild urban turkey pass through my yard not long ago.

Henny is not a bird in my backyard but if I were so inclined she might be. I love the idea of fresh eggs and small urban "farms." but I have concluded that I am not cut out for that sort of commitment.

So I will advocate and cheer on all those who do!

Goldfinch - Birds in the Backyard Series - original oil painting by Deb Kirkeeide

Goldfinch

6x6 Oil on Cradleboard

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

Another visitor from the backyard.

My Little Chickadee - Birds in the Backyard Series - original oil painitng by Deb Kirkeeide

My Little Chickadee  

Oil on wood  6x6  

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

It's been a long time comin'.....

that Crosby Stills and Nash song is playing in my head.

Painting and inspiration has been pretty scarce this year but I can feel it starting to bubble up to the surface and I am feeling inspired and excited to paint again! 

Now to shake the dust off those brushes and work the kinks out - it always seems to feel a bit daunting after a long time away.

Little Finch - Birds in the Backyard Series - Purple Finch painting by Deb Kirkeeide

Little Finch

6 x 6 x 1.5  Oil on wood

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

A purple finch. Though to me, their coloring leans more to red. But whatever their color I love when they show up at the feeder.

Brilliant Red - Birds in the Backyard Series - Cardinal Painting by Deb Kirkeeide

"Brilliant Red"

8x8x1.5 Oil on Wood
SOLD
 

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

Another in this bird series, which I've decided to call "Birds in the Backyard" All birds I've observed at the feeders that are outside my studio windows. I think I could do a whole series on critters as well as I seem to have a multitude of those as well. Especially raccoons.

I love the cardinals - always such a bright spot of color in the day!

Lovey Dovey - Birds in the Backyard Series - Mourning Dove painting

"Lovey Dovey"

8x8x1.5 Oil on wood

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

A friend of mine, who lives in England, recently talked of the warmer weather there and asked if we  still had snow. I laughed. Hysterically.

Like much of the nation we seem to be stuck in the never ending winter. C'mon! It's March!
Spring is just a little more than 2 weeks away and here in MN we are still being hostage by sub zero temps, ice coated roads and 4ft thick ice on the northern lakes! I'm beginning to see the merits in hibernation.

Much to my surprise, the last few mornings I have heard birds singing! Which gives me hope that the weather will shift.

Having been away a bit from painting, I decided to "warm up" with some simpler small paintings of birds. to get back in the creative flow. (No surprise there, eh?) I also have been exploring some ideas for a slightly new direction that I'm eager to start in on. All in good time.

These little bird paintings are painted on cradled wood boards. They have painted sides and are ready to hang as is or would look nice in a floater frame.

Encaustics!

 

Sunflower

Encaustic and Oils  6x6

©2014 Deb Kirkeeide

Is it spring yet?

It's been a rough couple months. Between dealing with the emotional roller coaster of my dad's health and getting him the care he needs and this damnable Polar Vortex we've been held hostage in, I'm ready for springtime.

Consequently, my inspiration has been in hiding. 

In spite of all that's going on, there have been some bright spots. My daughters both came home for a visit. I got to spend time with my granddaughter and my parents got to meet her for the first time.

She charmed us all with her demure little smiles and attempts at crawling and I applaud her for her resilience in braving the long flights, the bitter cold and the many new faces she was surrounded with!

In January I attended an Encaustic workshop with Jeff Hirst. Jeff is a great teacher and taught us enough to go out in the world and conquer! I learned a lot and it sparked a lot of ideas.

 It was a good diversion from what was going on and a chance to just play with no end results in mind! For those of you unfamiliar with encaustic painting it is painting with hot beeswax and pigment. I've long been fascinated with it's translucent layers and textures. I loved it and am now in the process of getting set up to do more.

The sunflower piece was an experiment with an existing oil piece I had and adding wax and more pigment to it.

Below are some results from the workshop trying various techniques of carving into the wax, using transfers and just playing!

The dove is a transfer of a graphic illustration I had previously created. I then added layers of pigment and wax to add color. 

These next two are more abstract and playing with carving and layering. Abstract is something I don't attempt much but this was fun. The one below reminds me of a prairie field with wild flowers.

The other? Well, not really sure what that is! 

Stayed tuned for more to come as I get my mojo back!

If by chance you are interested in any of these let me know I'm sure they would be just as happy in your home as they are in mine!