Busy at the Easel

My daughter was married in July and since then, I've been very focused on my painting.  So focused that I haven't spent much time on the computer.  I have been working hard to improve my brushwork and color and feel that I'm starting to get a little more consistent results.  My goal is to soon be posting art on a regular basis, but for now I'm staying up to my elbows in wet paint.

Here's a little piece that I did on Friday.  I haven't titled him yet, but it's a late afternoon setting, and he seems to be looking in the distance for a familiar person to run and greet....

I'm now taking dog portrait commissions for the holidays.  If you need a gift for someone with a cherished pet, a painting that captures the animal's personality is a great gift.  Contact me at

mailto:info@juliekirkland.com for more information and you can see more examples of my portraits on my website, http://www.juliekirkland.com/.

My Mug

This week's Daily Paintworks Challenge was to paint your mug.  I sat mine on the sill of my studio window and set about trying to capture the feeling of the sun shining on it. !   "My Mug," 6 x 6 in. oil on panel, $75 plus shipping and tax (if applicable). Or bid on it in my Daily Paintworks Auction..   For more information, contact me at info@juliekirkland.com

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/jkirkland-51

Leading Her Own Parade

My daughter's wedding was just last week and it was a truly wonderful event. After two weeks of not painting, I'm trying to ease myself back into it!

I'm participating in a show at the Tri Lakes Center for the Arts that opens on August 6th. The show's theme is "I Am Woman" and it will be paintings of women, by women. Marianne Gunter is curating the show and requested that I show my African women's portraits along with anything else I had. I had photographed this little girl at "Territory Days" here in Colorado Springs, and she seemed to have the perfect attitude for "I Am Woman." In real life, she was clutching a juice cup close to her body. I left out the cup, substituted the balloon, and suddenly she was leading her own parade! 8 x 10 oil on panel. Framed. $300

www.juliekirkland.com

Snowy Barn Owl



Several years ago, I went on a terrific artist fieldtrip to the Raptor Rescue Center just outside of Pueblo, CO. It was an amazing opportunity to see all of the eagles, falcons and owls up close and I came away with lots of reference photos. This is a little study (4 x 4" on archival paper) in preparation for a full-length painting that I'd like to do of the owl.
If interested contact me at info@juliekirkland.com or visit the auction on Daily Paintworks.

www.juliekirkland.com

It Takes Two to Tango



I've been working hard to capture the same luminosity in oil that I'm known for in my watercolors and am happy with the results that I got in this piece.  My favorite part is the intense glow in the shadows.  Or maybe it's the orange light dripping over the side of the shadowed tablecloth.  Or maybe it's the leaves on the yellow tomatoes reaching gracefully to each other......   Are you getting the idea that I'm pleased with this painting?  "It Takes Two to Tango,"  8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas panel.  If you are interested in this painting, contact me at info@juliekirkland.com

Bathing Beauty (Reprise)

You may remember seeing this bathing beauty a few weeks ago when I posted her the first time. I was never quite happy with the upper left hand corner of the painting. Yesterday, I changed the dull gray corner by popping in this sunlit summer grass, and the painting really pulled together. Questions? Email me at info@juliekirkland.com. You can bid on this painting by clicking the label below. Bidding starts at only $50.

www.juliekirkland.com

"Kitchen Acrobats"

Ever wonder how all of those dishes and food stack up next to the sink?  Don't blame your spouse, kids or roommates!  It's the Kitchen Acrobats!  8x8" oil on canvas panel, unframed.   For more information, contact me at info@juliekirkland.com
You can see more of my work at www.juliekirkland.com.

To view my online auction on this painting, click on this link:

"Lemons and Daisies," Original Watercolor Painting, Julie Kirkland

Blue and yellow are fresh, happy colors that remind me of cool summer breezes.  And what could be more refreshing than "Lemons and Daisies"?  This 15 x 22" watercolor will brighten any corner of your home! 

For purchase information, contact me at info@juliekirkland.com or visit my wesite, www.juliekirkland.com

"Two of a Kind"

I haven't been doing my little warm up paintings lately because I seem to enter the studio with something else demanding my attention.  This week, I'm trying to start the day with a little 5 x 7" painting like "Two of a Kind."  Oil on archival mat board, $40 unframed plus tax and shipping.
Contact me at info@juliekirkland.com or http://www.juliekirkland.com/

"Bathing Beauty", Colorado Artist Julie Kirkland, Contemporary Realism

Summer is here and it's getting warmer in my studio than I find comfortable--perhaps that's what led me to paint this little gal sitting in that cool, blue water! "Kiddie Pool," 6 x 8 framed oil, $140, tax and shipping included. Questions? Contact me at info@juliekirkland.com.

Updated Slide Show

Today I'm sharing my updated video clip. I hope that you enjoy it! You can contact me at info@juliekirkland.com.

Kit and Kaboodle

SOLD

This week's Daily Paintworks Challenge was to paint a cat photo that was posted and here's my finished piece.  I love the way that the eyes turned out!  4 x 4" oil on panel (shown slightly larger than actual size), framed.  $75 plus tax and shipping. 

www.juliekirkland.com

Colorado Plein Air

Plein air season has arrived for me!  My "happy place" is to be outdoors painting in the sunshine.  This particular morning I was painting at Red Rocks Park in Colorado Springs and produced this little study.  I plan to use it as a color reference for a larger painting sometime. 

Canned Carrots Still Life in Oil by Colorado Artist Julie Kirkland

This week's painting challenge was to paint your vegetables. I was a little intimidated by the lacy leaves on the carrots, but ended up liking the way they turned out.

Self-Portrait

I hope that this doesn't scare you!  I'm one of 10 artists who study with Tim Deibler every other week (http://www.timdeibler.com/).  This week's classwork was to paint a self-portrait, and I fully didn't intend to do so.  I've never been tempted to paint myself at all.  But fate conspired against me as this week's Daily Painters Challenge was to paint, you guessed it, a self-portrait.  Fortunately, the challenge specified that you could be serious or silly.  I grabbed on to silly!  I've had a lot of fun comments about it from fellow daily painters on the site and I feel like it captures a major part of me!  Self-portrait, oil, 8x10.

www.juliekirkland.com

Utah

oil study, 5 x 7"

SOLD

I just returned yesterday from a week in the Provo, Utah area with my "art peeps."  This is our second painting trip together and we enjoyed ourselves so much that we're already planning the next trip.    Most of our time was spent studying fabulous art in Bringham Young University's  Art collection and the Springfield Art Museum.   Halfway through the week, we had an afternoon to paint plein air.  It was a beautiful day, but it was still chilly with wind gusting off of those snowy mountains.

oil study, 5 x 7"

This was my second painting that afternoon.  The first one above was painted with the sun hitting the mountain from the upper right.  When I finished it, I turned around to paint the view behind me.  This view was mostly in shadow with a few spots of sunlight sneaking through.

www.juliekirkland.com

Free Range Fellas

These two look like they rapidly ran to see if the newcomer was there to feed them, but had second thoughts as they got closer. Don't they look as if they are trying to determine if any chickenfeed will be forthcoming? I've been participating in the "Daily Paintworks" online painting challenge. This week's assignment was to paint chickens, and these two caught my fancy. 6x6" oil on canvas panel. $90

If you have any questions, please contact me at info@juliekirkland.com

"Origins", Colorado Artist Julie Kirkland, Tree paintings, landscape paintings

I loved the hazy, atmospheric quality of this scene.  The golden late afternoon light was diffused by all the moisture in the air.  I painted it with two colors plus white:  yellow ochre and black.  "Origins" is a 6 x 8 oil painting on a canvas panel.  $90 plus tax and shipping. If you're interested in this painting,contact me for more information: info@juliekirkland.com . Please visit my website to see more of my work www.juliekirkland.com

"Kathy's Rose" Colorado Artist Julie Kirkland, Watercolor Paintings, Floral Paintings, Yellow Rose

I sat down to post another snow landscape today, but spring is in the air and I want to celebrate that! I just finished this 22 x 22" watercolor and it's being framed for its new owner, Kathy. In fact, I titled it, "Kathy's Rose" in her honor. To see more of my watercolors, visit my website: www.juliekirkland.com You're also welcome to contact me by email with any inquiries. info@juliekirkland.com.

"Winter's Palette" Colorado Artist Julie Kirkland

My favorite winter sight is that of light and shadow playing on red twig dogwood.  I love the way the blue shadows intensify the warmth of the bushes.  This 9 x 12 oil is complete with a 3" espresso colored wood frame.  $395 plus tax and shipping.  For more information on this painting, contact me at info@juliekirkland.com

You can see more of my work on my webiste, www.juliekirkland.com