The Best of Friends

I remember hanging out with my best friend in high school, sitting in the sun and sharing secrets just like these two. These two girls happen to be two of my daughter's girlfriends that she is still close with. "The Best of Friends" (6x8 inches, unframed oil) is being auctioned starting now on www.DailyPaintworks.com. Just visit my member page and look for my auctions listing. The starting bid is $50. You can buy it now for $95.00 plus $10 shipping (and sales tax if you are a Colorado resident.)

The Young Collector

I was hiking with my husband recently on a beautiful autumn day.  Much of the way, we followed a family with three young children.  The youngest was just a toddler and was bouncing here and there as he ran along.  With his bright orange sweatshirt and shining blonde hair, he reminded me of a little sunbeam.  I was lucky enough to have my camera ready when he bent down to reach for another treasure.

"The Young Collector" can be purchased for $320 (framed) plus shipping and tax (if you are a Colorado resident).  I take credit cards and you can ask me about making payments if that would be helpful.  Contact me at 

info@juliekirkland.com.

Summer, San Luis Valley

At 10 x 20 inches, this is the largest painting that I've done in quite awhile. It's a view of the mountains from a bison ranch and nature conservancy here in Colorado.  You might be able to tell that it is early summer, since there are still some remnants of snow on the mountains.

"Summer, San Luis Valley" is framed and available for purchase for $800.00 (plus sales tax if you reside in Colorado).  If you're interested in this piece, contact me to see what we can work out!  I can be reached at info@juliekirkland.com.

"Sun Seeker"

"Sun Seeker,"  8 x 10 in. oil on canvas panel

Cats always find the sunny spots in the house don't they?  I see a cat lying in the sun as I work, and often think how great it would be to stop and lay in the sun, too!  "Sun Seeker" comes framed for $290 plus applicable tax and shipping.  As always, if you have any questions, contact me at info@juliekirkland.com.

"Julian"

This portrait of Julian was commissioned by his parents.  I fell in love with him as

I painted  his engaging eyes and bright smile .  Doesn't he just exude "boyish charm?!"

Autumn Stream

"Autumn Stream", 8 x 8 in., oil on panel

All artists love autumn.  The colors, textures, and golden light are a feast for the eyes and senses.  I have so many fabulous fall reference photos that I'm excited to paint, and this scene is one of the handful that I've chosen to paint recently.  Initially, I painted it with a brush, as I normally do.  I ended up with an overworked, dull result that I scraped off of the canvas.  The ghost image left on the canvas confirmed that it was a good composition and that I had been on track with the right colors, I had just scrubbed the paint to death by stroking it over and over.  I've discovered that whenever I'm not using enough paint and pushing the paint around too much with my brush, using a palette knife is like hitting a reset button in my brain.  The palette knife forces me to use more paint and to lay it down in one stroke without scrubbing it into the canvas.  I'm very happy with the results of this painting!  The palette knife strokes lend a sparkling quality to the water and the fall colors are fresh and bright.

The price of  "Autumn Stream" is $200 plus shipping and tax (if applicable).  You can purchase it at that price right now, or you can visit http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Buy/Auction/16942 to participate in my online auction.  Starting bid is $100, and the auction ends October 6th. 

Contact me at info@juliekirkland.comwith any questions you may have.

"Here's Looking At You, Kid"

Some of you may have noticed that the look of my blog changes with each new post.  I'm still experimenting with design and colors, and am at last closing in on what shows my paintings to the best advantage!

I stopped one day to photograph goats in a field.  They were really so far away that, without a zoom lens, I could'nt get any useable reference photos of them.  This little kid was still young enough to find me a curiousity and walked right up to the fence to take a look at me.

"Here's Looking at You, Kid" is an 8 x 8 inch unframed oil on panel.  He can look at you in your home for $125 plus applicable tax and shipping.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at info@juliekirkland.com.  To see more of my work, visit my website http://www.juliekirkland.com/

October Bouquet

"October Bouquet", 6 x 8 in. oil,  $125

Fall is undeniably in the air and I'm looking forward to the autumn colors and the pleasure I get painting outdoors in the September and October.   The leaves aren't turning yet, so I'm looking through some of the magnificent photos that I took last year, and am painting some of my favorites.  Not only does it satisfy my urge to paint in an autumn pallete, it also makes the fall season seem longer!  "October Bouquet" is framed in a beautiful gold, 3' wide plein air frame.  Tax and shipping apply depending on your location.

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

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