My Christmas Peeps

The last month has had me busy working on commissions that were ordered for Christmas. One day though, I did feel the need to break out and just be silly, thus "My Christmas Peeps." Just something to entertain myself! I especially love the cool fresh feeling of the blue background and how it complements the blue on the peeps. If you are interested in bidding on this 6 x 8" oil, the starting bid will be only $25, and the bidding begins tomorrow at www.DailyPaintworks.com. Just click on the auctions tab, then search for my name. If you have any trouble finding it, contact me at info@juliekirkland.com

A New Beginning

Blue eggs enchant me more than white or brown, or even green ones.  And blue SPECKLED eggs are even more intriguing.  I imagine that they hold some exotic promise--much the same way I view the beginning of 2012.

The auction for a "A New Beginning" (3x4 in. oil on stretched canvas) begins tomorrow with a starting bid of $25.  The "buy it now" is $45.  It's a small gem that shows handsomely on a table top or mantle, and just the right size to tuck into an intimate corner.  Follow this link to the auction: 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/30011

If you're interested in buying it now for $45, contact me at info@juliekirkland.com

Raven

The Raven, 6 x 6" oil on panel

I haven't painted much in the last three weeks.  I had a lovely vacation in Charleston, South Carolina with my husband and then returned just in time to move my studio at The Second Floor Studios into another room, and then paint the entire space and put it together in time for Art Walk and our Holiday Open House the next day.  I had exactly 3 1/2 days to accomplish this, and somehow pulled it together enough to make it presentable!   There's still a lot of stuff to finish, like a second coat of paint on the woodwork and weatherproofing the windows now that it's colder, but I'm tackling that only a little bit each day in order to turn my attention back to the easel!





"The Raven" is the last little painting I did before I left for Charleston. I especially love the little bits of orange popping up around the edges. You can buy "The Raven" now for $80 plus $10 shipping, or you can visit my daily paintworks auction that begins on November 17th. Starting bid is only $35.00! http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/23850

www.juliekirkland.com

Sir Galahad

This painting wouldn't be nearly as delightful if this puppy's name had been anything but "Sir Galahad!"  He looks like he'd fit inside a small bowl, and I have no idea of his breed, but it makes me happy to just look  at him.  "Sir Galahad" is a 6 x 6" unframed oil.  He comes unframed for $75 plus any applicable tax and shipping.   For more information and to purchase, contact me at info@juliekirkland.com.

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

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