Singing Hollyhock 4

Singing Hollyhock 4                                                5x5 oil

This will be my last hollyhock painting for awhile.  In this piece, I concentrated on simplifying the petals as much as possible. I'm very pleased with the result!

Summer Sisters

 Summer Sisters   6x6 inch oil

After having fun painting "portraits" of individual hollyhock blossoms, I turned to painting them in the abundance that we are accustomed to seeing them.  This series has been a fun way to explore painting with pinks (I'm more familiar with reds) and the way that they create beautiful purples.  I also discovered the wonderful glow that adding orange gives them.

The Coral Queen

The Coral Queen     6x6 inch oil

Starting bid is $40

This summer, I had the opportunity to paint in some beautiful gardens in the Old North End of Colorado Springs.  It was a sunny and hot afternoon, and this coral rose reflected the heat of the day.

Daisy Sunbath

Daisy Sunbath                      3x4 inch oil

Daises and sunflowers are my favorite flowers. They are simple in design and color, but their happy faces bring happiness and cheer. This little daisy charmed me with her upturned face soaking up the sun.

Opening bid is $20 or you can buy it now for $45.  Let me know if I can help you with framing!

Bumble Cafe

"Bumble Cafe"                        3x4 inch oil   (Image slightly larger than the actual painting)

  

One of the great sounds of a summer garden on a warm day is the buzz of bumble bees collecting nectar from the many-colored "cafes" that they find.   How to simplify the wings and still have them read properly was a challenge, especially on such a tiny canvas.

Opening bid on this painting is only $20!

Pikes Peak Studio Tour

Julie Kirkland Fine Art Mark your calendars now for the 2014 Pikes Peak Studio Tour When: Saturday September 20th, 10 am to 5 pm Sunday September 21st, 10 am to 5 pm Where: 7224 Big Valley Ct, Colorado Springs  www.pikespeakstudiotour.com I'm welcoming you to visit my home studio during   the Pikes Peak Studio Tour. Many of you have stopped by my Old Colorado City studio in the Garman building, but the tour is a chance to see me in my home studio.  In past tours, I've set up a quasi-studio for demo purposes because my actual "studio" has been more of an art storage facility with a narrow path to an easel in the corner.  I spent this winter unearthing and organizing what is now a very pleasant creative space that I'd love for you to see! As part of the tour experience, I'll again be giving away an original painting.  Be sure to register for a chance to win it when you stop by! I'm excited to have plenty of new paintings to show for the weekend!   A brand new selection of prints and cards will be here for you to enjoy along with some old favorites.  Start your holiday shopping and look for my blank Christmas cards featuring the image of my watercolor,"The Gift." I have items starting from $5, so you're sure to find something that you like.   The Gift Flowers, figures, animals and landscapes, my subject matter offers something for everyone. Come see what has been inspiring me these days and how my work is evolving!                                  If you are unable to make it during the tour weekend, you can find me during the October 3rd OCC Artwalk 5:00 to 8:00 pm Friday, October 3rd 2418 West Colorado Ave, Studio L Upstairs in the Michael Garman building Hope that you're happier than a pig in mud! Julie Follow Julie Kirkland Fine Art on Facebook http://www.juliekirkland.com info@juliekirkland.com http://www.juliekirklandart.blogspot.com

Red Warms My Heart

Red Warms My Heart                         5x5"  $200

I must say, red paintings are tough to photograph, and my camera is malfunctioning, so this photo doesn't do the painting justice.  Good thing Santa is bringing me a new camera! (I've been very, very good this year).   You can see the original painting, along with two other sunflowers, at Abend Gallery in Denver as part of their Holidays Miniature Show.  I'll have 5 pieces for you to check out.  The reception is Sat. December 7th from 5 to 9pm and the show runs through Dec. 31.

A Touch of Gold

A Touch of Gold         8x8inch oil on panel, framed      $310

I'm beginning to think that either my monitor is going kapoot, or that my camera is losing it (it has shown other signs), because for the last few months, I'm had trouble getting the color right in my painting photographs...the color tends to be too saturated and I haven't be able to correct in Photoshop.

  I'd love for you to visit me during Art Walk on November 1st to see this painting in person.  It was something new for me in that the majority of the subject was in shadow, so essentially, that was where the most interesting color was.  I struggled with it for awhile, not going dark enough in the shadow area, and although I started painting with a brush, I switched to the palette knife about 3/4ths through.  In the end, it's now one of my favorite paintings. 

Any thoughts on my photo problems?

With Compliments

With Compliments                                           6x6 inch oil Sold

Click to Bid in My Online Auction

As promised, I've experimented with a background color other than red and have decided to explore the compliments of purple and yellow a little more. I'm enjoying mixing yellows that give the impression of petals in shadow.

The starting bid for this painting in my online auction is $45. If you are interested in my "Buy It Now" option, the price is $85 unframed or $125 framed. Just contact me directly, and if no one has yet bid on the painting, I can stop the auction and guarantee that "With Compliments" is yours. Email me at juliekirkland@info.com

Sunny Faces

Sunny Faces                5x5 inch oil         Sold

 So far, this little piece is one of my favorites in the sunflower series.  I got really loose with it and love the  purple/yellow color scheme.

Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures                                          6 x 6" oil

Click here to bid in my online auction


With this painting, I focused on creating a very simplified interpretation of the vase and flowers.   When I painted it about one year ago, it didn't turn out at all like I had wanted and I tossed it into my "reject pile."  Last week, I was cleaning up in my studio and ran across it.  My first reaction was "Where did I get this great painting?"  It wasn't until I looked at the signature that I remembered painting it.  When I judged the work on its own merit, versus what I had wanted it to look like, I realized that it worked very well.  Lesson learned: don't scrape off every painting that doesn't please me.    I need to put it in my reject pile and look at it again down the road.

Gentle Nosegay

  

Gentle Nosegay                          5 x 5 oil on canvas panel

Click to Bid in my Online Auction   

The palette for this piece was chosen based on Edgar Payne's color exploration of the yellow/purple compliments.  In this painting, I used predominantly purple, with yellow mixed into everything, plus white, orange and blue.  I painted it on a red ground.  This painting has a lovely, gentle feeling to it.

Grateful Bouquet

Grateful Bouquet                6 x 6 inch oil on stretched canvas

This month, I'm giving away the small painting pictured above!  If you are already subscribed to my blog,   you're automatically entered for a chance to win it.  If you haven't already subscribed, just go to the top of the sidebar on the right and enter your email address. 

That's it!  

On September 30th, I'll have my handsome husband (David) pull a name out of a hat and I'll announce the winner here in a blog post that should arrive in your inbox no later than October 1.  I will actually post the email address of the winner, as that is the only record I have of my subscribers.  Since I object to having my personal address posted online due to the spam it generates, I'll only post the part of your address that come before the "@"  and leave off your email provider.  

Good luck!

Questions?  Email me

My Website

My Daily Paintworks Auctions

Summer's Warmth

Summer's Warmth          6 x 6 inch oil on canvas panel

Click to Bid

Long, hot summers....I soak them up knowing that winter comes quickly.  I like to think that I can store summer's warmth in my bones to summon up on cold winter days.

Sunflowers, and now Rudebekia, continue to entertain me and I'm having fun exploring different ways of painting them.  Now that the stores are no longer selling sunflowers,  I've purchased some gallon plants to model for me in the sun.  I have photos to continue working from, but have noticed that the subjects that I paint from life are so much more expressive.

I'd love for you to sign up to have my blog posts sent directly to your email inbox.  Sometime in September, I plan to give away a small painting to someone on my subscriber list!

Contact me at info@juliekirkland.com or by commenting below.

Joy and Happiness

Joy and Happiness                  6 x 4 inch oil

Click to Bid

The sunflowers that I brought to the studio on Monday are holding up beautifully, especially considering the heat.  As long as they continue to pose so prettily, I'll happily keep painting them.  Today I tried a closer cropping, and really like the result.  Next, I'll paint them with a blue background in hopes that the coolness of the blue will help me ignore the air temperature!

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.

"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.