Little Donnie (Warm Fuzzy #66)

 

Warm Fuzzy #66 - "Little Donnie" (pastel, 5x4 inches) $260

There's a traveling petting zoo near Austin Texas called Fry's Fun Farm that always has the CUTEST little babies! I enjoy visiting some events where they set up. The little chicks and ducklings get their own pen to protect them from big human feet.

Little Donnie's portrait fit perfectly in a 5x4 and will be one of my fave minis at my Solo Exhibition!

Watch a short demo video of the pasteling of Little Donnie here!

Not long now, the show opens this Saturday, March 27, at the ARTS for Rural Texas, 114 North Live Oak Street, Fayetteville, Texas. Opening Reception that day from 5-7pm.

Can't make it?  Preview the show online here!

I want to share with you a quote from Karen, the Director of ARTS. She has such lovely things to say about my work! 😊

"Rita Kirkman’s exhibit, Kindred Spirits, focuses on the similarity, a kinship, in humans and animals, The artist captures emotions in the eyes and stance of the animals, expressions with which we humans identify.  Rita Kirkman’s paintings of animals have an unmistakable presence and a connection with the viewer.  With a background in portraiture, she captures the spirit of each as an individual soul."
~Karen Vernon, Executive Director ARTS for Rural Texas

 

PS:  I'm also absolutely tickled to say that two more paintings have sold today, for a total of 4 already sold!  Here they are:

"Little Bunny" 6x4 inches, sold

 

"Two o'clock has come and gone." 36x36 inches, sold

 

 

"Summer" 10x10 inches, sold

"Little Goat" 4x5 inches, sold

Denny

"Denny" (pastel, 6x4 inches)  click here to bid or buy

This little duckling was from Fry's Fun Farm at the Georgetown Texas 4th of July event. I finally got to visit them again, and got a bunch more cute shots of ducklings, chicks and bunnies!

This was one of my three back-to-back animal demos at the Ann Arbor workshop this week.

See some shots of the progress:

Winnie

"Winnie" (pastel, 12x6 inches) $395 framed

Thought it was time for another duck.

Winnie will be with me at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair July 20-23, 2017 (unless she sells first...)

Thanks for visiting! Please share!

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Day 11 - Donald

"Donald" (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid

Day 11 in my 30-Paintings-in-30-Days of November.

This duck is no relation to any current politician. Any resemblance is purely coincidental. This is actually what is called a crested duck. The fluffy head is part of their particular uniqueness, and is a result of a genetic mutation. These ducks can have a variety of colorings.

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Young Duck Resting (or "How to Fold a Duckling", refreshed)

"How to Fold a Duckling" (pastel, 5x7 inches) click here to bid

Lately, I've been sorting through a few of my paintings that for whatever reason have never found a new home, and seeing what can be done to give them a new life!

This duckling, from a few years ago, has been one of my personal favorites since the moment I painted it. Such a funny and unusual pose! But it's direct from a shot I took at a petting zoo, so I think ducklings really do fold themselves up like this sometimes, to rest...

See it there in the upper left?

I refreshed it today with more fluff, and some cooler notes in the background. Since it's out of the frame I decided to give it another round on auction!

Here' are a few shots of the original progress from way back...

original version

refreshed!

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Love Triangle

 "Love Triangle"  (pastel, 12x12 inches) $550 framed - Click to buy

This is a reincarnation of one of my old favorites. I have an ongoing fascination with water.

Fuzz Ball (and the Nebraska workshop)

"Fuzz Ball"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  sold

This was the first of my demos at the workshop last weekend for the Sand Painter's Art Guild in Valentine, NE. This was a cutie I had painted before and really enjoyed, so I figured it would make a fun and interesting demo. (See "Duckling in the Light")

The workshop had 20 amazing attendees, all were eager to learn and had great progress and intelligent questions. Held at the Cherry County Fair, we were surrounded by the excellent artwork of League member show, which I judged, and my own work (they said "bring a bunch!") The quilt show and award-winning vegetables helped fill the other side of the room. Yum.

See LOADS more photos on my FB page, shared from the Sand Painter's member posts!

Grounded Duckling

"Grounded Duckling"  (pastel, 6x6 inches)  $249 Available at The Gallery at Round Top

My last painting before the pastel convention. Tomorrow I get to head up to Albuquerque for the biennial convention of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS for short). I've attended every other one since 2007, when I was awarded Master Circle status. If you're not familiar with the convention (also called IAPS for short,) this is the long-awaited week when pastelists from all over the world gather, paint, learn, network, unwind and recharge. To get an idea of why I'm so excited to go, see my (long) post about the 2011 IAPS on my Art Journal Blog HERE!

Late yesterday I decided I'd benefit from cleaning out my travel pastel box for the trip...

See some pics of that process on a new Art Journal post HERE!

Meanwhile, here are some progress shots of Grounded Duckling:

Stay tuned next week for some Albuquerque landscapes, maybe!

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Toulouse

"Toulouse"  (pastel, 4 inch circle)  $125 framed

I had four little round frames that I refinished in black and gold so I could paint some small circles. Most have been chicks, but I couldn't resist the light on this young duck. I named him Toulouse in homage to Lautrec's wonderful stage lighting on many of his paintings, like this famous one, "Al Promenoir del Moulin Rouge" from 1892.

Here is Toulouse in his frame: