"The Still Life" Opening Reception

The opening reception for The Still Life show at the Elliott Fouts Gallery is Saturday, October 13, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Still Life also features Elizabeth Barlow, Leigh-Anne Eagerton, Teresa N. Fischer, Thane Gorek, Michael E. Hockenbury, Sangita Phadke, Alvin Richard, Christopher Stott, Joanne Tepper, and Kathrine Lemke Waste.

If you can't go in person, here is a link to the show online:  The Still Life

Elliott Fouts Gallery
1831 P Street
Sacramento, CA  95811
(916) 736-1429

Elliott Fouts Gallery Web Site

Follow Elliott Fouts Gallery on Facebook

Color My World 2

Here is the second painting of my "Color My World" series in The Still Life show at the Elliott Fouts Gallery.  The show opens October 6, 2012.  Along with my work, there will be excellent paintings by Alvin Richard, Teresa Fischer, Christopher Stott, and more.  If you're within driving distance to Sacramento, you won't want to miss it!  If you can't get there in person, check Elliott Fouts Gallery's web site for pics of the show.

"Color My World 2"

9x12"

Soft Pastel

For information regarding this painting, please contact Elliott Fouts Gallery, (916) 736-1429.

"The Still Life"

October 6 - November 1, 2012

Elliott Fouts Gallery

1831 P Street

Sacramento, CA  95811

Elliott Fouts Gallery Web Site

Follow Elliott Fouts Gallery on Facebook

American Art Collector Magazine, October 2012

My painting "Color My World" appears in the October issue of American Art Collector magazine in an article about an upcoming still life show at the Elliott Fouts Gallery.  The show runs from October 6 to November 1, 2012.

I'll have four new paintings in the show.  They are a series of paintings depicting the progression of a crayon drawing from start to finish.  If you'll be in the Sacramento area next month, be sure to stop by the gallery and see the show!

 

Photo courtesy Elliott Fouts Gallery

American Art Collector magazine

October issue (#84)

Page 150/151

"Color My World"

9x12"

Soft Pastel

"The Still Life"

October 6 - November 1, 2012

Elliott Fouts Gallery

1831 P Street

Sacramento, CA  95811

Elliott Fouts Gallery Web Site

Follow Elliott Fouts Gallery on Facebook

Pastel Society of America Exhibition Award

My painting "Christmas Memories" was accepted into the Pastel Society of America's 40th Annual Open Juried Exhibition, and I'm very happy to report it received the Atlantic Papers Award!

"Christmas Memories"

14" x 18"

Soft Pastel

The exhibition runs through September 29, 2012, and is held at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10003.  If you're close by, this is an exhibition you won't want to miss!  If you can't get to New York City, you can see the award winning paintings on the PSA web site (click on the link toward the bottom of the page to see all the award winning paintings).

Recent Commissions

Here are a couple of recently finished commissions.  I was lucky to be working with some wonderful (and wonderfully patient!) people who wanted me to paint their dogs and grandchildren.  I was especially looking forward to painting the boys.  They are so adorable, and I love painting little hands and feet.  I'm super happy with the way these paintings turned out, but disappointed in my inability to get the colors to show up accurately in the pictures.  I hope you'll take my word for it that they look much better in person!

22" x 28"

Soft Pastel on Suede Matboard

18" x 24"

Soft Pastel on Suede Matboard

IAPS Exhibition at the Brea Art Gallery

Three of my paintings were accepted into the International Association of Pastel Societies' 20th Juried Exhibition, held at The City of Brea Art Gallery in Brea, CA.  The show runs until September 14, 2012.  See the gallery web site for details.

It's always better to see a show in person, but if you're not local to Brea, check out the IAPS web site for pics of the winning paintings and a slideshow of paintings included in the show.

Pastel Still Life - Banana Bread

This isn't the easiest thing I've ever painted, but it might be the most fun.

"Banana Bread"

9" x 12"

Sof Pastel

For purchase information, please contact Elliott Fouts Gallery (916) 736-1429.

(SOLD)

PSWC Distinguished Pastelist

My painting "Nap Interrupted" won 3rd place in the Pastel Society of the West Coast's 26th Annual International Open Exhibition!  This is my third year entering the exhibition, which gives me my PSWC signature.  It is also my third award, which means I am now a PSWC Distinguished Pastelist!  In order to receive Distinguished Pastelist designation, you have to win three awards in the international exhibition within five consecutive years.  There are only 31 Distinguished Pastelists in the PSWC, and I'm thrilled to be one of them!

"Nap Interrupted"

14" x 24"

Soft Pastel

Here are the comments from the Judge, Lorenzo Chavez:

The works that became the top award winners all had two things in common, mastery of drawing, and the artists created from the heart. Congratulations to all and wishing you much success. (Comment on the painting "Nap Interrupted" by Kari Tirrell.) "This is another great example of a big interesting design and fine, fine craftsmanship. The animal portrait is handled with such love and emotion. Every time I viewed this from across the room, it grabbed my full attention. Outstanding!"

The exhibition is being held at the Art Center Morro Bay until June 23, 2012.  

New Painting, New Gallery

I am very happy to announce that I am now being represented by the Elliott Fouts Gallery! I've been a fan of this gallery for a few years now, and I'm thrilled for the opportunity for my work to hang alongside the work of artists I've admired for so long:  Christopher Stott, Alvin Richard, Theresa Fisher, Todd Ford, Bryan Mark Taylor, Vic Vicini, and other great artists.

This is one of a few smaller works I'm sending down to the gallery for their Grand Opening celebration on June 9, 2012.  They are moving to a larger space, and the building looks amazing!  If you're within driving distance to Sacramento, CA, it will definitely be worth attending.  For more information, visit Elliott Fouts Gallery's web site.

"Game Over"

9" x 12"

Soft Pastel

For information regarding this painting, please contact Elliott Fouts Gallery, (916) 736-1429.

Follow Elliott Fouts Gallery on Facebook.

(SOLD)

Kirsten Gallery's 40th Anniversary Exhibition

I've been invited to participate in the Kirsten Gallery's 40th Anniversary Exhibition.  The show opens Sunday, May 20, with an artist reception from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and ends July 1, 2012.  I plan to be at the reception, so if you're in the Seattle area, I hope you'll come!  For those of you not in the area, you'll be able to see the show online at the Kirsten Gallery's web site.  This is a small works show, so there will be lots of excellent, affordable art!  I'll have several pieces in the show.  Here is one of them:

"Game On"

8" x 10"

Soft Pastel

For information about this painting, please contact the Kirsten Gallery (206) 522-2011.

(SOLD)

Kirsten Gallery's web site.

Follow Kirsten Gallery on Facebook.

Robert Lange Studios Group Show

I have been invited to participate in the Robert Lange Studios group show "Everything Changes" in May, 2012.  Each artist is creating at least two works with the same subject matter, but depicted in very different ways.  I chose toy cars for my subject.

"Balance"

20" x 16"

Soft Pastel

(SOLD)

"Rush Hour"

20" x 16"

Soft Pastel

(SOLD)

The show opening is May 4, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.  I've seen some excellent work for this show so far.  If you are in the Charleston area, you'll definitely want to check it out!  Information can be found on the Robert Lange Studios web site, blog, or Facebook page.

Going Back to Venice

I went back to the Venice theme for this next painting.  I found these gondolas waiting outside a Venetian palazzo, and knew I had to paint them.

"Waiting"

24" x 18"

Soft Pastel on La Carte

Please contact the American Art Company gallery at (253) 272-4327 for information about this painting.

American Art Collector, March 2012

American Art Collector Magazine

March, 2012 (#77)

Page 144/145

My painting "Traffic Jam" appears in the March issue of the American Art Collector Magazine, in an article about the "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" show at the Elliott Fouts Gallery.  I'm thrilled to be included in both the article and the show!

"Planes, Trains & Automobiles"
March 3, 2012 to April 3, 2012
Elliott Fouts Gallery
4749 J. Street
Sacramento, CA  95819
(916) 736-1429

Trains For the Elliott Fouts Gallery

I hope this is the only time you'll be able to say my work looks like a train wreck!

"Train Wreck"

18" x 24"

Soft Pastel

I have been invited by the Elliott Fouts Gallery to participate in their Planes, Trains, and Automobiles show, March 3 to April 3, 2012.  Both "Train Wreck" and "Traffic Jam" will soon be on their way to Sacramento for the show.  I've seen some of the amazing work going into this show (go check out Alvin Richard's painting!) and I predict it is going to be fantastic.  If you're in the Sacramento area, this is a show you won't want to miss! 

See the Elliott Fouts Gallery's web site for details of the show, or to inquire about this painting, or follow them on Facebook.


Special thanks to my friend Nick Moffitt for allowing me to borrow his vintage train cars, some of which his father made years ago.  I'm very grateful to have been able to use them.

Still Life in Soft Pastel - Cars

I've never considered myself a still life painter, but this new series I've started could make me turn into one.  They're super fun.   

"Traffic Jam"

18" x 24"

Soft Pastel on La Carte

These are my son's old cars which he had saved in a box in his closet.  Funny thing I've learned about men and their toy cars, they remember all of them.  From what I've seen so far, men seem to turn into little boys when they look at this painting.  I couldn't have hoped for a better response.

Artist's Magazine Finalist!

My painting "Dog Tired" was selected as a finalist in the Animal/Wildlife category of The Artist's Magazine's 28th Annual Art Competition.  My name is listed among the finalists in the December 2011 issue.

"Dog Tired"

14" x 24"

Soft Pastel on Suede Matboard
(SOLD)

You can view WIP pics of this painting here.

Northwest Pastel Society Exhibition Award

My painting "Nap Interrupted" won the Past President's Award at the Northwest Pastel Society's 25th Annual International Open Exhibition.  I had three paintings accepted into the show, which is being held at the American Art Company in Tacoma, WA, until the end of the year.  The American Art Company is a large, beautiful gallery, and the show is excellent.  If you aren't in Washington and are unable to see the exhibit, you can go to the American Art Company web site and see it online.  Of course, the photos don't do the artwork justice and it is definitely worth seeing in person, if you can.

"Nap Interrupted"

14" x 24"

Soft Pastel on Suede Matboard

My painting "Venice" is on the postcard for the show, but unfortunately someone at the NPS thinks my name is Kate.  I actually like the name Kate, and I don't mind it so much when it's on the web site and I can get it changed, but this time it's in print.  So if you've received a postcard for the show, and you're searching for Kate Tirrell, apparently that's me. :)

Looking Ahead to Christmas

For years I've wanted to paint a Christmas themed painting that I could use for a Christmas card.  Unfortunately, by the time I'm thinking about Christmas it has always been too late.  I'm quite proud of myself for remembering early enough this year to make it happen.

This painting was a bit of a challenge, but great fun to paint.  I love the idea of arranging things into a pile and painting them.  I'm going to do it again with my next painting.  In fact, I might have many more like this in the future - my head is spinning with ideas!

"Christmas Memories"
14" x 18"

Soft Pastel on La Carte

Mangos

A couple of days ago, my daughter said, "Why don't you paint while you're on pain pills?  Maybe you wouldn't paint something boring."  Ouch (I'm looking forward to the time when the brutal honesty of teenagers is replaced by a modicum of tact).  I don't want to talk about the reason for the pain pills, because then I'll go into a rant about Mohs surgery, and this is an art blog after all.  Suffice it to say, I hope I like my new nose better than the original.

Anyway, I decided to take my daughter's advice, and try to paint something loose and colorful (but also easy).  Unfortunately, the pain pills were somewhat unimpressive.  Not wanting to disappoint, I decided to see if I could push the color a bit more than I normally would.  I also decided not to obsess, as I normally would (the pain pills actually did help with this aspect).  This is the result of my day on drugs.  I sincerely hope it's not too boring. ;)

"Mangos"

14" x 11"

Soft Pastel on Suede Matboard

Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour

I'm participating once again in the annual Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour.  If you're in Washington state the weekend of September 17 & 18, I hope you'll stop by.  My studio will be open to visitors between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. that weekend.  I'll be doing painting demos throughout the day, and you'll have the opportunity to ask questions and play with materials.  If you're in the mood to pick up some original art, I'll have something for every budget. There will be studio clearing discounted works (seriously, I need some space around here!) as well as my award winning works on display.

There are some excellent artists on the tour this year, so it will be a great way to spend the weekend.  Especially if this amazing weather continues!  For more information, visit the Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour Web Site.