Gary J. Kirkpatrick Art and Travel Blog

Category: Art

  • Pianist and Singer

    The pianist is our friend Husan, who is an opera voice coach. She has a sound proof room so in addition to seeing her on stage we also have sat in her small room while an opera singer flooded us with the fabulous voice of a trained singer.

    Pianist and Singer
    Pianist and Singer, acrylics on canvas, 73 x 54 cm, 23 x 30″ SOLD

    “Nice perspective and contrast in that piece, they all look good, but that has “pop!””

    “These works are truly astounding. I can appreciate, even though I am not creative on my own to depict dancers atop a violin or looking out the window of a purple house or project the feeling of actually being onstage with Husan.,,  Keep sharing your work.  It’s stunning.”

  • Mahjong Players

    Mahjong Players
    Mahjong Players, acrylics on canvas, 73 cm x 60 cm, SOLD

    This painting is a combination of realism, in the walls, leaves and ocean with the expressionist figures whose bright colors combine with the lines of design to draw the eye to the game.  The muse displays along with the clock (similar to my grandfather’s) on the shelf.

    Mahjong is game invented in the Qing dynasty (1635-1912) in China.  It is now played world wide.   There are usually four players.   It is similar to the Western card game rummy.  There are 144 tiles marked with Chinese characters and symbols.

  • Dance 3

    Dance 3
    Dance 3, acrylics on Canson 300 gram paper, 57 x 76 cm, 22.5 x 30”

    For years we danced with various International Folk Dance groups in the US, France and Spain. Here they dance to the violin.

    This one has a ton of movement.    I did the hands/fingers two ways. I think that adds interest, variety.  It looks great on our wall here.  Lots of color.  The violin shines, which you can not see in the photo.  the wooden part of the bow has three facets, hard to see in the photo.  

  • Woman in Boudoir

    Woman in Boudoir
    Woman in Boudoir, acrylics 56 x 76 cm 22 x 30″

    She prepares for the day.

  • Cafe Tortilla

    La Cevezeria Alhambra in Valencia is famous in Spain for its tortillas. It’s a tiny place that at the time of this painting was run by a couple who had been there 37 years. After they retired their children took over. Looking through the window we see 3 people in conversation. We can almost hear the words passing between them.

    At Cafe Tortilla
    Cafe Tortilla, acrylics on canvas, 65 x 81 x 2 cm, painted edges 26 x 32 x 1″

    There are two exposures of the painting. All images appear differently on devices. This one in particular is more diverse than most.

    At Cafe Tortilla
    Cafe Tortilla, acrylics on canvas, 65 x 81 x 2 cm, painted edges 26 x 32 x 1″

    Cafe Tortilla is about a bar famous in Spain for its tortillas (Spanish omelets).  They make 5 or 6 varieties in their tiny kitchen.  After 37 years the couple retired.  He made the omelets and she served them with nary a smile.  She did not have time to smile.  The place was almost always packed.  You had to catch her eye to order- she would glance at you for a second as she sort of kept track of who was next.  You had to start talking right away or she was off.  

    We were there when a newspaper photographer shot the photo I used to create the painting.  He stood outside as the three of us were talking.  

  • Terrazza in Roma

    Terrazza in Roma
    Terraza in Roma, 51 x 61 cm / 20 x 24″ acrylics on canvas

    On a cool night in a rack shambled section of Rome, on this oasis, we talked into the night.

  • Guillaume Guillon Lethiere

    Guillaume Guillon Lethiere
    Guillaume Guillon Lethiere, study in sanguine Conte

  • US Returns to Paris Climate Accord

    climate change4
    US

    Digital painting. Background painting a section of my painting “Biergarten”

  • Mr Ed Calls In

    Mr Ed Calls In
    Mr Ed Calls In, digital painting

  • Study of nude

    Study of nude
    Study of Nude, acrylics, 50 x 50 cm/ 19.5 x 19.5″

    When I can manage it, I have a model in my studio for 3 hours. For about half that time a few days ago I worked in acrylics on canvas, after first working in conte.