Practicing my Scales

tonight I will go paint a head, like I do just about every Wednesday. When I paint heads, it is not about being a portrait painter, but about learning to control paint. Like practicing my scales. Am not trying to make art when I do it, but it helps me when I am making art. Which I have not done much of since Rick got sick. Or even longer, actually. When my brother died and daughter had a stroke, it really threw me off. I was really just getting back when Rick got sick. I paint heads, and plein-air and other studies now, so that later, when I am ready to paint- I might still know how. I would like to say that I will be ready soon. These dark days of autumn make me think that there is hardly a point. But I know that I am a painter, it is all I have ever known for sure about me. So, I will be back someday.

Almost a Year

It has been almost a year since my dear husband passed away. He was a young, healthy, talented, handsome man, and our marriage was a happy one. Together since 1985, he was my best friend and more. He was only sick for a bit over a month, and died of and aggressive peripheral t cell lymphoma on January 31. This year has been consumed with dealing with that, and moving to a smaller house. I have been painting heads on Wednesdays, and a little here and there. Once settled, I will get busy.

Growing Up

I have been many things. A daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, party girl, grandma, teacher.... the list is long. The list for most of us is long. But I have always said that I am a mother like my eyes are the color that they are. It is not what I AM. What I am, the only thing that I have ever known for sure, is a painter.

These days I am in learning mode. Again. A place that I expect to visit now and then to for the rest of my life. It is what I love and hate about being an artist. One minute feeling so sure about my work- the next, recognizing an area that I can improve. I love the learning though, and I am improving.

I have been painting heads with Bill Schneider on Wednesday nights, drawing the figure with the Division Street Drawing group on Thursday nights and teaching beginning painting at The Studio School of Art in McHenry on Mondays (where I learn a lot). I have had models in the studio, both nude and clothed. I took a 7 week life sculpture class and a few workshops since my last posts (has it really been more than a year?!). I am working through Faragasso's figure book and 2 Leffel books right now. Doing daily paint sketches and have completed a few new bar paintings. Last week I went to a 12 hour life drawing marathon at the Palette and Chisel.

Other than a few things on facebook, I haven't been sharing what I am up to because I am feeling shy these days. But if you come by the studio, I will be happy to show you what I am up to.

Much Love, Lori Kiergaard

Hellloooo!

I have not disappeared, just doing a really crappy job of blogging. I am painting though, and as always, working on my skills. I have hired my oldest daughter several times lately for modeling to practice painting heads. Wednesday nights are either life drawing or portrait painting- two great but conflicting opportunities to work with a model. I have been working on the usual still life studies and am readying a bike trailer and french easel for some plein-air work, need to do more "research" on my belly up series. All this, along with teaching beginning painting to adults at two area schools keeps me learning. If you are interested in taking my class, let me know. Hope you are all well!

Charis 24x21

Greetings from the confines of a January basement. I have been studying quietly, holding my breath for spring. This is my most recent commission, Charis is a beautiful dog and I was honored to be able to represent her for posterity. The clients are pleased and so am I.

Hoping that your winter is going well, and that the light returns soon. Love, Lori

New website for me.

Have spent much of this holiday week designing a new site for myself. My last design needed a redesign about 5 minutes after it was done, and it has been up for a few years- so this was long over due. It was hard to decide which paintings to use, so I chose a small selection of my favorites.

Check it out:

a quiet afternoon post

Greetings from the confines of the best studio in the world. Not really, but a girl can dream. :)

It is so great to be able to paint at night and not worry about bats or trouble makers showing up- not to mention those noisy ghosts! Even though I have been here for a year, the studio is only half way finished. The pool table has been gone for a while now, but the piano is only half way out of here. Working on some storage solutions, first, a way to safely store large paintings, which we have not completely figured out. Rick and I did design a wonderful table for the studio, and I am looking forward to building it as soon as these holidays are over. The table was actually my design that Rick was able to realize with the help of his 3d building expertise. It offers a large 4x8 foot work surface that, at 39 inches, is a little taller than traditional counter height. Three more table tops under the first one offer plenty of flat file storage. There is no hurry though, I can work in it just fine like it is.

I have been playing with mediums and learning a lot. Playing with color and learning more. New studio loves: arches oil paper, the beautiful panels I found at utrecht.

Anyway, I really wanted to say "Happy Holidays" to all of my friends. Love, Lori

Animation

Today I am looking out my kitchen window at the rainy and grey ugly November sky, there is a squirrel furiously digging and the last of the fallen leaves soggy and sad.. we all know that the dark months are on the way. It is a time for contemplation, doing more of what works, less of the stuff that doesn't. I am working on a redo of my whole website, also working with a beautiful model, doing paint study after study. Attending life drawing, teaching a little bit.

I have always known that I would never get to the end of this journey. For me, learning to paint runs parallel to learning to live. And when ever I think that I have it, that I get it, that am even getting good at it, I am challenged again. I wont give up. Especially because there is so much joy in the work.

Anyway, my sweet husband has this painting in his office, so he made this for me. That is not really his office wall or lighting, it is all faked. He does beautiful work! Now I just need to finish that new website!

Back and better.

Rick and I got home from our vacation the other day to a quiet house. Our trip was fantastic, we went to Burning Man again, for the second and last time. It is a wonderful adventure that I recommend for almost everyone, especially if you love Art. As a painter, sometimes I think that I understand Art at least enough to solidify a few opinions about it. Going to a place like Burning Man will shake up your ideas, cause you to reconsider what you might think that you know. Art is everywhere in this temporary city where creativity is not only encouraged, but expected. You will find someone's creation in every place you look. From the costumes, the cars, the AMAZING sculptures and even poems and pictures in the porta potties. It is the creative living that I find the most inspiring- reminding me of when I was young and refused to live by society's rules. We took lots of pictures of the sights, but it is not easy to document the actual experience. I somehow remembered to take this picture:

I am inspired with new ideas about beauty, changed and ready to get back to work. We drove and took the airstream, (like a turtle, we carried our house with us) and stopped at several state and national parks on the way there and back. Floated in the Great Salt Lake, camped at Yellowstone, saw Rushmore and the Badlands. Can hardly wait for our next trip!

Mai Tai anyone?

Another in my belly up series. 36x24 Oil on linen on panel.

Summer

Today the world was so beautiful while I drove an hour out of town to pick up a tent. I think that I need to spend more time painting plein air, especially this time of year when the day lasts so long and the textures of the wild flowers and trees are just thrilling. And there is something else that is sensed, and I wonder if I could capture that feeling of time that has passed through a place. Like a ghost. a gorgeous golden hour ghost. So I sat in my breezeway and sewed up an awning for the airstream. which will be nice when we camp. Today was full of joy.

Gosh, what happened to the internet?

I think that facebook has scattered us all to the wind and it has become so hard to keep up with it, especially now that it is summer. Painting in the studio, but I miss the old pre-facebook forum days when there was a small group of folks checking in on each other. The online world has exploded and is just out of control, I think. Maybe I will try to spend more time here on my blog. Talking to myself. :-)

This is the third in my belly up series. 20x30 oil on panel.

Perfect Series for Summer! (the research is fun)

Still picking away with this, while putting a new floor in the airstream, planting flowers AND pestering daughter to go get a job. I am also already on to the next one.

Belly Up 20x30 on a beautiful birch panel

Guys Having Drinks

30x30 Oil on a beautiful Birch Panel.

Best time ever!

It is almost Thanksgiving... you know that I love it. Turkey and corn and pie! This year is exciting because all of my kids will be here. They have all been here before, of course, but this is the first time that even my baby had to travel to make it to the table.

I am busy preparing already. And also ripping out the ceiling of the basement to move my studio home. . . . clearing away distractions and buckling down.

will try my best to remember to post a picture or three.

Finally, something that I like!

I finally have something to share.
Been painting a lot of crap this year. :-)

This is 30x30 oil on Birch Panel. The panel is isolated with shellac- and my original plan was to have the wood showing through. But, I didn't like it, felt it was a bit gimmicky- so painted the whole thing.

Feeling over the hump- already moving on to the next one.

What a summer!

There have not been many paintings.

I did paint, and go to the studio almost every day, but I have nothing to share here. I made piles of studies, and a few large messes. My dear friend John would say that this is a good thing. He says that this frustration and disapproval of my own work will be followed by a huge breakthrough. I hope so.

In preparation, I made a trip to Des Plains, to Owl Lumber and picked up some nice birch plywood. I have been busy with shellac and rabbit skin glue, and have several panels ready to go. My dilemma and one thing holding me up, is size. I love to paint big, but my studio is crowded with large unsold pieces. So, I am going a bit smaller. I have a few 20x30 pieces that will probably get paint first.

I have to apologize for the state of my blog. Between all of the deaths, Autumn's stroke, the many losses from every direction. I have been distracted for a few years now. I have really had a hard time moving on. So...

Rick and I went to Burning Man a few weeks ago. It was one of the greatest experiences ever.

First Friday

They used the one image of last years work, but I will be filling the Lobby of the LLAP with some new paintings too and portrait samples. Johanna is a fantastic artist and teacher, so you wont want to miss her show. The NAAC show will be here too, as well as some crazy installation piece in the upstairs rooms of the mansion.
Come see.