A Painting and A Poem...

'Fog Descending' • Acrylic on canvas ©Jerry L. Kirk

MOUNTAIN WINTER WALK

The trees breathe whispers
that only I can hear. Blue
mountains fade as fog

clings desperate and
enveloping. Black hawk
against greying sky.

The sprinkle spit of snow
an annoying tease. Paper
thin crinkle to remaining

leaves crunch crunching
under foot. Shadows stretch
long fingers across the hard

hard earth as crooked trees
reach skinny limbed up, up,
touching God's sleeve.

The tranquility of isolation.
A slow, deliberate seduction.
The echo of whispers caressing

my cold, cold ears.



©Jerry L. Kirk

COMMENTARY ON IMPORTANT WORKS IN MY OEUVRE: 'MONARCH'

'Monarch' ©Jerry L. Kirk

'MONARCH' • 48" X 36" • 2005

Collection of Richard & Jane Peniston

This large painting is significant to my history as a painter for a few reasons. First, it was my biggest sale up to that point, purchased by good friends, loyal patrons and long-time collectors of my work, Rick and Jane Peniston. The sale and appreciation of the work came at at time when I was having doubts about my art and it fortified me to carry on. Second, it was the first salvo in a new direction for my art, a move towards a more realistic style of painting. After years of working in a looser style with brighter, popish colors I found myself gravitating towards a style that was more dependent on the real world. I wanted to grow as a painter, to develop my technique and skills and so the move was necessary to my evolution.... it was time, and 'Monarch' showed me the way forward by allowing me to develop the style using a combination of real world and my imagination. This new approach towards painting would eventually carry over into the landscapes that I do today, which have proved very successful for me. Finally, this painting featured the return of the 'Dark Harlequin', an alter ego that I had created for my very first solo show in 1991 and who has appeared in many paintings over the years. He had been absent from my work for awhile, but I felt the need to bring him back to signify the change my work was going through.Everything about this painting worked for me... the title, the concept, the rendering... it proved to be one of the most successful paintings of my career. Everything about this painting worked for me... the title, the concept, the rendering... it proved to be one of the most successful paintings of my career.

(Click the above image to view larger)

'Winter Woods' - Discussing an important painting in my oeuvre

‎'WINTER WOODS' • 2008

This was a pivotal painting in my career in that it's immediate success both with critics and patrons convinced me that the genre of landscapes might be worth exploring. As I soon discovered, my particular style lent itself very well towards paintings of nature and the works that followed have been the most successful of my career in terms of sales, gallery representation and overall satisfaction from me and viewers. 

After hiking in the beautiful Linville Gorge area of Western North Carolina and taking photos, I was particularly taken by a picture that I took of the evening sun filtering through a cluster of trees, creating amazing shadows. I first envisioned a black and white painting and initially approached it that way, but I quickly realized that it needed a counter balance of warm colors to capture the feel of warm sunlight on a cold environment. I moved the image away from the real scene by altering the shadows, giving them a harder edge and arcing them out towards the forefront of the viewer to draw them in. I felt good about this painting from the moment it was completed... a rarity for me.

In truth, I've never had much interest in landscapes, either painting them or viewing. I do, however, have a real love for nature - especially mountains and woods, as I am an avid hiker, and in particular the Mountain areas of Western NC. My passion for these places allowed me a way into painting landscapes and I quickly discovered that really I enjoy painting them - getting lost in the details and learning to manipulate light and shadows. They are a challenge to me as an Artist and I appreciate that aspect. I consider myself to be more of a spiritual than religious person and to me, these paintings are a true collaboration between myself and God.

Featured Artist for the month of November 2011

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NEW GALLERY REPRESENTATION

'Morehead Street, Early October' • Acrylic on canvas • 2011©Jerry L. Kirk

My art is now represented exclusively in the Charlotte, NC area by Charlotte Fine Art Gallery. A solo exhibit titled 'Beneath the Canopies of Trees: North Carolina Paintings by Jerry Lee Kirk' will be hosted by the gallery Nov. 4 - December 2, 2011. The show will feature new work depicting my favorite locations in both Charlotte and the mountains of Western, NC. Opening reception will be Friday, November 4 and will be open to the public. Contact me via email if you have any questions.

'FINE ART IN AMERICA' LINKS OF INTEREST

TREES PAINTINGS

LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS

SEASONAL PAINTINGS

CONTEMPORARY PAINTINGS

'GHOST TREE (ALASKA NATURE CONSERVATORY)'

This past September my family and I made an impromptu trip to Alaska that had a profound effect on me. In my wildest thoughts I could not have imagined a place to be so breathtakingly beautiful. I believe that visit has really inspired me as an artist and infused my work with the idea that I am in a total collaboration with God.


This is the second in my series of Alaska Landscapes which I will slowly being doing over time, working them in among the other paintings I do. 


Click on the image to view larger...

'GHOST TREE'

(ALASKA NATURE CONSERVATORY)

acrylic on canvas • 40" x 30" • 2010

Available for purchase

© Jerry Kirk

http://www.jerrykirk.com/

'HERE WHERE THE LIGHT SHINES BRIGHT'

This past September my family and I made an impromptu trip to Alaska that had a profound effect on me. In my wildest thoughts I could not have imagined a place to be so breathtakingly beautiful. I believe that visit has really inspired me as an artist and infused my work with the idea that I am in a total collaboration with God.


This is the first in my series of Alaska Landscapes which I will slowly being doing over time, working them in among the other paintings I do.


Click on the image to view larger...

'HERE WHERE THE LIGHT SHINES BRIGHT'
(ALASKA - TONY KNOWLES COASTAL TRAIL)

Acrylic on canvas • 47.75" x 36"

© Jerry Lee Kirk

http://www.jerrykirk.com/

'HUNTING SEASON'

'HUNTING SEASON'

30" x 40" • acrylic on canvas • 2010

This is a statement on hunting and the absolute arrogance of man to think himself better than animals. I've often wondered about the mindset of a person who actually derives joy from killing.
Click on the image to see a larger version.

'PORTRAIT OF MOTHER NATURE'

'Portrait of Mother Nature'

2010 • 40" x 40" • acrylic on canvas

© Jerry Lee Kirk

This image of a woman with a bush for hair filled with birds & butterflies came to me and from that I developed the idea to do a 'formal' painting of Mother Nature.
Click the image to see a larger version.

'YOU PLAY ME LIKE AN INSTRUMENT, I'LL SING YOU LIKE A SONG'

'You Play Me Like An Instrument,

I'll Sing You Like A Song'

'36" x 48" • acrylic on canvas • 2010

My unabashed tribute to romance!

www.jerrykirk.com

NEW GALLERY REPRESENTATION

My expressionist landscape paintings are now represented in North Carolina's High Country by

 'Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery, LT

FIRST PAINTING OF 2010: 'TREE IN FOG'

'Tree in fog'

(Inn at Ragged Gardens, Blowing Rock, NC)

48" x 36" • acrylic on canvas • 2010

Part of my ongoing series: 'Exploring North Carolina - Expressionist Landscapes', which celebrates the special areas of the beautiful state that I live in. This painting depicts a tree on the property of the gorgeous 'Inn at Ragged Garden's' during a drizzly, foggy October morning. The Inn is located in downtown Blowing Rock in the mountains of Western NC.

www.jerrykirk.com

LAST PAINTING OF 2009- 'BALLAD OF JIMMY & GINA'

'The Ballad of Jimmy and Gina'

Friend and loyal patron Jimmy Smith commissioned this piece as a Christmas present for his lovely lady Gina Harrier. The 'Ballad' represent different aspects of their lives together, including their beautiful baby girl 'Gypsy'.

36"x40" • acrylic on canvas • 2009

www.jerrykirk.com

NEW PAINTING - 'WOODS (A CLEARING)'

'Woods (A Clearing)'

40" x 30 " / Acrylic on canvas / 2009

A further exploration on how shadows and light form landscapes.

www.jerrykirk.com

NEW PAINTING - 'HORSEBACK RIDERS ON THE CARRIAGE TRAIL' (BASS LAKE, NC)

'Horseback Riders on the Carriage Trail

(Bass Lake, NC)'

40" x 30 " / Acrylic on canvas / 2009

Another painting that depicts one of the most beautiful areas of North Carolina's High Country - Bass Lake in Blowing Rock.

www.jerrykirk.com

NEW PAINTING - 'WOODS-FOG DESCENDING' (BOONE, NC)

'Woods - Fog Descending (Boone, NC)'

48" x 36 " / Acrylic on canvas / 2009

www.jerrykirk.com

NEW PAINTING - 'AUTUMN TRAIL'

'Autumn Trail (Blowing Rock, NC)'

36" x 48" • Acrylic on canvas • 2009

This painting depicts a segment of the trail that winds around Bass Lake in Blowing Rock in early October. This area is one of my favorite spots to enjoy the fall colors. When the leaves begin to change it is simply spectacular! Part of my ongoing series exploring nature through expressionism.

'SUMMER WOODS' ACCEPTED INTO JURIED COMPETITION 'CAROLINA'S GOT ART'

'Summer Woods' (Moses Cone State Park, NC)

36" x 44" / Acrylic on canvas / 2009

'Summer Woods' has been accepted into the Charlotte juried competition, 'Carolina's Got Art!'. Opening reception will be October 2nd, 6pm - 9pm at Atherton Mill. Exhibition dates are Oct. 2 - 30. The Judge is New York Art Critic Brice Brown. Click here for info.

'Summer Woods' is part of an ongoing series I began in 2008 that attempts to capture and explore the beauty and mystery that is the mountains of Western North Carolina. This particular painting shows an area of the hiking and horse back riding trail that is part of the Moses Cone State Park near Blowing Rock. There are over 20 miles of these trails that wind along the Park and they are called 'carriage trails' because originally they were used as 'roads' for horse-drawn carriages that transported people and goods.

For this particular image, during a day of hiking, I was able to capture through my photography that particular bend in the trail as it was gloriously bathed in the bright light of the mid-day sun. Then, using my photograph for reference only, I was able to manipulate the colors of the paint and emphasize the interplay of light and shadows to create a piece that is more expressionistic than realistic. Also, by using an undercoat of thick, uneven paint, I was able to bring out hints of texture that suggests the hardness of the woods, which makes for a nice contrast to the softness of the light and shadows.

My goal, through this painting, was to convey a bit of the solitude and sheer wonder that can be found in the deep mountains woods.

www.jerrykirk.com

NEW PAINTING IN THE 'WHIMSICAL CATEGORY- 'UMBRA TRIPUDIO'

'Umbra Tripudio (Shadow Dance)'

24" x 24" • acrylic on wood

www.jerrykirk.com

OPENING FRIDAY, SEPT. 4 : 'DEBUT' - PAINTINGS BY JERRY KIRK, RAED AL-RAWI , MAC MASTERTON AND MIKE BOZART AT STUDIO ELYSIA, INSIDE NODA'S 'ARTHOUSE', 3103 CULLMAN AVE. THERE WILL BE A WINE AND CHEESE RECEPTION FROM 7-10PM - FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

THIS EXHIBIT WILL MARK THE DEBUT, (THUS THE TITLE), OF MY NEW GALLERY 'STUDIO ELYSIA', NAMED FOR MY LOVELY DAUGHTER.

NEW PAINTING - 'CLOUDS OVER SALVO'

'Clouds Over Salvo'

40" x 30" • acrylic on canvas • 2009

My 'expressionist landscape' series continues...

NEW PAINTING- 'FLOATING ISLAND'

'Floating Island'

(Cloud formation over I-77N)

40" x 36" • acrylic on canvas • 2009

Part of an on-going series I call 'Skyscapes' that focus on the beauty of clouds

I have a card in this deck - 'The Jack of Diamonds'.

Come and check out the show - it will be cool to see all 52 original pieces of art together.

'Sunset Woods'

30" x 40" • Acrylic on canvas • 2009

Another in my on-going series using expressionism to explore the genre of landscape and in particular the beauty and mystery of the deep woods.