Kirk Madsen Illustration

Smoking Sailor

2011-11-02T21:47:00.000-07:00

I love just sitting down to my computer with no real idea what will come of it. This is a 2 hour or so session ... so much fun!!!

Goodbye REM

2011-09-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

So, upon hearing about the breakup of REM ( in the top 3 of bands that effected who I am today), I picked up the digital pen and just started something and this is what came out. Thanks guys for all the music!!!

The Magician

2011-09-12T16:21:00.001-07:00

Here is a quick weekend painting... It was a study for a larger one inspired by Ang and her reading recommendations but I liked it so much that I took it all the way to completion. Now its a bit like a book cover for a non-existant book.

Digital Work

2011-09-09T09:41:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of paintings that I've submitted to the magazine the "Friend"

Working Turtle

2011-08-15T23:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a painting for my website... I hope.

Coiled Court

2011-08-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

This was painting that I did this week for fun. I really wanted to paint like a quaint English village street corner at night complete with a cobblestones and such. No Thomas Kinkade I know but who could ever compare to that (...or who would ever want to).

As they say, cheers

Self Portrait

2011-08-03T22:41:00.000-07:00

So, its interesting how tragedy in life affects you. Some changes are obvious but sometimes you can't see the ways it creeps in alters you. While the death of my father has been difficult for our family, I have felt a deeper family connection grow and that connection has helped to overcome the the pain we have all borne. However, this event had an unforseen effect on my work. I became fairly apathetic and lazy about drawing and painting. So, I needed to get back at it. What better way to overcome the apathy than to capture yourself being so... That pretty much says it all.

Penny Pattersly

2011-03-27T22:33:00.001-07:00

Penny is for an upcoming book tentatively titled, Penny Pattersly and the Pursuit of the Practically Perfect Present

St Patricks Day Painting

2011-03-17T00:10:00.000-07:00

I call it, First Night Out .... Guarding the End of the Rainbow.Hope all your treasures are guarded by bear traps.
Happy St Pattys Day!!!

You Gotta Keep Progressing

2011-03-13T21:30:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last 4 months or so attempting to dive into the digital realm and teach myself to recreate how I paint traditionally in Photoshop. With the help of Guy Francis' book recommended by Perry Stewart I've made some welcome strides. I feel that I've a long way to go but here are some sketches that I have played around with. Let me know what you all think....

The Cracked Plumber

2010-08-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you all think that I've been sitting around eating Fruit Loops and singing my ABC's (well, the ABC part is true) but in between the disappointing Orem rainout and preping for the arrival of the next stork delivery, I actually have been working on Chris Dever's book. And I am proud to say that my work here is finished. WHEW!!!

The Cover
The earlier post with the plumber facing the front door will now be the back cover.
Here are a few illustrations that will be inside.

St. Patricks Day

2010-03-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

So, I am a bit late with this one. Meant to get this done by St. Patty's day but what with trips to the emergency room, the Detroit Red Wings last second heroics and a nagging need to finish the Maria V. Snyder series, I've slacked off. But I really am liking the way this one came out. The photo having been taken by myself doesn't quite do the original justice but it lets all 4 of you (lets see, that's right, there is about 4 followers out there) catch the gist.

Recent Events Reflected in a Sketch

2010-01-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

I call it First Response

Humbug to getting any art done during the Holidays!!!

2009-12-17T00:40:00.000-08:00

Holiday greeting card.... way less cheesy than a family photo eh!!! Merry Christmas, Now bugger off! Is the title too much???

Happy Halloween!!!

2009-10-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick painting I did the last couple of nights to get into the holiday spirit. Its titled Preparing for the Witching Hour. Its not too big 8 x 11, acrylic on paper. I wanted it to look old and misty... anyway, Happy Halloween everyone.

Finished

2009-10-21T19:42:00.001-07:00

Finished... feels nice!!!

Coming Along...

2009-10-19T00:11:00.000-07:00

The plumber is almost done...

Back to Work...

2009-10-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

So, I am the worst blogger in the world and have left the couple of you followers out of the loop. But seeing as my daughter has the swine flu and we are all quarantined for a while, it seems like a good time to update. I have been working off and on for the past few years with a local plumber Chris Dever on a plumbing book that he has been writing and it finally looks like its a go. So, I'll be doing around 20 illustrations plus the front and back cover for the book. I've included the initial sketch for the cover and the first steps of the painting....

When I think plumber, I think water and toilets... the water is obvious and the plunger is my suggestion of a toilet as I felt a toilet on the cover was a bit taboo. All I am after is catching the face of a typical plumber as he sees for the first time the job ahead of him...

I start with some tone. I also polled a few people and added a railing. It filled the negative space well and adds to the believability of a front door. The coloring of the face needs work but, I am off...

Lamenting the end of it all....

2009-08-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

Well, the show has come to a close and with it, my schooling. I want to thank all of those who came and supported me at the open house (while simultaneously cursing all those who came up with something more important than me.... kidding). It went swimmingly and from it I was able to sell some work and get some commissions ... thanks Eric!!! Now comes the pitching and selling of myself (I sound like a prostitute) to get those important in the illustration world to notice me. Wish me luck.....
So, there is nothing left now but to listen to some Sarah Mclachlan song as we fade from memory to memory... I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about it.

Sneak peaks of the show

2009-07-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

So, here comes the show... coming at me like that boulder at Indiana Jones in Raiders.... Scary!!! But just when my non-multitasking brain was about to hit overload, Aaron and his perfectly shiny head totally saved me!!!! You know, in the right light his head does shine like a halo. With his help I was able to get the work digitized and was able to get to the finishing touches for the show.... THANK YOU AARON!!!! You all should be receiving your invites soon but just to entice you to come and see, here are a couple of the paintings.

The July Show ......

2009-06-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

Finally, the show is on the horizon!!! It has felt like an extremely long time since I set my sights on this goal and I am proud to offer a date and location ..... July 8th through July 31st on the 5th floor of the UVU library. The Artist Reception will be Friday night, July 10th from 7-9 and all are welcome to attend (I know that the poster says 7-10pm but we changed it on the final draft).

A More Painterly Piece

2009-04-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

So, my last school assignment is to paint a figure doing something realistic and I decided I wanted to focus on the face and leave the rest a little obscure...

Crossing the Finish Line

2009-04-27T19:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok, ok ... I admit that I've not been as up to date with this as I should be. In my defense, this is it, the last semester of school (oh, yeah... the home stretch). I have been getting steadily farther behind in my BFA show work and so the end of the semester is a welcome relief. I can focus on my show and do some catch up. Anyway, here is some of my in-class work. Every friday we paint live models for about 2 hours and these are a few of my favorites.

Illustration of a short story

2009-03-01T16:08:00.000-08:00

So, our next assignment was to illustrate the concept of a short story. The story involved a small bird and a statue in a church. It was about isolation and self worth. I chose to capture a statue of a tortured soul.... however, I could not ever settle on the background. My first concept was to put other statuary in a group and the main character was in isolation. I never liked it much and by the time I painted it, I really hated it. So, Johanna and I came up with doing a church and that is the final. I've included both ideas and the final so you can make up your own mind on whether I chose right.

Old Woman

2009-02-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

This is a quick painting I did for a student show that will be opening at UVU at the end of this month. I had this sketch of an old lady that I had done while not listening at church one Sunday. I liked the stiff, grumpy civil war picture look that she had, so when the opportunity to do something just for myself with no requirements came along, I thought it would be fun to try to capture the old picture look with my style. anyway, here is both the initial sketch and the finished painting.

Illustrating a Fortune from a fortune cookie...

2009-01-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

The fortune is...
"Your ability to juggle many tasks will take you far"
So, here is the initial sketch.

...and the final painting.

Some Work From Last Year

2009-01-23T21:57:00.001-08:00

Here We Go

2009-01-23T21:29:00.000-08:00

Well world, I officially step into the world of blogging. It seemed inevitable that this day would come yet, I prolonged it for a long, long time (due to my lack of typing skill). I hope to place work as it progresses for all to see. Ideas, concepts and finished work that I have been working on throughout the year. Anyway, here we go......