M. Kirven Larsen Artwork

Exploring Pastels on Various Surfaces

Enjoying Herself

Phoenix, AZ (Oct. 2021)

We had a wonderful week with our friends from NC and our breakfast out at O.H.S.O. brewery gave Steve a chance to get a great shot which resulted in this portrait.

Beautiful Friend

Phoenix, AZ (2020)

Optimism personified. Glorious in The Battle. You are an inspiration every day.

American in Nigeria

Phoenix, AZ (2020)

Native wedding headdress. Thanks to our friends who shared this image of their daughter.

Blue Scarf

Phoenix, AZ (2019)

After Nicholai Fechin, Russian artist.

At the Cabin (1)

Phoenix, AZ (2019)

Best man, outstanding chef, excellent baker.

At the Cabin (2)

Phoenix, AZ (2019)

Focused on work, resisting fulltime retirement.

Audiophile Extraordinaire

Phoenix, AZ (2019)

After Nicholai Fechin, Russian artist.

The Queen

Phoenix, AZ (2020)

The world's best cat. Regal and always polite.

After Modigliani

Phoenix, AZ (2019)

The inspiration for this painting came from Modigliani's painting, "Madame Georges Van Muyden" and a photo of a young woman with earrings.

Wonderspaces 2019

Phoenix, AZ (2019)

Interactive art exhibit allowed visitors to paint a wall with colors.

The Rug Seller

Phoenix, AZ (2018)

People’s Choice Award, Arizona Pastel Artists Association, Fall 2018. Soft pastel on gessoed masonite with acrylic underpainting.

Blue-Eyed and Pensive

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Soft pastel on sanded pastel board.

The Veteran

Phoenix, AZ (2018)

Soft pastel on sanded pastel paper.

Weight of the World

Phoenix, AZ (2018)

Soft pastel on sanded pastel paper.

Sunday Morning

My Uncle, The Artist

(2017)

Retired mechanical engineer, favorite uncle, talented watercolorist. Soft pastel on Canson Mi-Tientes paper.

Tour Guide

Corfu, Greece (2017)

Soft pastel on Canson Mi-Tientes paper. (2017)

Thirtieth Anniversary

(2017)

At home just after retirement. Soft pastel on Canson Mi-Tientes paper.

Waiting All Day

Phoenix, AZ (2016)

Waiting All Day was inspired by several experiences, including long waits at airports due to cancelled flights and family members in surgery (necessitating many hours in hospital waiting rooms).

Elegance

(March, 2016)

Framed.

Still Life

Priest and Nuns Monument

Moab, UT (May 17, 2022)

Travel journal entry, Colorado River rafting trip in Moab, UT. Felt-tip pens on paper, 6" x 9". Copying an oil painting by Lucie Cousturier, in a pointillist style.

Sea Turtle with Aquatic Life

Phoenix, AZ (Mar. 2022)

Watercolor on paper, 9" x 12". Experiment with iridescent colors. I used a reference drawing from a coloring book.

After Lucie Cousturier

Phoenix, AZ (Mar. 2022)

Copying an oil painting by Lucie Cousturier, in a pointillist style.

Bouquet of Flowers after Van Gogh

Phoenix, AZ (Feb. 2022)

A copy of van Gogh's oil painting.

Late Afternoon in Amsterdam

Phoenix, AZ (Jan. 2022)

Pastel on pastelmat, 9" x 12". The reference photo was one Steve took about 20 years ago. I was experimenting with a style similar to pointillist, but with broader marks. I like the effect.

Vase with Flower and Thistles, after Van Gogh

Phoenix, AZ (Dec. 2021)

Pastel on paper, 9" x 12". (See a mid-point painting.)

Butterflies and Poppies After Van Gogh

Phoenix, AZ (Oct. 2021)

Van Gogh copied the works of several famous artists, including Millet, Holbein, Bernard, Hiroshige, Delacroix, Dore, Rembrandt, and others.

Knowing this gave me the emotional freedom to copy some of Van Gogh's paintings. The reproductions vary widely in color so it is difficult to know how closely mine match but that doesn't matter if the paintings turn out well.

Van Gogh's painting of Butterflies and Poppies was done in oil on canvas and mine is pastel on paper. This "translation" led me to experiment with a technique to make parts of my painting look like Van Gogh's sections of unpainted canvas. I liked the effect.

Elephant Tea Jar and Bouquet

Phoenix, AZ (Sept. 2021)

This painting is a combination of memories. The house in the background is on the beach in Hull, MA. I lived there during my high school years and part of college. Seeing it in my painting helps to keep those memories alive. The tea jar does the same for a much different phase of my life. I bought it to hold the ashes of our dear son, Eric, with the connection being that “elephants never forget.”

Emperor Moth After Van Gogh

Phoenix, AZ (Oct. 2021)

This is the first of Van Gogh’s paintings that I chose to copy. I recently watched an excellent lecture on YouTube (which, if I could find it again, I would include here) wherein the speaker showed many examples of how Van Gogh’s work copied or derived from the work of others and then also included examples of how later artists derived their work from Van Gogh’s. It’s just themes in movies and musical riffs and beats—-we express ourselves by building on the creativity of others.

Van Gogh painted mainly in oils and my painting is in pastel but I am pleased with the end result. Pastels can be wonderfully bright.

Stained Glass Birds

Phoenix, AZ (2021)

Derived from a stained glass art piece.

Still Life with Ox

Phoenix, AZ (2021)

Original still life of ceramic ox and little boy flute player.

Roses and Alstroemeria

Phoenix, AZ (2021)

Fresh bouquets are very inspiring. Love them. (See my build process.)

Coffee Mug with Gumdrops

Phoenix, AZ (2020)

Love the simple, intense background.

Coffee Mug with Radishes

Phoenix, AZ (2020)

The intense purple background is exciting but my favorite elements are the radish roots.

A Boy and his Shadow

(November, 2018)

Still life with marble statue and chrysanthemums.

Copper Canyon, Mexico

Girl with Candy Bar

Batopilas (March 2018)

Original art.

Man with Black Hat

Copper Canyon (March 2018)

Native Tarahumara man from trip to Copper Canyon area. Soft pastel on sanded pastel board.

Worried and Waiting

Copper Canyon (2018)

Soft pastel on sanded pastel paper.

Performance at School

Chiapas, Mexico (2016)

School children perform for tourists. Soft pastel on sanded pastel paper.

Proud Mother

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