“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time. Up to a certain point, it is necessary for a man to live his life in the world in which he finds himself, and to make the best of it. But beyond that point, he must create a world of his own. And the greatest thing about life is that it is always giving us the opportunity to create something new. It is never too late to start over, to make a fresh beginning, to blaze a new trail. Life is short, and we have but a brief time in which to explore, to learn, to experience, and to create. Let us make the most of that time, and let us burn brightly, like meteors across the night sky, leaving behind us a trail of light and inspiration for those who come after us.” Jack London
What inspired your Montana Spirit Series?
Montana Spirit is a visual Country Western song. Rough, hearty edges in a beautiful, soft, sifted palette. It is my autobiography of sorts. I grew up & live in Montana. I paint the people, land, animals, and culture that I know. I enjoy sharing these “songs” with others.
What do you hope viewers take away from this body of work?
I enjoy creating paintings where the viewer becomes emotionally connected and visually sings along. I want to start the verse with a strong composition and let the viewer sing the rest with their idea of how it ends. They are interactive pieces.
For those unfamiliar with your work, what does your process look like?
All of my work is original oil. They are pure oil–no fillers. I don’t allow any prints/reproductions to be made of my work. Part of this is about investment value. The other part is that my paintings are thick and juicy! I paint in thin layers, building up to an imposto surface. The painting is allowed to dry between layers. This ensures that they are archival.
What was your favorite part of creating this series?
These paintings were all created in my studio. They are inspired by people, colors, and horses that are very close nearby.
What part of creating this series was most challenging?
The most challenging thing is that I have a million ideas. It’s like trying to catch a waterfall in a tea cup!
Kira is a modern impressionist painter known for her thick and juicy original oil paintings. With training in Russian Impressionism and Western Tonalism, she paints what she knows: the land, the people, and the culture of the west, Montana in particular. Kira creates spaces through scope, scale, color palettes and subject matter. From the initial design process to the installation, she thrives on collaborating with her client’s vision. Her work is as comfortable in a modern corporate office in LA as it is in the Billings Clinic Atrium (the largest medical center in a three state area). She is able to create a body of work that is both appropriate and emotional. She appreciates the subtleties.
Kira is known best for her Tipi and her Aspen paintings. They have both become a muse for her, as they transcend earth and sky, touching both this world and the next. Living in Big Sky country, and specically in eastern Montana, Kira’s experience of seeing vast expanses of land framed by large, open skies inuences both her artwork and worldview.
You’ll find Kira’s paintings in six national galleries, two museums and the White House. Kira’s work is promoted by Cowboys & Indians Magazine, Western Home Journal and Big Sky Journal.
For more information or to purchase work please call 406-721-3154