Kari Tirrell American, b. 1965

Works
  • Kari Tirrell, GAME NIGHT
    GAME NIGHT$ 4,000.00
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, COLOR MY WORLD 1, 2012
    COLOR MY WORLD 1, 2012$ 1,000.00
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, COLOR MY WORLD 3
    COLOR MY WORLD 3$ 1,000.00
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, WAITING , 2012
    WAITING , 2012$ 2,600.00
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, ATTEMPTED MURDER 8/100
    ATTEMPTED MURDER 8/100
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, SOLO, 2010
    SOLO, 2010$ 2,600.00
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, SUSHI CHEF, 2010
    SUSHI CHEF, 2010
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, CREATIVE PARKING, 2017
    CREATIVE PARKING, 2017$ 2,200.00
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, LAUNDRY DAY, VENICE, 2011
    LAUNDRY DAY, VENICE, 2011$ 2,600.00
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, SUNDAY EVENING PUZZLE, 2013
    SUNDAY EVENING PUZZLE, 2013$ 3,800.00
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, SWEET, 2009
    SWEET, 2009
    Available
  • Kari Tirrell, TRAFFIC JAM
    TRAFFIC JAM
    Available
Biography
Kari Tirrell

Born in 1965 and raised in Huntington Beach, California, Kari Tirrell exhibited an early love for drawing. As a child, she spent much of her free time sketching people and animals, often using whatever materials she could find, a passion that would eventually shape her career as a contemporary still life artist living in Gig Harbor, Washington.

 
Kari Tirrell’s artistic path began in childhood in Huntington Beach, California, where her natural drawing ability and attention to detail were evident early on. Influenced by illustrators such as Norman Rockwell and experimenting with graphite, charcoal, and ink, she once considered animation but chose a different direction. After graduating high school in 1983, she studied general courses at Orange Coast College while working at an advertising agency, where her illustration skills developed further. She married in 1989 and later moved to Gig Harbor, Washington, which became her long-term home.
A major turning point came in 2003 when she was diagnosed with Celiac disease and briefly studied clinical nutrition before ultimately returning to art. Encouraged by an abstract-artist friend, she began painting again, first selling works on eBay. She shifted from acrylics to oils in 2008, then discovered pastel as her true medium, adopting a traditional grid method inspired by contemporary realist pastel artists. From 2009 onward she entered juried exhibitions with organizations such as the Northwest Pastel Society and the Pastel Society of America, quickly earning honors including Master Pastelist and Distinguished Pastelist designations.
Tirrell became known for imaginative still lifes featuring vintage tin toys and nostalgic objects—works like Tattletale, Duck, Duck, Goose, and Tin Menagerie highlight her storytelling approach. Her art has been widely exhibited across the United States and recognized in major pastel competitions. Today she is regarded as a leading contemporary realist still-life artist whose pastel compositions blend technical precision with warmth, humor, and nostalgia.
Bibliography
Kari Tirrell

Publications & Media

  • “Still Life Composition Made Modern” — feature article on Kari Tirrell’s playful, nostalgic approach to still-life painting. artistsnetwork.com

  • Studio-visit / interview profile at Visual Language Magazine, discussing her self-taught background, transition from drawing to painting, and evolving artistic process. vlstudiovisits.blogspot.com

  • Artist biography and portfolio overview from her personal website. karitirrell.com+1

Exhibition Catalogs & Juried Show Records

  • Artist biography page at Rehs Contemporary Galleries, giving background on her life, career development, media transitions (acrylic → oil → pastel), and exhibition history. Rehs Galleries+1

  • Gallery artist profile at Meyer Galleries summarizing her career as a contemporary still-life painter living in Gig Harbor, Washington. meyergalleries.com

Professional Recognition & Career Documentation

  • Records on Rehs Contemporary site documenting her entry into competitive exhibitions starting in 2009, as well as membership and recognition by major pastel societies. Rehs Galleries+1

  • Her personal website’s portfolio and biography, which provide a consolidated view of her body of work, stylistic evolution, and professional trajectory. karitirrell.com+1

Critical Commentary & Artist Statements

  • The Visual Language Magazine interview includes reflections by Tirrell on her development as an artist — from childhood drawing, through abstract painting, to realist pastel work — offering insight into her motivations, influences, and artistic philosophy. vlstudiovisits.blogspot.com

  • The “Still Life Composition Made Modern” article interprets her still-life paintings as fresh takes on traditional composition, blending realism with whimsy. artistsnetwork.com

Online & Portfolio / Gallery References

  • Official website: portfolio, biography, and updated representation of her recent works. karitirrell.com+1

  • Galleries representing her work (e.g., Rehs Contemporary) providing documentation of exhibitions, available works, and artist history. Rehs Galleries+1

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