Artwork copyright Kirk Pedersen. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Kirk Pedersen. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

They Call It Paradise, 1982

Kirk Pedersen
American (born 1959)

Location: Pateros School, Pateros

About the Artwork

They Call It Paradise is a watercolor painting by artist Kirk Pedersen. It is part of his series of plant and flower paintings, created in Hawaii. He notes, "The subject was magnified and I utilized a close-up viewpoint and a cropped composition to add interest. The colors were heightened, the contrasts amplified and diagonal shapes and forms were employed to create a more dynamic artwork."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Pateros School District.

About the Artist

Artist Kirk Pederson creates expressive paintings of urban and natural landscapes. He studied at the University of Colorado and the University of Nebraska. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Midland College in Nebraska. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Claremont Graduate University in California.