Many of us have had a feeling of wanting to start over or change our career path.
Kirk Burdick had that feeling after 20 years of working in youth ministry for the Presbyterian Church (USA). After moving from town to town, he decided to settle down and follow his true calling - artist.
During his days serving the youth ministry, Burdick’s primary job was to help teach children about teamwork, bonding and relying on others. He often led youth ministry groups on camping and “high adventure” outings and events. He also traveled around the country playing music at various youth events.
But that changed seven years ago when Burdick and his wife moved to Midway.
One of the first things he did was enroll in the MFA program in sequential art at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).
Burdick described sequential art as “basically storytelling with pictures, such as comics.”
He noted, “The nature of storytelling in the program is what drove me towards it.”
Burdick said he has enjoyed art since he was 3 years old, but it did not become a major focus in his life until he decided to enroll at SCAD.
He specializes in “hyper-realistic water mediums, both dry-brush watercolors and gouache.” But he enjoys the entire process of doing art - the more complicated the better - and said the challenge is in the process of creating art more so than the finished product.
Burdick said the people, sights and history of the community has proven inspirational for his artwork.
He enjoys painting the world as he knows it, and said rural areas have been a preference because that is where he enjoys living.
“Ever since I was a kid, I simply got to know people and painted them and their surroundings,” Burdick said.
Midway has provided a lot of subjects for Burdick’s paintings.
“I don’t have to go looking for models. All I have to do is approach folks and talk with them. I develop a relationship with them and the whole aspect that the people in my paintings are real people and the ‘shot’ is a real thing that I’ve witnessed is really important to me.”
Regarding his paintings and prints, Burdick said, “I want people to get an understanding of the area. I want them to understand and appreciate the locale, the history, etc. For example I did one of the Yellow Bluff Tea Room. That’s gone forever, so I want people to appreciate the history behind what I do. That’s a part of the heritage here.”
Burdick’s artwork is available at The Midway Gallery.
Kirk Burdick had that feeling after 20 years of working in youth ministry for the Presbyterian Church (USA). After moving from town to town, he decided to settle down and follow his true calling - artist.
During his days serving the youth ministry, Burdick’s primary job was to help teach children about teamwork, bonding and relying on others. He often led youth ministry groups on camping and “high adventure” outings and events. He also traveled around the country playing music at various youth events.
But that changed seven years ago when Burdick and his wife moved to Midway.
One of the first things he did was enroll in the MFA program in sequential art at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).
Burdick described sequential art as “basically storytelling with pictures, such as comics.”
He noted, “The nature of storytelling in the program is what drove me towards it.”
Burdick said he has enjoyed art since he was 3 years old, but it did not become a major focus in his life until he decided to enroll at SCAD.
He specializes in “hyper-realistic water mediums, both dry-brush watercolors and gouache.” But he enjoys the entire process of doing art - the more complicated the better - and said the challenge is in the process of creating art more so than the finished product.
Burdick said the people, sights and history of the community has proven inspirational for his artwork.
He enjoys painting the world as he knows it, and said rural areas have been a preference because that is where he enjoys living.
“Ever since I was a kid, I simply got to know people and painted them and their surroundings,” Burdick said.
Midway has provided a lot of subjects for Burdick’s paintings.
“I don’t have to go looking for models. All I have to do is approach folks and talk with them. I develop a relationship with them and the whole aspect that the people in my paintings are real people and the ‘shot’ is a real thing that I’ve witnessed is really important to me.”
Regarding his paintings and prints, Burdick said, “I want people to get an understanding of the area. I want them to understand and appreciate the locale, the history, etc. For example I did one of the Yellow Bluff Tea Room. That’s gone forever, so I want people to appreciate the history behind what I do. That’s a part of the heritage here.”
Burdick’s artwork is available at The Midway Gallery.