The Kim English Method

I dedicate this post to the widely known artist - Kim English. The two day workshop at the SWA in Redwood city was literally a hoot. The theme was quick figure sketches conforming to Kim's Alla Prima style of painting with 'immediacy' and 'spontaneity'. We were constantly wiping the canvas every 5  to 10 min, getting ready for the model's next pose, working to get the gesture down with pre-mixed piles of paint. We probably did more than 30 of those on the first day spent inside the gallery. And on the second we were out in a park working on 20 min poses. The strict time limit forced us to focus on the big shapes and the gesture. I was tired by the end of each day, but couldn't have been happier.

A few things I came away with -

- Mass in shapes instead of a line drawing or a combination of both for a more painterly feel.

- Start with flat organic shapes and then push the paint around or wipe off parts to redo an area.

- When painting from a live model, start with a few quick sketches to prepare for the long pose.

It was tough but a lot of fun. This, to me, was the warm up for the week long workshop in Paris with Kim in September, which I am very eagerly looking forward to. Kim's paintings are of simple scenes captured in unique compositions, radiant colors and glowing lights - a constant reminder of the beauty in every day life. And that, to me, is the whole purpose of a painting. 

A 20 min sketch by Kim English. Pure brilliance.

Art Escapes

 

There are a few defining moments that kept me glued to Art. A painting kit that I received as a gift got me exploring; a crash course on oil painting got me learning, researching about artists got me wondering, reading articles and the experiments got me marveling. And what followed was an amazing trip into the realm of art, color, paint, workshops, failures, realizations, friends and of course life - which I have come to think of as my 'salvation' for the lack of a more dramatic word.

The weekend spent at E's ranch has been one such event and nothing short of spectacular. In keeping with the theme we watched art videos, discussed artists and their work, scouted the rolling hills for inspiration and painted too. We walked the beach drinking wine, hiked the tiny trails exploring the land, and lay on the roof under the brilliant sky counting constellations. The unprecedented escape brought a smile in me, that I shall remember for as long as I can.

 

A weekend well spent with Ellie, Anya, Branco, Breene and Cali.