It was a beautiful week in early August to have artist Kim English and a troop of outdoor painters working to perfect their quick sketching techniques with oil paints. As always, we’ll share a few of the images we captured here on our blog, but encourage you to also check out the full gallery on our Facebook page. You can also scroll back in our Instagram feed to see what we captured during the class.
Another intense painting workshop with Kim English. He really put the students to the test, changing the model’s poses every twenty minutes or so. Most of the days were spend on the grounds of the Greenville Arms, on the back lawn by the studio, on the front lawn by the main inn, or around the pool, but mid-week the class went out to a local farm for more interesting structures and variety.
“Excellent teacher, very generous with time and info and willing to answer questions. Please see if Kim can come every year!” “Loved the models and all the locations.” “Fantastic meals! What a chef! Too many cookies and desserts! Ha!“
Here is just a small sampling of the many quick sketch paintings. The walls of the whole studio were filled with paintings such as these. 
While class time was intense, this group knew how to unwind at the end of the day, often gathering the parlor for wine, beer, and laughs. 
If you missed getting into this year’s class, Kim English will be back in 2017.
Kim English, one of the most popular instructors at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops, will return August 2 to 8, 2015, to teach a lively ‘Capturing the Moment in Oil’ Workshop, featuring the clothed figure in the landscape.
Kim is an award-winning painter, so we were interested in his views both on creating art, and instructing students.
How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?
I’ve been at this for over 30 years. When I was in Art School, the founder of the school, Phil Steele, asked me to help student teach. That started things for me back then.
What is your favorite part about teaching?
My favorite part of teaching is helping someone not to be afraid.
What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop?
It takes a lot of courage to take a workshop. If you can, you’ll not only meet some interesting people, but you’ll see how other people solve problems in ways that maybe you haven’t thought of yet.
Also, you might help somebody else.
But I guess the main reason would be that art can be a very solitary profession, so there’s nothing like being with a group of painters all working out problems together.
What are you currently working on in your own art?
Currently, I’ve been working with lights. We have a lot of models at our studio up here in the mountains, so we have been experimenting with different lighting situations.
Where is your art currently being exhibited?
I show my work in galleries mostly, Tree’s Place in Orleans, MA and Anglin Smith in Charleston, as well as a couple of museums.
Is your work represented in galleries, and if so, what hints would you give to artists looking for gallery representation?
When I have to do business with a gallery, I try not to be too sensitive. They see your work in a very different way than you do.
Do you sell your work in any online gallery?
Most of my galleries have an online presence.
What is your favorite art quote?
One of my teachers, Jim Valone, once said that he didn’t like dumb paintings. Paintings that didn’t speak.
Describe your studio.
We live up in the Colorado mountains at about 8500 feet. We have a house about a mile from where we live. That’s our studio. There are two buildings on three acres. I work in one, my wife Nura, who is a sculptor, works in the other. There is a common room that we have our painting sessions in. We invite other artists up, have a model, food and drink, and generally have a good time. We usually even get some painting done.
Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products.
I have learned to trust my hands. What’s in them is secondary.
We just finished another great week with Colorado artist, Kim English. This was all about quick sketch painting to capture the moment.
Two models were used on each of the days, except for Wednesday when the group went to paint at our favorite local farm. The first day was spent in the studio with the models, working on quick sketches to capture gesture and shapes. The second day, the group set up around the pool. First the models were positioned on the second floor porch of the Carriage House and then in various set ups around the pool.
“Excellent experience – quick studies of gesture & intense color classes were the BEST!” – Susan P.
Kim will be returning again in 2014 to teach this very popular class.
Around the pool is always a very popular place to paint. There is shade if you want it or you can bask in the sun while thinking of a dip in the pool after class!
Notice that Kim went around to the students in bare feet! I guess he was enjoying the nice green green grass we get in Greenville!
Bjorn set up his easel right at the edge of the pool. I kept watching to see if I could catch a picture of him falling in the pool as he stepped back to look at his painting. Didn’t happen!
On another afternoon the class set up a colorful clothesline scene with the two models on the lawn in back of the studio.
Linda found another shady spot to stand while painting — in the open garage/storage building next to the studio!
Everyone in the class commented about what a wonderful group it was and how it felt like hanging out with old friends. Here are some folks gathering in the dining rooms before dinner.
Kim English, the master of the quick-sketch oil painting from Colorado, is here this week teaching a 5 day workshop to a full class.
The first day Kim had the class doing 5 minute paintings with a model in the studio (it was a rainy day). Once the 5 minutes was up, you wiped off your sketch and started a new one with the next pose. Some people just about had heart attacks with the required speed, amount of paint and turp! But there was method to this madness. The next day the pose time was extended to 20 minutes and suddenly this seemed like a long and leisurely amount of time to paint.
And best of all the sun came out mid-day and the class was able to move outside with the two models and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Today the group went out to our favorite local farm. It was a gorgeous day!
Lots of beautiful paintings and beautiful smiles!
