Sunday, September 29, 2013

Portrait Painting from a Photo Workshop


Limited to 10 participants!
Location: The Art House (an extension of the Lake Country Art Gallery),
10356 Bottom Wood Lake Rd, Lake Country, British-Columbia 
Dates: November 27, 28, 29, 2013
10:00am to 4:00om - $300













This new three-day portrait painting from photos workshop is designed to help students learn how to work from photographic reference while still achieving the appeal of a painting done from a live model. It would be wonderful if we could always paint from live models, but the reality is that for various reasons ranging from economic, to the desire to paint complex expressions, or children (who will never sit still long enough) most artists must work from photos to some degree.  The trick is to know how to interpret the photo and to know what information from it to use and what to omit.  To do this the artist draws on knowledge and experience gained from working with live models, and an understanding of the limitations and pitfalls of working from photos.  For best results it is suggested that students take a workshop where we paint from the live model prior to this workshop. 

We will be working with a full palette in this class, which provide the full range of colours, allowing students to paint any colour combinations they desire. This workshop will address the stages to developing a painting including underpainting, then big form modeling, defining the planes of the face and features, and finally glazing to fine-tune the details. Students will learn how to achieve a better likeness as well as how to paint convincing flesh tones and render textures like cloth and hair. 
Once registered participants will be emailed directions on how to select a good photo to work from.  Students are asked to select three photos they would like to paint, based on the guidelines, and email them to me before the class begins so I can help them select the best one.
For more information and to reserve your space please email Bev Gordon at beverleybobshe@yahoo.ca.

Figure Painting Workshop


Limited to 8 participants! 
Location: The Art House (an extension of the Lake Country Art Gallery), 10356 Bottom Wood Lake Rd, Lake Country, BC 
Dates: November 24, 25, 26, 2013
10:00am to 4:00om - $300 plus model fee










 
This three-day figure painting workshop is a unique opportunity for students of all levels to learn the process of painting the figure in oils. We will be using a limited palette, which provides a full range of colours while maintaining colour harmony.


The course will center on the experience of painting from a live model. There will be a single, sustained pose throughout the workshop, and students will complete one painting over the course of the three days. This will allow students to explore the stages to developing a painting. We will begin by discussing comparative measuring, to get accurate proportions in the underpainting.  Then we will move to colour and concentrate on big form modeling, next we define the planes of the face and features, and finally glaze to fine-tune the details. Students will learn how to achieve a better likeness as well as how to paint convincing flesh tones and render textures like cloth and hair. 

Each day will include a painting demonstration, discussion and individual instruction at the easel. Class sizes will be kept small to maximize individual instruction. Discussions will include comparative measuring, proportion and structure of the head, stages to developing a painting, as well as form, value, edges, balance, unity, light and modeling with colour temperature.

For more information and to reserve your space please email Bev Gordon at beverleybobshe@yahoo.ca.
Here's a photo from the last workshop in Lake Country.  Everyone did such a great job!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Article in Fine Art Today

Check out the article on my solo show at Cube Gallery in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine! A huge thank you to Peter Trippi for the wonderful write-up!

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Article in the Ottawa Citizen


Check out this sweetest article ever written by Peter Simpson in the OTTAWA CITIZEN about my show that's on now at Cube Gallery!  It made the front page of the Ottawa Citizen!  Me and Stephen Harper!
http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2013/09/17/kristy-gordons-triumphant-return-to-ottawa/?postpost=v2#content


Dacia Gallery 3 Year Anniversary Exhibition & Celebration

I am delighted to announce that two of my latest paintings, "Submerged" and "Swimmer," will be included in Dacia Gallery's 3 year Anniversary Exhibition and Celebration.  This wonderful gallery in the lower east side of New York has been representing cutting edge figurative art for three years now, and I am so honoured to be included among the amazing artists they have selected for this show.  I will unfortunately not be able to attend the opening reception, as I will be up in Ottawa that day for the opening of my solo exhibition at Cube Gallery in Ottawa, however if you are in New York, this is an evening not to miss!  It will be a wonderful celebration filled with amazing art and artists at a gallery I admire so much.  I hope you can join in their celebration of three years of representing top-notch art!
"Submerged," oil on canvas, 8"x10"

"Swimmer," oil on canvas, 8"x 10"


Dacia Gallery 3 Year Anniversary 
Exhibition & Celebration

Group Exhibition
September 19 to October 18, 2013

Opening Reception
Thursday, September 19, 6:00 - 9:00pm

Meet the Artists @ Opening Reception
Artist Talk and Intro @ 7:30pm
Featured Artists
Gloria Adams, Janet Cook, Diana Corvelle, Andrew Conklin, 
David DeSimone, Stephen Early, Jennifer Gennari, 
Kristy Gordon, Travis Little, Thomas Legaspi, 
Daniel Maidman, Emily Minnie, Heather Morgan, 
Jeff Newman, Victoria Selbach and Patricia Watwood.

My Solo at Cube Gallery is Open

My solo exhibition at Cube Gallery (1285 Wellington Street West, Ottawa, Canada) officially opened today!  The vernissage is this Thursday (September 19th) from  6 to 9 pm.  I'm on my way up to Ottawa right now for the show!  I hope to see you Thursday!  Here are a few more images of pieces that will be included in the exhibition.

"Narrative in Black and White," charcoal on paper, 60"x 78"
"Glowing Jellyfish," oil on linen, 16"x 20"

"Self-Portrait with Batman," oil on canvas, 48"x 36"

Monday, September 2, 2013

Painting at Get Fresh


A couple weeks ago I joined my pals - fellow artists and visionaries, Chris Wise, Shapri and Sam Del Pilar in the park for a fitness day, 'Get Fresh,' that brought together a wonderful community of people focused on healthy living and enjoying life.  I brought along my painting box and to my surprise felt  comfortable setting up right there in the middle of the basketball court.  I was inspired by the collective of amazing people and was drawn to a line of people intently focussed on a basketball game.  Pretty soon a few totally amazing kids came along and wanted to paint with me and I was swooped into having the best time ever painting with these kids.  Here is the completed painting as well as a few photos from that day.

















"Soul Possy,: oil on linen, 6"x 12," 2013

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Solo Show at Cube Gallery Opening Sept 19th



















My solo show opens this month at Cube Gallery in Ottawa!  It runs from September 17th to October 13th with a vernissage on Thursday, September 19th from 6 to 9pm.  I'll be flying in from New York to be in attendance, so I hope to see you there!

Here's a brief write-up about the show:

"Kristy Gordon is an internationally-recognized Canadian artist. At the age of 33, she has received numerous awards and recognition for her work. Her oil paintings can be found in collections and galleries around the world.

In 2013 she successfully finished her Masters in Fine Art at the New York Academy of Art. Kristy Gordon’s work is a frank and intimate reflection of her curiosity about other people,  transformations and self-discovery. Her oeuvre ranges from portraits and self-portraits to experimental paintings that demonstrate a surprising maturity and skill for such a young artist.

In her new show here at Cube, Kristy introduces the Canadian public to examples of work done during her recent studies in New York City. "Explosion" and "JellyFish" are two works that best describe her recent growth: explosive, amplified, narrative and monumental; but still very personal, intimate and sensitive."

"Jellyfish," 48"x 60," oil on canvas, 2013
















For more images of paintings included in the show and for more information CLICK HERE.

"Descension," 24"x 20," oil on linen, 2013