No. 587 Post Zimin Workshop Study

 

 

 

Spring Still Life

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

 

Okay, this one was completely designed and painted by me using ideas I gleaned from the workshop. Hopefully it looks like I learned something. :)

No. 586 Zimin Workshop Study #5

 

 

Zimin Workshop Study #5

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

 

Last day of the workshop, last study. We discovered, after trying to add a red apple to this still life for some color and Mr. Zimin calmly removing it again, that this still life is supposed to be light and airy. The apple, he told us, would have just weighed it down. He often commented that we are trying to paint the air around the objects not just the objects themselves. Something to ponder.

 

 

 

On the right is Alexander Zimin. On the left is our translator Olga. In the middle is the woman that made this workshop possible and a fine painter herself, Jan Jewell. A huge thank you to all three for a wonderful workshop.



No. 585 Zimin Workshop Study #4

 

 

Zimin Workshop Study #4

Oil on Stretched Canvas

12" x 16"

 

I struggled long and hard with this one. I had this lovely textured background which was what I thought it was all about. Then, Mr. Zimin came by and scraped it all off to make the roses stand out more. Okay, maybe thick beautiful texture isn't always what it's about. Sigh. Back to the drawing board.

 

 

 

Zimin Workshop Study #4b

Oil on Gessobord

7" x 5"

 

After making all kinds of mistakes on the first study, I did this small version pretty quickly.

 

 

Okay, here is the master painting his version. It was exquisite.

 

Mr. Zimin doesn't speak fluent English and so had a translator. This made the workshop interesting and a bit challenging. The translator was a lovely lady, eager to help you understand. I couldn't help but feel, though, that I may have missed out on some great information. I will say the language barrier would not keep me from taking the workshop again if I had the chance.

No. 584 Zimin Workshop Study #3

 

 

Zimin Workshop Study #3

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

 

This lively, loose, colorful study is from the third day of the workshop. The weather was beautiful so we went outside to paint. I was really excited because I hope to paint still lifes in my own backyard and was very interested in how Mr. Zimin approached this situation. You can see some of his palette knife work on my painting. It was an interesting combination of scraping paint off to simply and unify while adding thick, variegated strokes for interest. I know one thing for sure. I need to use a lot more paint.

 

 

 

Alexander Zimin in the middle of painting an outdoor still life. It turned out beautifully.

No. 583 Alexander Zimin Workshop Studies

 

Zimin Workshop Study #2

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

 

A couple of weeks ago I had the great good fortune to attend a workshop taught by Russian, master-impressionist, painter, Alexander Zimin. It was a week long workshop running from 10:00am until 5:00pm each day. Every morning started with Mr. Zimin painting a demo with great enthusiasm. After lunch it was our turn to paint one of his beautifully designed still lifes. I would've attended the workshop just to have the opportunity to paint one of his still lifes.

 

 

 

Zimin Workshop Study #1

Oil on Stretched Canvas.

12" x 16"

 

 

New friends Maria and Steve and old friend, Margaret participating in the workshop.

No. 413 A "Cool" Still Life

 

 

 

 

 

A "Cool" Still Life

Oil on Canvas Panel

9" x 12"

 

 

 

Still thinking about Alexander Zimin's workshop. Of particular interest is how he arranged his still life and how he lit both the still life and his canvas with only natural light. I'm also trying really hard not to crop in so close. Not sure how successful I was with all of that. Natural light is so cool (a little too cool for me) and the fact that my walls are painted green doesn't help. Hmmm, we'll keep trying....

 

 



No. 407 Midnight Tulips

Midnight Tulips

Oil on Canvas Panel

9 x 12

This painting is in direct response to a demo I saw recently. Russian artist Alexander Zimin was in town to give a workshop in Bellevue. Sadly, I wasn't able to attend the workshop but was able to view a demo. What a beautiful painter! He uses only natural light and does not crop in on his subject.

Mr. Zimin with the painting he created during the demo I watched. Amazing, right? I sincerely hope to be able to take his workshop he next time he comes to town. A huge thanks to Jan Jewell for talking him into traveling here from Russia and arranging this opportunity.