New Products in 2018

This year I am offering new products with my artwork on it! Below are the home decor items and jewelry being offered. Click here to shop.

Hand Towels

Necklaces

Drinking Coasters

Arts in Bloom: 10 Year Retrospective

This year the Salem County Arts in Bloom Studio Tour will be celebrating it's 10th anniversary. All the exhibiting artists have the opportunity to create art or a display related to theme of 10. As I was contemplating what I should do, I realized that 10 years ago was when I decided to change my college major from Biology (I know, what?!) to Art Education. You can read more about that decision here. In the spring semester of 2008, I began taking fine art classes which changed my life forever.

At my site location, I will curate a 10 year retrospective exhibit for the tour participants to view during this year's Salem County Arts in Bloom. It will include college art assignments, my first acrylic paintings, as well as photographs and videos from my tenured art teaching experience. The collection will have captions and information for the tour goers to follow the journey and development into my career. Along with the retrospective I will also include new works of art and products.

The Salem County Arts in Bloom Studio Tour will take place on May 19 & 20 from 10AM - 5PM. For more information, visit the official website by clicking here.

Photo by Don Malavoy

20" x 16" Oil Painting - 2008

18" x 24" Figure Drawing - 2009

22" x 28" Acrylic Painting - Summer 2009

Painting Progression: Growing Undercover

One morning in December I woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland of pristine, powdery snow. My husband was home and everyone was still sleeping so I decided to suit up in my Carhartts and muck boots. I wanted to take a walk to get reference pictures since I had yet to paint a snow landscape. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get some amazing photographs!

Before the sunrise, I walked down the side of my neighbor's farm fields and toward the the closest road. I found a lot of great inspiration along the way but found myself at the corner of Canhouse and Coleman Road just as the sun was beginning to crest over the hill and clouds. I was captivated with how the sunshine glistened across the fresh snow.

After I got home, I reviewed the photographs I had taken and really fell in love with the contrasting colors that appeared in snow and sky. I thought the hills in the background and high contrast undulations found in the foreground would make a dynamic painting. 

While I was working, I learned that the particular field I was painting was planted with winter wheat. As I was painting, the title came to me and I thought it would provide a level of intrigue to the viewer: What is under the snow? What could be growing in winter? I also wanted the title to illustrate that a farmer's work continues even during the bitter cold of winter.

Below is the painting along with the progression video of it's creation. 

Leave me a comment, I'd love to hear what you think!

"Growing Undercover" - Acrylics on Gessobord - 8" x 10" by Kimberly English © 2018

This painting is also available in the following products:

Archival Prints

Pillows

Greeting Cards

Click here to shop

New Painting Reveal at Gallery 50

This past week I finished my newest painting! I had just enough time to prepare it to be apart of the Salem County Arts in Bloom exhibition at Gallery 50. The opening reception is this Friday, March 2nd from 6-9 PM. I will be revealing my new painting at this exhibition and give a brief talk around 7PM. My fellow Arts in Bloom artists will also be in attendance and refreshments will be served. Gallery 50 is located at 50 East Commerce Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302. The show will be on display until March 30th.

 I hope to see you Friday night!

Donating to Woodstown Ambulance Squad 12

I announced earlier this month via my newsletter that I will be donating 15% of all artwork sales and commissions during the month of February to the American Heart Association.

However, after learning about this week’s tragic fire, proceeds will be going to the Woodstown Ambulance & Rescue who lost all of their vehicles and equipment.

This includes: original artwork, greeting cards, pillows, prints, necklaces, and home decor. Click a picture below or shop here: https://www.kimberlyenglish.com/shop

Stained Glass Template

Last year I was approached by Mr. & Mrs. Joe McDonald for a special commission. They had seen me paint live at Taylor & Tyler's wedding and needed my help for a project of their own. They are the Aunt and Uncle of the groom who wanted to make a custom stained glass work of art as their post-nuptial gift to the couple. Joe is a very skilled stained glass maker and requested that I create a template for them to work from.

We met to discuss the idea of the stained glass piece and we went over examples of works that they liked. We talked about form and how that played into creating a piece of stained glass artwork. It was very helpful to learn more about the process since I have never made stained glass before. Ultimately, they needed a simplistic drawing, to scale, that they could use to cut out and trace onto the glass for cutting.

Since their wedding day was extremely rainy, the McDonald's wanted to create a colorful image that would include the farm and barn where they were married. I used reference pictures from Taylor & Tyler's engagement session along with pictures of their backs from their wedding day (below) to create the composition. I started by creating a small 4" x 6" sketch of the design. I then enlarged it to the requested size: 12" x 18". I left the design simple so that Joe could make decisions as to where to add extra pieces.

It was so much fun to be able to help the McDonald's create another unique piece of art for Taylor and Taylor. Below is the finished piece. I'd love to know what you think of the process, please leave me a comment!

Photo courtesy of Dana Zarin Photography © 2017

Photo courtesy of Dana Zarin Photography © 2017

Photo courtesy of Dana Zarin Photography © 2017

Template I made for the stained glass

Finished stained glass work of art by Joe McDonald

New Painting Workshop: Rabbit Milk Can on 2/24/18

Join me for this rabbit painting workshop on a large rusty milk can (6"w x 11"h). You will learn to blend, create gradients and use textures to paint fur and grass. No experience is necessary. Participants may also add a gingham ribbon (not pictured). All supplies are included in the price of the workshop. Light refreshments will be served. Please click here to read workshop policies.

Saturday, February 24, 2018 12-3PM

Cost: $35

 Studio Location

A Whole New Light

328 Harding Highway

Elmer, NJ 08318

To register, click here