Painting wildlife in acrylic workshop July 13th 2019, New Forest, Hampshire

I will be running a wildlife painting workshop using acrylics this summer on the edge of the New Forest national park, Hampshire

I have worked with acrylics as a wildlife illustrator and artist for over 25 years and find this versatile medium perfect for achieving the details that I love to capture in my paintings.

On this workshop, I will share some of my techniques and tips for painting wildlife which I use as an illustrator and painter, leading participants through the painting of an animal subject. During the workshop I will also cover composition and choice of subject matter, habitats, sketchbooks and use of photography.

This is an opportunity for anyone who has struggled with acrylics or would like to broaden their knowledge of working with this paint to experiment and learn with the emphasis on nature inspired art.  The day is all about relaxing and enjoying working with acrylics in the company of other artists and leaving with new techniques to try in your own work.

Hulse Hall, where I will be running this workshop, is set in the heart of Breamore village on the A338 and surrounded by countryside.  The hall is easily located from Ringwood or Salisbury.

Tea, coffee, biscuits and homemade cake is supplied. Please bring a packed lunch.

Parking outside the hall.

For further information or to book your place on the workshop please email me on the address below or call. Spaces are limited to just 15 so contact me asap to secure a place.

Email: kim.thompson7@btinternet.com

Tel: 01725 511 878  mobile 07946 594 482

The Rook

I just had to paint this portrait of a Rook. They are such gregarious, busy birds, always peering into bins or marching across farmland in large groups. This particular bird was hanging around the cafe at a zoo and watching every sandwich and sausage roll that was consumed. My offer of a crust was immediately accepted and afforded a fabulous opportunity to study the brilliant, petrol hues in his plumage. I loved painting the details in his beak, all those scratches and scruffiness of skin and the fluff of silky feathers around the eye. He was a beautiful and fun subject to capture as I recalled his confidence and interest. No aggression at all just a patience in the wait for a snack. I painted him against white on a board measuring 24 x 34 inches and he is quite a presence in a room with his clever eye staring straight out at you!

Surrey Contemporary Art Fair 16th - 17th March 2019

This year I will be taking part in Surrey Contemporary Art Fair at Sandown Racecourse, Esher. Recently I have been exploring new ideas and developing a more contemporary feel to my work. It has been exciting to paint on a much bigger scale with some pieces measuring a metre square and featuring large portraits of birds and animals. I still enjoy the details and realism that is a feature of my illustration style but now combine this with more abstract backgrounds. Equally I have been exploring textures and patterns and drawing some of this into my backgrounds, layering both and working into the surface of the board. Painting with acrylics and oils allows for some exciting developments as you are often not too sure how experiments will turn out. Watch this space as more paintings emerge from the studio and from my field trips out into the New Forest for inspiration!
Meanwhile, at the art fair in Surrey I will have some of my recent work on show as well as some gorgeous prints on canvas and archival paper. I have also printed some of my earlier work as bigger canvases including Zebra Storm which looks amazing as a big print I hope to see you there! For details please visit the art fair website

www.contemporaryartfairs.co.uk

Wildlife and Animal Art exhibition with Hampshire Open Studios August 18 - 27, 2018

I will once again be setting up my studio space and gallery at Courtens Garden Centre, Whiteparish in the beautiful countryside on the border of Hampshire and Wiltshire. Open studios is a hugely popular arts event which attracts those with a passion for the arts and who enjoy meeting and supporting artists and makers across the county.
I will have new originals on show at the event and will be painting on most days whilst I am at Courtens. Visitors are welcome to come in for a chat, show me their own art work and discuss different techniques. If you are interested in a commission I am happy to discuss your options.
I will also have a range of greetings cards and prints available to buy.

The event runs from AUGUST 18th - 27th, 2018 10 am - 4pm

Courtens Garden Centre has good parking and wheelchair access and The Shed cafe serves delicious cakes, light lunches and afternoon teas. As well as my art on show, visitors can browse the unusual plant selection, stock up on gardening essentials or shop in the well stocked gift shop with unusual gifts and cards on sale.

My listing can be found in the Hampshire Open Studios brochure and website. I am venue Number 72.

http://www.hampshireopenstudios.org.uk/

The venue address is:
Courtens Garden Centre
Romsey Road
Whiteparish
SP5 2SD


A map can be found on the garden centre website:
www.courtensgardencentre.co.uk

Nature in Art 21 - 27 May 2018

I am delighted to be returning to Nature in Art in May 2018 and look forward to another week of working in their wonderfully relaxing studio. I will be bringing a selection of new pieces in acrylic and oils and will be painting through the day if anyone wants to come and have a chat. I will also have some of my illustrations from past projects as well as sketchbooks and works in progress and plenty of prints and cards available to buy. 

For more information please visit the Nature in Art website  http://natureinart.org.uk/

This year I will also be running a workshop at Nature in Art in June on painting in acrylics and will hopefully inspire those attending the two days to experiment with this wonderfully versatile medium.

See you there!

Iona House Gallery Christmas Exhibition 2017

This winter I am exhibiting eight paintings at the Iona House Gallery Christmas exhibition which runs from November 25th 2017 to January 7th 2018. 

The paintings vary in size from smaller portraits of a male pheasant and a Bengal Tiger, a study of a Barn Owl and a medium sized painting of a Serval with a rather lovely frame. There are also four more contemporary looking metre square paintings of an Eagle Owl, a Snowy Owl , a Zebra and a 'Coloured Cob'. Most of the paintings are in acrylics on board or canvas but the horse is painted in oil. 

I have been working hard for the past 6 months to complete all the paintings for this show and hope very much that it will attract plenty of visitors. For more information and to view an online gallery where you can also purchase artworks please go to the Iona House Gallery website: 

https://www.ionahousegallery.org/collections/christmas-exhibition-25-november-2017-7-january-2018

Here are some of the pieces available in the exhibition:

Hampshire Open Studios 19 - 28th August 2017

I will be returning to Courtens Garden Centre, Romsey Road, Whiteparish, SP5 2SD for the Hampshire Open Studios event.
I will be painting daily in my studio set up there so pop in for a visit. Some of my new work includes Tawny Owl studies and these pieces of a male Pheasant and a sunset over the Luangwa river as well as a Peregrine Falcon on the cliffs on south Devon. As usual my work reflects my recent travels in the UK and out to Africa.
I look forward to seeing you there!

Hampshire Open Studios 20 -29 August 2016

I will be taking part in Hampshire Open Studios 20 - 29th August, 2016.  I will be setting up a studio and exhibition at Courtens Garden Centre, Romsey Road, Whiteparish, Nr Salisbury SP5 2SD and will be painting there daily, 10 am - 4pm. It is a lovely venue with plenty of parking space, a coffee shop selling delicious cakes and the delights of the garden centre for those with a passion for plants! If you are out and about visiting the various studios open throughout the event please do drop in for a chat and some cake.
I will have lots of cards and prints available to buy and very happy to discuss painting techniques or problems if  you have any questions about acrylic paint.

Some of these paintings will be on show in the gallery area  as well as some new pieces on my easel.

Spring Exhibition at Iona House gallery 5 March - 10 April 2016

I will be exhibiting as part of Iona House gallery's spring exhibition. Included in the artwork on show and for sale will be 'Snow Spirit' my big painting of a Snow Leopard high in the snowy peaks of its Himalayan home and 'Ever Watchful' a painting of a Zebra mare and foal from the Boteti river area of Botswana. For more information please visit the gallery website http://www.ionahousegallery.org/exhibitions/spring-exhibition-2016

Painting wildlife in Acrylics. 23 -24 April 2016 at Nature in Art

I will be running a two day wildlife painting workshop at Nature in Art near Gloucester in April 2016. http://natureinart.org.uk/

On this 2-day course you will be able to work from start to finish on a painting with my guidance and help.
You will tackle the fast drying time of the paint, building layers and adding details, including eyes, fur and textures found in nature to achieve a realistic finish to the painting.
Everyone will be encouraged to experiment with brushes and sponges, and to try the
techniques I use in my paintings.
This course will appeal to those already working with acrylics who would like to learn some new tips and ways of working which they can use in their own paintings.

Course Cost
Members: £80
Non-members: £100
Course Suitability: Improvers

Please book here through Nature in Art:

 http://natureinart.org.uk/whats-on-at-nature-in-art/painting-wildlife-acrylics/

Mid winter wanderings with a flask and sketchbook in my rucksack.

It is nearly December, the bleakest, darkest month of the year when nature slows its pace to a gentle tick of life just there beneath the ice and grey and dripping grip of winter. These are the days for wrapping up in waterproofs and wind resistant jackets, making a flask and setting off with backpack and art materials and a firm determination to get something in that sketchbook! Watch this space for some winter wanderings in the wind blown, gorsey heathland and softly silent oak woods of the New Forest

New paintings available as prints...soon!

Having worked for the last three months on paintings for Windsor Art Fair and Hampshire Open Studios, I now have new images available as canvas and giclee prints. I will soon have these on the purchasing page of my website but please email me for details if you would like more information. kim.thompson7@btinternet.com

 

 

 

Windsor Contemporary Art Fair 13 - 15th November 2015

I will be exhibiting at Windsor Contemporary Art Fair at Windsor Royal Racecourse November 13 - 15, 2015. Some of my new pieces are quite large and colourful but still on a wildlife theme. I have been painting flat out for the last two months on the artwork for this event and look forward to being part of such an enthusiastic show.  More information can be found on the website http://windsorcontemporaryartfair.co.uk/

Society of Feline Artists exhibition September 2015

I am very pleased to be exhibiting four big cat paintings at the Llewellyn Alexander gallery, London http://www.lafp.co.uk/ The private view is on September 1st 2015. Please come and say hello if you are in London and want to attend the event. Included in my selection will be these three large paintings; 'Siberian King', 'Snow Spirit' and 'Sumatran Beauty'.

 

 

Hampshire Open Studios August 22 - 31 2015

Only a month to go before I take part in my first open studios event and I am burning the midnight oil in my studio and out in the countryside getting inspired. There is so much to see out there! Wildlife and wild places provide so many great ideas for paintings, it is hard to know what to work on next.
In the winter I moved to a wonderful location on the edge of The New Forest, probably the place where my soul feels most at peace, and now find my days full of so many intriguing wildlife encounters. This week I have been sat by a dust dry marsh drawing willows and waiting for a Little Owl to return to its next site. Bliss in the rustle of the long grasses and the wind blown calls of skylarks. As a summer storm gathered strength on another day I found myself huddled behind a tangle of gorse and bramble sketching New Forest ponies. I must have been an interesting sight because a curious foal soon approached, gave me a good sniff, investigated my sketchpad and bag and then settled down for a sleep. What a thrill to be allowed to stroke his soft warm coat, scratch his neck and receive a friendly groom in return. The rest of the herd scrutinised my actions but seemed to accept my presence and the foal standing beside me. Returned home feeling alive.

So now I have to bring some of those animals and birds and wild places onto my canvases in preparation for Hampshire Open Studios. I will be setting up an exhibition at Courtens Garden Centre, Romsey Road, Whiteparish, SP5 2SD and working there daily at my easel 10 am - 5pm. It would be lovely to see any of you if you are visiting the open studios event. Directions are on Courtens website www.courtensgardencentre.co.uk and in the Hampshire Open Studios brochure. I am listed under the Romsey area. As well as original artwork, I will have a selection of cards and prints available to buy including 'Eagle Owl Gaze' below. Courtens also has a rather lovely coffee shop selling delicious cakes and, if art was not enough, you can browse their plants and maybe pick up something for the garden. I really look forward to seeing you if you are able to visit.



Eagle Owl Gaze

Artist in residence, acrylics workshop and NEWA 2015

Half way through the year already and it's been far too long since I entered anything in this blog. It has been a busy year and lots to look forward to in the next few months.
Having enjoyed a week as Artist in Residence at Nature in Art, Gloucester, in May, I returned there to run a painting workshop July 18 -19. Lovely students who worked so hard to complete paintings of a challenging fox portrait.

At the moment I have three paintings in the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art. A Barn Owl and portrait studies of a Leopard. Check out the NEWA website for details of the event and to buy art!

Evening Light - Barn Owl

Beauty - Leopard portrait

NEWA auction and show 2013

NEWA's auction will be held next week! All information can be found here:

http://www.newa-uk.com/pages/auction_list.php

NEWA Auction and Exhibition

I will be taking part in NEWA's 20th birthday celebrations and donating a painting of a Tawny Owl to the auction which is being held. Money raised at this event will be for three charities and conservation projects: Tusk Trust, Chester Zoo and the Wildlife Trusts. Online bids for auction pieces can be made and I hope this event will be well supported.  The other owl paintings shown here have all been entered into the exhibition selection so I hope they get through. I will be demonstrating acrylic painting in the artist area at the show over the weekend of 19-21st July. Should be a great show and I hope to see you there!

Arts for Conservation update

I have just returned from Botswana having spent three weeks with 17 children from the village of Moreomaoto on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. It was an incredible experience and one which I shall cherish. I very much hope that the children will continue to develop their skills as they were all very creative and clearly loved to paint. I shall certainly be returning to see them and encourage their art careers.