Tag Archives: Studio Visit

Studio Visit with David Flick

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Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with David Flick in Los Gatos, California. I had seen his work previously in a pop-up downtown and was very impressed with his portraits and figurative work and so when he turned up at my studio during NUMU’s Historic Home Tour this year I asked if I could visit his studio. I’m so glad I got a chance to see his work before he goes off in the fall to begin his MFA at the New York Academy of Art!

I was immediately drawn to Flick’s sensitive rendering of the figure and his gorgeous handling of light (oblique shadows, spotlighting, backlighting and reflections) and his innate sense of color. His compositions too are thoroughly dynamic. But beyond these great technical aspects, his subjects are all really compelling, with a captivating point of view that draws one deeper in to the work. He’s not afraid of paint either and can make it behave or explore it’s wilder side. I can’t wait to see where his MFA journey will take his work….

Here are just a few images that caught my attention but you can visit his website is at davidflickart.com to see the full range of his work and follow him on Instagram at dflick.

Rider – 2017 – oil

Desert – 2012 – oil

Lactose Intolerance – 2016 – oil

Ben – 2015 – oil

Idol – 2018 – oil

Ok, I had to include another studio shot because just how cool is it to have an aqua VW van in your studio?!

Kim Frohsin – Studio Visit

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I am absolutely smitten with Kim Frohsin‘s work! I first encountered her figurative drawings in More Than Your Selfie at New Museum Los Gatos last year and then I fell in love with her figurative painting at Connect and Collect at the Institute of Contemporary Art in San Jose (even making an early bid on her piece which I sadly did not win) in October. This year I was able to catch her show at Thomas Reynolds Gallery in San Francisco and then actually be in a group show with her, Honoring the Legacy of David Park, at Santa Clara University which ran in April! When I finally got to meet her in person at the show’s reception, I jumped at the chance to arrange a studio visit – which just took place last week on one of those rare, exceedingly hot days in the city.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Kim Frohsin moved to California in 1979, studying at San Diego State University, San Diego and l’Institut pour les Etudiants Etrangers in Aix-en-Provence before earning her BFA at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. Her current studio is in the historic Noonan Building of Pier 70, San Francisco in the actual studio of early abstract expressionist, Frank Lobdell! Her work is widely collected and has been acquired by the San Jose Museum of Art, the Crocker Art  Museum and the De Young Art Museum!

Frohsin has an amazing facility with the figure, her lines are fresh and gestural, poses dynamic and creative, her process is unique and absorbing and her commitment is full on!

Each painting in this series, Wigs, Silhouettes & Suspension, begins with a drawing from life upon which areas are masked off with razors and tape, paint is applied with a palette knife and pigments are rubbed on. No brushes. Sometimes the initial drawing is glimpsed here and there. There is such an immediacy and vitality to the work, in composition, application of material, juxtaposition of color and the way it is used to express shadows and highlights. I was delighted to delve into a trove of these gorgeous paintings, do a little shopping and a whole lot of coveting!

It was fascinating to get a glimpse of the diverse bodies of work represented in her studio, both archived and current, and hear her talk about her process and experience.

I was quite overwhelmed by each unearthed piece!

Equine.

Candy.

Toy car mixed media painting.

Self-portrait on a stack of books. You can learn so much about an artist from her studio. Kim’s is full of interesting books and  photos and quotes (and a few wigs and hula hoops).

I thought that Egon Schiele might be one of Frohsin’s influences and was intrigued to find this lovely photographic overlay of the artist over a picture of the Austrian artist on her studio wall.

Cross Walk – Acrylic, pencils, and ink on Paper

Kim has this photo of Frank Lobdell tacked up at Noonan building, can you guess the other two artists?

I brought back with me Kim Frohsin’s gorgeous book Figures with Edges 2007-2008 (thanks Kim!) and am pouring over it at home! It can be ordered (along with Two Minutes and Counting and Portraits of Numbers: 2010-2014) directly from her website using this link.

High Tea – Chez Moi!

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This is will be so much fun ….the Art Docents of Los Gatos will be hosting a High Tea at my studio May 10 to raise money for all the great work they do bringing art to our students! This catered event will include an artist’s talk in which I will focus on my Birds and Teacups series – my process and my motivation. Tea will be served in the antique teacups that inspire my paintings!