Palden Hamilton - Still Life Painting from Natural Objects (Online); Wednesdays, May 25-June 15, 2022

Date: Wednesdays, May 25-June 15, 2022
Time: 9:30 AM-12:00 PM Pacific Time / 12:30-3:00 PM Eastern Time / 5:30-8:00 PM London Time
Level: All
Medium: Oil, acrylics or gouache

“Curiosity about the natural world first compelled me to make art as a child. Then, the forest outside my bedroom window seemed vast and ancient beyond understanding. By carefully drawing a leaf, insect, or bird, I felt a deep connection with nature’s great mysteries. Painting natural objects in my studio remains one of my favorite artistic endeavors: It hones my observational skills, deepens my understanding of light and color, and develops my gratitude for the world’s flora and fauna.” Palden Hamilton

In this class, artist Palden Hamilton will demonstrate and discuss the techniques, materials and fundamental principles of representational painting that have been valuable to him. His approach to painting is informed by perceptual (academic) and conceptual (classical) approaches to drawing, Impressionist color and a scientific illustrator’s eye for detail, among other traditional and contemporary influences. He believes that by seeing through a variety of interpretive lenses, we might arrive at more truthful, holistic, and beautiful artistic depictions of reality.

Beyond technical considerations, this course will further nurture an appreciation and love for the beautiful and complex worlds that exist in our immediate environs.

Palden will paint demonstrations of 5 still lives, during which he will narrate and answer questions. Subjects might include: bird and deer mounts, a beetle or moth, a fish from the market, an animal skull, etc…

Students can work from objects that they have in their home/workspace, or pull from a library of reference images. There will be an hour-long zoom meeting each week during which the students’ work can be critiqued.

Born and raised in Maryland, Palden Hamilton attended the Gilman School, where he studied under Betsey Heuisler. After receiving his B.F.A. from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2002, he continued his education at the Art Students League of New York, where he studied under Ron Sherr, Harvey Dinnerstein, and Mary Beth Mckenzie. There he was awarded a Merit Award in Realism and the Phylis T. Mason Grant.

Hamilton has done a range of commissioned portrait work since returning to his hometown of Baltimore. He was notably commissioned to paint Maestro Yuri Temirkanov, the musical director of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra in Russia. In 2008, 2017, and 2018, he was awarded Certificates of Excellence from the Portrait Society of America.

Hamilton has painted landscape extensively on location in his native Maryland, and on travels to his mother’s homeland, the Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim. As a landscape artist, he has participated in and received honors from Easton, Wayne, Solomons, and Cape Ann plein air events. www.paldenhamilton.com