Kim Starr - Hidden in Plain Sight

The highlights of reflective surfaces allow Kim Starr to create unique focal points in her paintings

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Kauai Summer Beachball, oil on canvas, 24 x 30 (61 x 76 cm) I tethered my beach ball to a string so it couldn’t escape while I took reference photos. A good combination of a colorful subject with beautiful beaches. The original concept came to me because I wanted to paint a large enough canvas of a wave for my gallery in Hanapepe that you could see from across the street.

I didn’t attempt oil painting until the last quarter of my third year in college. It was after college that I developed my style. I did a bit of experimentation with different mediums but decided on oil painting for its longevity and versatility. I was introduced to a successful plein air painter very early in my career, William F. Reese. I took a “Painting from Life” class from him that made a great impression on me. He personally gave me some good guidelines on creating and selling. I remember him saying something to the effect “Think like a man.” An “old school” term for trying to tell me to take my work seriously and choose between a family and other avenues of distraction. At that time Reese was connected to the Mack Gallery in Seattle where I attended one of his shows. It was a full room of people and a bounty of work. Why does this matter? His paintings are beautiful. I was able to see him work and follow his method that day in class. I’ve always remembered that experience. I took away useful parts of that knowledge and expanded on my own style.