Kimberly Hoechst

My paintings are an exploration of light, shadow, color, texture and a sense of space. I seek to share the beautiful or interesting things that I notice in everyday moments close to home or that I observe when visiting exciting new places. I often feature architectural elements like windows, doors and archways in my paintings because they help place the viewer in the space, and because they provide the opportunity to create vignettes or mini compositions within the larger piece. I have always chosen to paint in a representational style, but recently, I have been seeking to bring an element of abstraction into my work by focusing more on the patterns, rhythms, geometry and colors I find in my subject matter.
I work primarily in oils because I love the vibrancy, malleability and durability of this medium. I vary my results by working on a variety of surfaces, using linen, wood panels and often copper panels to achieve strong vibrancy in my colors. My process involves direct painting done in multiple sessions. I'm inspired by the looseness and freshness achieved in the first pass, but then return to develop more depth and subtle nuances in the painting. Over time I refine the shadows with transparent pigments, strengthen the brightness of the light areas with vibrant opaques, and enhance the overall paint quality by building up the surface.

Kimberly Hoechst Resume