It seems to me that every time I see Kim Lordier she has just gotten back from another corner of California where she has taken her passion for painting her native state—or where her passion has taken her. Whether it’s in a eucalyptus grove on the Peninsula, on a bit of sandy Monterey Bay shoreline, in an eastern Sierra aspen forest, amidst a desert superbloom, along a mountain creek or a dusty San Joaquin Valley ranch road, Kim, with her box of pastels and easel, hasn’t so much captured on paper the unique local light and color of that place as she has channeled them—magically enough—onto and through a sheet of paper from which they will soon illuminate rooms with sun and the powerful love of the land that seems to possess this artist.
We’re lucky that for a few of Kim’s paintings those rooms are currently those of our Gallery, where they are part of Beloved California V: Twenty Painters with a Passion for Place. (The show closes on January 16 having been extended from the original December 30 closing). We’re also privileged to be able to provide the frames through which their light shines.
“Sparkling Sand and Cliff” delivers an idyllic sun-soaked central coast beach. At just 6″ x 12″, the painting called for something simple but nevertheless alive to the shoreline forms. The 2-1/2″ wide cove in walnut has a carved reverse cushion back edge and parcel-gilt carved chamfered sight edge.
“Chaparral and Oak” is suitably framed in oak (stained quartersawn white oak), also with a carved and parcel-gilt chamfered sight edge. The frame is otherwise flat and plain. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a California painting that captures as well the actual richness and depth of what we so inadequately describe as our “golden hills.” And the dusty path invites us to explore their allure.
Although California is best known for dramatic postcard scenery like Yosemite, anyone who truly loves a place revels in the unique beauty of even its more commonplace sights. The subtle blending of colors and values in “Rolling In California”—our hills reveal more color than “golden”—demonstrates not only Kim’s mastery of pastel but her impressive powers of observation.
I can’t imagine a painter more captivated by her native landscape, more driven by sheer love of the land, or more capable of channeling to us it’s beauty than Kim Lordier. Her passion for place perfectly exemplifies the spirit of Beloved California.
Kim Lordier paints her Beloved California—
Go to Kim Lordier’s page to see more work…
View Beloved California V online…
~ Please note that we’ve extended Beloved California V through January 16! ~
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