November 4th – 25th, 2016

The Strand Center for the Arts was thrilled to host pastel painter Kimberly Provost in the Community Gallery in November, 2016.

 Kimberly Provost is a realist pastel painter born in upstate New York in 1966. At an early age she took an interest in art and this interest was one that never abated, continuing her entire life. Through the years, Provost has experimented with many mediums such as oil, watercolor, and acrylic, but pastels are her most preferred medium. Although primarily a self-taught artist, she has taken many college-based painting and drawing courses and attends life-drawing sessions and pastel workshops. She has exhibited her art work in several group exhibits including the Vermont Pastel Society and the Northern Vermont Artists’ Association where she won the first place in pastel award in 2014. Provost also exhibits her work each year at the Champlain Valley Exposition art show in Essex Junction, Vermont and in 2015 won the Best in Show Painting & Drawing award. Her art work is in many private residences throughout the United States.

 When discussing her work, Provost said, “Growing up in rural Northern New York, I spent many days as a young girl being outdoors.  Whether I was fishing, walking in the woods, riding my horse or just being still, I would constantly be analyzing nature and all its details.  Sights, smells, sounds, etc. filled my thoughts then and continue to do so to this day.  It was only natural for me to transfer these experiences and feelings to paper and canvas in hopes of sharing them with others.”

 About her process when creating her pieces, she said, “Beginning with pencil, charcoal and then oil; I finally found my “fit” with pastel five years ago.  I find the immediacy of this medium works very well with my personality and my enthusiasm to create a painting without taking time to mix colors. My method of painting with pastel is one of care with details and the smooth blending of colors and edges when I feel it is necessary; my fingers being my primary blending tool.  Occasionally I will work with an alcohol and pastel underpainting, although I prefer to sketch and paint directly onto a colored support and add many layers of pastel.”

 “When I first saw Kim’s work,” stated gallery director, David Monette, “I was completely shocked to see the incredible amount of detail she could achieve with pastels. Her pieces are some of the best examples pastel paintings in the area, and we are so fortunate to have her show them in our gallery.”