September 15, 2025 Issue 1
It’s Just Shapes: A Diary of Painting
E. Kindig Art Quarterly Newsletter
Welcome
Shakespeare once told us that “all the world is a stage,” but what if it’s also just a puzzle of shapes, constantly shifting and changing as the light passes over us everyday? The more I paint, the more I find myself squinting at all the world around me, trying to see those shapes and how they fit together. Welcome to this newsletter, where I hope to chronicle my quest to see the world and render it on a two-dimensional surface. In this issue, I’ll be taking stock of my artistic practice through these just passed summer months.
June
June was marked by a commissioned piece that I take great pride in. After showing my paintings in the Unitarian Church in Geneva, a fellow member saw “Green Farm Coat” and asked me to paint a family heirloom of hers, a blue jacket worn by her grandfather, in a similar style. Her grandfather had worked for Standard Oil and delivered gas and oil to farmers in his community. When we met to discuss the painting, she brought photos, as well as a notepad that had her grandfather’s name on it, which I will be doing a painting of for her, as well. Her excitement, both for my work and for the history of the coat and its owner, revealed to me just how much these objects and stories of the past mean to me, even when they are outside my own family.
Certainly the connections we both had to farming likely enhanced the meaning for me. But I’m also led to wonder if what really matters is, more simply, that we are both just people who had grandfathers. From a technical standpoint, I am proud of the work I did. I created a tonal underpainting first, and then used glazes to bring it to life with color.
July
July saw me gearing up for an artist residency at the end of the month, for which I had proposed to paint en plein air everyday. At this point, I had attempted to paint outside only a handful of times, and all of them were pretty unpleasant. Add to this that the residency was a camp, and I’d be living in a tent for two weeks. I certainly found myself wondering if I had gotten in over my head. But I geared up, bought a new tent, a cot, a battery powered air mattress (I needed bed options), and a battery powered fan (I also need moving air). I treated all my clothes with insect repellant, worried daily about tick bites, and tried painting outside a few more times with minor success. Finally, I packed up the car and drove myself the 6 hours up to Ewen, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula, hoping for the best.
An early plein air attempt in my backyard with a limited palette
A glimpse into my studio
What I found at camp, specifically known as the Visitor Center Artist Camp, was exactly the thing that I had hoped to find: community and a healthy dose of silliness and fun. I met my goal of painting outside daily and got very comfortable hauling my gear around and getting set up. But that seems minor compared to the experience of living in the woods with a bunch of other artists, all of us dancing to the beat of our own drums and celebrating each other for it. Absolute magic.
The VCAC artists of 2025!
Campfire (would’ve made a great nocturne painting!)
A view of camp at sunset
My campsite and painting set up
August
August was anchored around the St. Charles Plein Air Festival. I was one of sixty artists who participated in this weeklong event. Artists painted outside in the Kane County area all week long and then were able to submit three final pieces to a judged opening event. I was so grateful for all the practice I had gotten at camp because I felt very prepared to get outside and paint. Like camp, the best part of the week was the community. I got to meet lots of other artists who were also eager to talk about painting, my favorite topic! And on top of that, I sold a painting!
My painting from the Quick Paint Competition
My three submissions to the final exhibition
Looking Ahead to Fall
As fall approaches, I’ll be paying attention to how all the green shapes I’ve been making throughout the summer will change. I think it might be nice to mix some new colors on my palette, even though I will miss the lush leaves of summer. I am looking forward to heading back to my weekly pastel class at the Fine Line Art Center in St. Charles. I will also have a piece on display in a show called “Rhythmic Vibes” at the St. Charles Arts Council from September 11-November 17. When harvest time gets into full swing, you will find me painting en plein air back home in Newton county, while my brother and my dad get that grain out of the fields and into those majestic, glistening silos that I find so captivating. I’ll plan to see you back here for Issue 2. Thanks for reading!
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