Ayoub-Nichols, Kendall

Home: Sainte-Cécile-de-Masham, QC
Title: Thomas
Media: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 153 x 92 cm
Website: kendallayoubnichols.com

Artist Statement

In this painting of Thomas, I am striving to capture his sense of being and spirit through rendering his physical form onto the canvas. The pose is deliberately simple: a basic kitchen chair against a white background, and every day clothing of his choosing. I also asked Thomas to pick the most comfortable position, one he could hold for long periods of time. Thomas’s choice of clothing and pose are important, as I want the painting to embody him. I want the visual to be simple in order for the spirit behind the physical to emerge. Thomas is a naturally positive and inquisitive 11 year old boy; he is full of energy, yet is also very present and focused when addressed. Friends and family have commented that the painting captures Thomas, not just physically, but also his spirit and sense of being: they feel he is looking at you attentively, yet ready to jump into action.

I have always focused on figurative work, and am drawn to working with paint as a medium as I feel it captures not just a singular moment, but a moment that is rendered over a period of time. I find that through painting multiple layers, a richness of detail and complexity emerges. When I focus on the person in front of me, studying and copying the subject matter through paint onto canvas, I believe that something deeper emerges through this act of creation. That something deeper is what I want to capture, explore further, and share with others.

Biography

Born in Toronto, Kendall Ayoub-Nichols studied fine art at Bennington College in Vermont, and received a B.F.A. with Distinction, Major in Painting and Drawing, from Concordia University in Montreal. She is a two-time recipient of The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant for Excellence in Representational Figurative Art, as well as being a Rockwell Visiting Artist for The Taft School in Connecticut, and Artist of the Week at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. She has exhibited her works in both Canada and the United States, and has received numerous commissions for both private and corporate collections. Over the years, Kendall has never wavered in her passion for painting figurative works.