In 2009 Tim Rees picked up his first set of oil paints and never looked back. He moved to Chicago in September of that year to paint at the historic Palette and Chisel Academy. In 2010 he held his first solo show at the P&C, where he was well-received. Chris Miller stated in a review of the show: “He pulls these strong compositions together like he’s been doing it his entire life.” After just a year and a half he joined the staff of instructors and began teaching drawing and painting classes. He soon began teaching figurative and landscape painting workshops, including a week long intensive in the south of France at the age of 26. He has won several awards, including the Palette and Chisel’s People’s Choice award at the annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Southwest Art Magazine’s “Artists to Watch”, and Fine Art Studio Online’s Bold Brush Award. He has also been in several publications, including features in American Art Collector Magazine, International Artist, and Southwest Art Magazine.
Timothy believes in drawing as the root of strong painting, and is proficient in many mediums, from charcoal to ballpoint pen. “Drawing teaches us most of what we need to know about painting: the shapes, values, edges, and composition- everything except color and paint application.” With this in mind he developed a method of charcoal drawing quick sketches that allows him to go beyond gestures and tackle all of these drawing issues, prompting many to say his drawings look like beautiful monochromatic paintings.
He puts higher stress on compositional beauty rather than hidden symbolism, and prefers to allow the design, color, and edgework to tell the story of his paintings, from simple vignettes or still lifes to the energetic glimpses of his plein air landscapes. Technique is paramount to reproducing an idea, and with that comes a thoughtful, logical approach to executing a painting. “Just because a painting looks energetic or done with ease does not mean it should be done haphazardly. I think a lot about each brushstroke and try to encourage students to do the same. It’s easier to take your time and get it right than spend the entire time fixing mistakes.”
Timothy currently lives in Arizona and teaches the traditional apprentice format and curriculum at Rees Atelier.
CV
Education
2009-2012 Independent Study at Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago, IL
Teaching
2017-current Rees Atelier (Head of Atelier Program)
2014-2017 Scottsdale Artist School (Head of Academy Program)
2011-2012 Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts (Weekly Class Instructor
Selected One Persom Exhibitions
2014 Faces of Miami, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale AZ
2012 III: Finale, The Palette and Chisel, Chicago, IL
2011 II: The Art of Timothy Rees, The Palette and Chisel, Chicago IL
2010 Works and Studies, The Palette and Chisel, Chicago IL
Selected Group Exhibitions
2017 ARC Select, Rehs Gallery, New York, NY
2014 Local Exhibition, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2013 Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art, Legacy Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2012 Faculty Exhibition, Palette and Chisel, Chicago, IL
Gold Medal Exhibition, Palette and Chisel, Chicago, IL
2011 OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition, Addison Art Gallery, Orleans, MA
Portraits of the Palette, Palette and Chisel, Chicago, IL
New Works, 2 Man Exhibition, Paul Scott Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Annual Drawing and Sculpture Exhibition, Palette and Chisel, Chicago, IL
Gold Medal Exhibition, Palette and Chisel, Chicago, IL
Best and Brightest, Scottsdale Artists School, Scottsdale, AZ
2010 Annual Drawing and Sculpture Exhibition, Palette and Chisel, Chicago, IL
PAPC Edgewater Exhibition, Edgewater Historical Society, Chicago IL
Plein Air Painters of Chicago Exhibition, Palette and Chisel, Chicago IL
2009 Summer Exhibition, Blink Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
Selected Bibliography
2019 International Artist, Words of Wisdom from the 2019 Faculty, February/March
2019 Sasee, About the Artist (Cover), February
2018 Fine Art Connoisseur, Figurative Spotlight, November/December
2017 Pink Magazine, About the Artist (Cover), September
American Art Collector, Diverse Figures, November
Fine Art Connoisseur (Digital), How Precise is Precise, October
Art Renewal Center, 12th Annual Competition Catalogue
2014 Southwest Art, Artists to Watch, January
The Art Edge, Interview with Artist Tim Rees, November
Phoenix Magazine, Artist of the Month, August
2013 Southwest Art, Emerging Artist, December
International Artist, Variety Creates Balance October/Novermber
2012 Art Renewal Center, 9th Annual Competition Catalogue
2011 American Art Collector, Realist Pairing, November
2010 American Art Collector, Experimentations in Oil, December
