RETURNING BACK HOME FROM NYC – I moved back to Cincinnati, Ohio in September, 2002. I started working at the local Art Store "Prince Art & Framing /Plaza Artist Materials". From there I started to meet and network with other Artists in the city.
My 1st show in 2003 was at the Clay Street Gallery run by the late Artist Kwame' Clay. My "Seductive Glances" collage sold within the 1st hour of opening night. I was not in the gallery at the time walking around looking at other art during Cincinnati's monthly Final Friday Art Walk.
During my second show there, I met artist Doug Meyer, who had purchased one of my pieces. We immediately bonded over painting and have worked together on several projects since.
I can give credit where credit is due. People have appeared in the works of Artists since the beginning and no one has been represented more in Art than the woman and the female form. The numerous songs, drawings, statues, photos and paintings would not have had their lasting impact without her inspirational forms and expressions.
Though I have used both males and females in my work, I am inspired by the female starting with her gaze. With our current fascination with cellphone selfies, society has tapped into that creative vein inspired by timeless facial expressions that transcend language and can instantly communicate an emotion or theme.
Below is a listing of the women who have inspired my work over the years and whose images I have used in my exhibitions and promotional material. Several of them weren't even models by profession, but liked my work and professionalism. Without them, a lot of my work would not exist. Period. I thank them deeply for trusting and believing in my work and I honor their memory here on my website for all to see.
You may see some common threads: a serious look, a seductive look, a mysterious look, a playful look. My period of portrait photography lasted from 2003 - 2014. Since the introduction of hi-res cellphone cameras, I felt it made my job redundant, so I put my camera down to focus on Photo Restorations for a few years.
CARRIE - In Autumn of 2003 shortly after meeting Nathan(Nate) Goedl, he introduced me to his friend Carrie Jean. After I shook her hand, I remarked how she had great legs (she always wore heels even to the corner store) she smiled, and I asked if I could shoot her legs for an abstract photo project I was working on. She agreed and Nate was there to observe the process and help ease her nerves since we had just met. We got along great and started hanging out. One night she asked me to take a picture of her. I took the 1st one in color then something suggested I try a Sepia effect on my Sony MVCFD75 Mavica digital camera.
Boom! That was the ticket! The Sony MVCFD75 Mavica had a large preview window to look at your photos. When I showed Carrie the photo she lit up. She had never seen herself in photos like that before and we ended up shooting close to 70 images that night.
Prior to this, my photography was focused on Abstraction and Lighting Setups not people.
This was the beginning of my Portraits phase. Carrie's photos are presented in the order of our only 4 sessions. Her last 2 sessions were more personal in nature but she wanted me to document it. The last time I saw Carrie was in 2005 when she briefly lived with me.
LINDSAY - We were co-workers at Vinyl Restaurant and I needed models for the upcoming photo show I was in at Media Bridges. I had asked at least half a dozen co-workers to model for me but only Lindsay responded. These are some of the photos from that day from our one and only session. When I left Vinyl, I lost contact with Lindsay.
RC- We met while she was setting up an exhibition in my friend Tim Leslie's gallery Carteaux & Leslie. We had a very brief fling but during that intense time we creatively gelled.
SARAH - We were introduced by a mutual friend Lamonte Young (Blade Triple) at my shop Court Street Studios. We got along instantly (she loved my cat Tiger, she took the photo of him sitting on my lap with glowing eyes). She is a Makeup Artist and did her own makeup for her shoot.
I loved her energy and she was a body art model for me as well.
DIAMOND STAR RUSSELL - I met her in 2009 when my friend J-PhunQ introduced me to a new singer she was managing. Our first session is of her in the black hat and pink dress. The day that the outdoor shots were taken was extremely hot. By the time we were finished shooting at the third location, we all almost passed out from heat exhaustion.
AMANDA (VIRGINA DARE) - She was a neighbor of my friend Hakiym. She mentioned to me that she was planning a performance piece "The Red Shoes" that incorporated dance and video. We did the filming guerrilla style sneaking into areas in the mornings before we both went to work. One scene even shows her dancing 6 feet from a moving train! I finished shooting and editing the video and she had several performances where I projected the video onto large scrims on the wall and she danced in-between the scenes.
RAVEN- She was the model for my nude non painted photos. Her closeup breast shot was used in my "Look Under Here" exhibition at Base Gallery.
PHOTOGRAPHY – Links to the slideshow within the other "Graphic Design Based GALLERY ONE" side of my website.
Influences: Karsh, Man Ray, Gordon Parks, Helmut Newton, Imogen, Herb Ritts, Annie Lebowitz
I love all forms of traditional photography from early Daguerreotypes, Kodak Brownies, the Autochromes, Polaroids all the way through to the vintage drug store 35mm disposable box cameras. Family albums were my first experience with photos and I could hold them in my hands at a younger age than I could a framed painting.
I remember those little glossy black and white photos with the ridged edges, the sepia toned high school prints of my parents, the yellowed, textured prints of the early 1980's, those legendary framed 8"x10"s that became too red over time that seem to be in everyone's aunt or grandma's house back then.
Living in our current age with high definition photos and videos at our fingertips, it is hard to understand what it was like having to wait until your prints were developed and hope that they weren't under or over exposed. Yeah, when I used a digital camera for the 1st time I was hooked afterwards. I still have several rolls of film from the 90's left unprocessed in my boxes somewhere...
Genres/Styles: Erotic, Natural, Fantasy, Sci-fi,
My Start: 1987-1999 35 mm box disposables 24- 36 exposures. Polaroid Cameras and 35mm film Cameras Pentax, Nikon, Minolta.
1999 - Present Digital Cameras: Sony MVCFD75 Mavica, Nikon Cool Pix 5600, Fijifilm Finepix S1000fd.
Subjects: Interiors, Exteriors, Products, Pets, Nature, Animals, Landscapes, Cityscapes, People, Portraits, Women, Expressions, Macros, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Metaphysical, Documentary.
Exhibitions: Media Bridges MSJ/SPS Photo Show, Gelato! Art Salon, Court Street Studios, Base Gallery, Kwame' Clay's Gallery
Publications: 2 and 4 color printing magazines, booklets
Promotional: Ads, Flyers, Brochures, Posters, Websites, Social Media Pages
PAINTING COLLABORATIONS: I have always wondered why other Artists who spent hours around each other in colorful debates, never "took it to the canvas" and created paintings and sculptures together? Yes, out of those talks arose all of the Early Art Movements of the 20th century. Could you imagine though, what the works of Art would've looked like if our Historical Art Legends worked together?
Were their egos too strong or too weak to paint on the same canvas? How many fights or accidental murders would've occurred from creative disagreements? When you spend a living flinging your emotions, reactions and rationales onto the canvas, it can leave you turned inside out. Honest communication with yourself 1st, then with others is the key.
That is the challenge: To create a picture knowing that in the process you are painting over each others space, mixing colors, combining ideas like jazz musicians improving on the stage at rapid speed..
I've found that there are a few ways to approach this. 1) Have an honest friendship in the beginning 2) Have several talks about Art, the subject matter, materials, timeline, framing & finishing, exhibiting or other possible outlets.
This section covers all of my painting collaborations with other Artists over the years. In chronological order of work created with each Artist. Most I remain in contact with, a few have drifted apart...
Colin Miller: 1988-1990, 2017 (6 items)
Derek Snow: 1989 (1 item)
Nathan Goedl: 2003-2007 (34 items)
Chris Harris: 2008 (6 items)
Bill Ross: 2011 (2 items)
Doug Meyer: 2018 (20 items)
DKNG – Drew Kidd & Nathan Goedl painting collaboration series that produced 34 paintings of various sizes made between 2003-2007. We started off using Pastel and Charcoal "The Sauce" sticks on paper, then we switched to acrylic paints on large paper, wood panels and canvases.
OPENING MY OWN GALLERY – In 2007, I expanded my operations into a ground level storefront on Historical Court Street in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Court Street Studios Opened in September 2007 and closed May 2008. I was taking clients doing photoshoots and painting sessions across the street in my 3rd floor apt. 1st before the storefront so the timeline is 2005-2008 for Court Street Studios in total.
AUCTIONS & CHARITIES – A few times I have created works of Art for Auctions & Charities. The 1st was actually a commission for me to create a painting for a silent auction at the Havana Martini Club. The Second was 2 customized bricks for Bricks Along the Journey 2010 auction. The third was 2 acrylic painted 5"x7" panels for the Artworks 2010 Secret Artists silent auction.
THE COMMISSIONS
INDOOR BATHROOM PAINTING (R.P. Butler commission)
HAND PAINTED WOODEN MODEL (private commission)
2 ACRYLIC PAINTINGS, 1 PHOTO SESSION (Sarai Begley commissions)
PEEPWORLD INSTALLATION of MANNEQUINS and LIGHTING effects over performance stages (private commission)
EXHIBITION CURATION– Inspired by my time spent with S.U.N. Arts and seeing it as an easier way for me to meet and network with a growing roster of Artists. 8 years after returning to Cincinnati, cultivating friendships and participating in events, I felt it was finally time to Curate my own Art Show.
Genesis: An Artists Showcase - had no particular theme other than showing the public what the selected Artists were currently working on. Some it was their 1st show, others another one on their list of many. Some were my classmates from Mount St. Joseph, others friends I had interacted with. Out of 15 Visual Artists and 15 performing Artists, I was the common denominator. Luckily each group was divided by 2 floors. So I spent most of the time running back and forth... but I enjoyed it.
Superwhat? is actually inspired by the collage table made by my friend the late John Possman. I wanted to assemble several Artists together to create and showcase works based on the theme of the Hero or the Villain. I created a collage of all of the Artists works for the booklet covers and the flyer with all of our faces and characters.
I had a sound installation: "The Power Chamber" - Stand on the square and become energized with powerful cosmic sound waves and float up to your cape, take your mask as your are reborn...
OTHER AREAS OF MY CREATIVE WORK – Though not Fine Art related, these are the other areas that I have created work in while in Cincinnati, Ohio.
PUBLICATIONS – Custom Template creation or revision to a previous publication for Newspapers, Pamphlets, Periodicals, Booklets and Magazines for business ventures and organizations.
ADS & FLYERS – Are Creation of Promotional Materials for individuals, organizations
business ventures and events.
VIDEO DOCUMENTATION– Starting off documenting my band rehearsals at Coyote Studios, I soon found myself filming my friends that were musicians and dancers and treating the experiences as if I were filming my own mini TV show (this was the mid-late 90's way before YouTube).
I really didn't take the time out to invest into video equipment since I was already paying for studio time, tapes, art supplies, rent, food, etc. I would borrow either my friend's Gary French's, Ira Levy's or Eyal Ben Zwi's video cameras.
My collection of videos will be uploaded over time as they are ready.
PHOTO RESTORATIONS – Photo Enhancements and Photo Restorations repair damaged images as close to the original as possible unless Custom Graphic Portraits are chosen where a symbolic likeness is used rather than a photo realistic interpretation of the face. They can then be used for Promotional Materials for Special Events, Genealogy, Historical Research or for family gifts.
CREATIVE CONSULTATIONS – Having an interest in communicating with different types of Artists has enabled me to understand creative people...my people.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to witness creative ideas flourish and take on a life of their own from either a concept idea or a reworking of an ongoing idea.
I can provide not only a listening ear at times, but an honest and objective analysis of concepts and ideas, marketing and promotions, strategic planning and depending on the project, establishing production costs from start to finish.
KWAME CLAY’S GALLERY: (GROUP SHOW)
KWAME CLAY’S GALLERY: (GROUP SHOW)
THE GREENWICH: “IN STEREO” (GROUP SHOW)
KUUMBA ARTS CENTER: (7TH SOLO SHOW)
MEDIA BRIDGES: GROUP SHOW
MEDIA BRIDGES: DKNG SHOW
MEDIA BRIDGES: MSJ/SPS GROUP PHOTO SHOW
HAVANA MARTINI CLUB: (COMMISSIONED /LIVE PAINTING)
NEW WORLD ART GALLERY: (GROUP SHOW)
NEW WORLD ART GALLERY: (GROUP SHOW)
COURT STREET STUDIOS: (GROUP SHOW) (CURATOR/EXHIBTOR)
BASE GALLERY: (GROUP SHOW)
BLUE ROCK TAVERN: (8TH SOLO SHOW)
BLUE ROCK TAVERN: (GROUP SHOW)
ARTWORKS SECRET ARTIST 12/2010 2 5X7 ABSTRACT ACRYLICS (GROUP SHOW) (CHARITY)
THE GREENWICH GENESIS: An Artist Showcase (GROUP SHOW) (CURATOR/EXHIBTOR)
THE GREENWICH: SUPERWHAT? (GROUP SHOW (CURATOR/EXHIBTOR)
THE GREENWICH: PHS ALUMNI Art & Music Rewind (GROUP SHOW)
BROMWELL’S ANTIQUE GALLERY: (GROUP SHOW)
THUNDERSKY GALLERY: (GROUP SHOW)
BONNIERE: EXHIBITION (GROUP SHOW)
CANCER BRICKS EXHIBITION (CHARITY)
I've lived in Kentucky several times over the years and have shown my paintings at two former galleries Southgate House in Newport, KY and Leapin Lizard Gallery in Covington, KY.
I was invited by my friend and fellow Artist Contemporary Doug Meyer, to participate in this group exhibition based around cartoon characters. I displayed 2 abstract acrylic canvases and sold the black and white one Sylvester eating Tweety to Barbra Laing (pictured in green).
The Candy Bar painting made during the Visionnati event has been displayed in 4 different exhibitions. This was the 2nd one.
Copyright © 2024 drewkidd / Andrew W. Kidd III - All Rights Reserved.
I have a series of designs (Abstract, Floral & Geometric) on several products. Above, is the "Kitten Films" collage design on a 14-inch square, faux suede pillow.