Kyffin Williams (1918–2006) was a Welsh artist who mostly painted with a knife. Slatherings of oil paint, using a limited palette of muted colours and black outlines. His paintings range from minimalist and quite abstract to landscapes full of suggested detail as well as portraits. My favourites are his sheepdogs and seascapes, plus his stone walls.
Williams, Kyffin; Self Portrait; Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/self-portrait-120020Williams, Kyffin; Coastal Sunset; Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/coastal-sunset-120543Williams, Kyffin; Welsh Sheepdog; Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/welsh-sheepdog-120564Williams, Kyffin; The Way to the Cottages; Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/the-way-to-the-cottages-120575
There’s a BBC documentary (“The Man Who Painted Wales”) on Kyffin Williams; if you look on YouTube you might find more clips.
His style immediately affected my own work, to the point where my gallery manager said how much a painting of mine reminded her of his. I can live with that…
Great article, thanks for the links Kyffin Williams is definitely one of my favourite artists.
oh! thank you so much. i just discovered him today, and i want to gobble up everything i can.
Every time I look at his paintings I get reminded how fabulous a tool a painting knife can be!
His style immediately affected my own work, to the point where my gallery manager said how much a painting of mine reminded her of his. I can live with that…