Artist Spotlight: Miriam Hoffman
Miriam Hoffmann is a contemporary mixed-media portrait artist who lives and works in Atlanta, GA. She taught herself to paint in 2020 after taking an online course. We spoke with Miriam recently about how she works with R&F Pigment Sticks®, what her studio day looks like, and why she is drawn to portraiture.
Please tell us a little about yourself. How did you get your start as an artist?
I started painting in 2020 at the height of Covid lockdowns. Almost overnight I found myself out of a job and homeschooling 3 small children under the age of 5. I needed a creative outlet. I decided I was going to learn to paint and so I spent every moment during nap time and after the kids went to bed doing so. Its been a passion ever since.
Initially, I took an online class through Vitruvian Fine Art Studio. It was all about learning to draw. I learned so much and was so exited that I never actually finished the class. I was too busy working on my own art. I spent many, many hours watching YouTube videos and Instagram videos of oil painters. My favorites to watch were Andrew Cadima and Henrik Uldalen. I loved how they went straight to the canvas with their paint and I wanted to do the same.
I’ve never attended any formal art education and consider myself self taught.
“I absolutely adore R&F Pigment Sticks®. I use them in stick form to start out most of my paintings and again later on in the process with my paint brush. I love how soft and smooth the paints blend.”
How are R&F Pigment Sticks® a part of your painting practice?
I absolutely adore R&F Pigment Sticks®. I use them in stick form to start out most of my paintings and again later on in the process with my paint brush. I love how soft and smooth the paints blend. They have really sped up my process and they are just plain FUN. I love the tactile experience of working with them and they stay workable for a few days - a huge plus when it comes to blending and rendering.
Do you work with Pigment Sticks® in addition to traditional oil paint? What about other mediums to speed up drying time or affect the finish? I find traditional oil paint and Pigment Sticks® work really well together and adding in Pigment Sticks® improves the texture of my tube paints. I use Gamblin Solvent Free Fluid as my medium and Gamvar Satin as my varnish.
Do you have specific go to colors you can't live without?
Lamp black and Brilliant Yellow Extra Pale. Although they are all my favorites.
Blocking in shape and color with Pigment Stick®.
Finished painting.
How do you store your Pigment Sticks®? I store all of my Pigment Sticks® in an open shallow box next to me while I paint.
Have you worked with other oil sticks as well? I've never tried any other brands actually. Once I picked up R&F Pigment Sticks® I found no reason to try anything else.
What's a typical studio day like for you?
A typical day starts at 8am. I like to listen to a podcast or audiobook while I paint in the mornings. Its quite nice and relaxing, especially with a cup of coffee next to me. When 2pm hits, its time to pick up my kids from school and switch to mom mode.
Using Pigment Stick® on a brush for fine details.
Why portraits?
I've always been drawn to portraits. I'm not sure why. I have very little desire to paint anything else. I think there is so much beauty in the subtleties of the human face. The majority of my paintings start with a reference photo. My models consist of friends, family members, myself, and local models I meet through figure drawing meet ups.
Your portraits evoke a lot of emotion, yet there is a type of restraint present. The women often seem as if they are from another time period. Do you think this is true for you and if so, why? I can see that, yes. I draw inspiration from the old masters and I think alot of their stylistic choices find their way into my work.
What are you currently working on in the studio?
Currently I'm working on finishing up pieces for my upcoming show this December at Arcadia Contemporary. I have about 15 pieces I'm working on. The most I’ve ever worked on at one time.
Miriam’s Pigment Stick® palette.
To see more of Miriam’s work, visit miriamhoffmannart.com.