In the Studios

Visiting Artist Residency at Oxbow with Didier William

02/28/12

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Didier William with Max Byck

Didier is working with students on Cambiaso and Planar studies with the figure. Students work from a live model and translate organic form into rectilinear planar studies in order to better understand the density of the human figure, angling, precise measurement, torque and direction.

One projects is to create a composition that includes at minimum 20 hands and 20 feet. The composition must create a narrative, students are asked to think both creatively and conceptually about the ways in which transformation, context, and composition can dramatically affect the narrative. Students also use powdered graphite and rags to draw focusing primarily on tone, density, and basic shape. Drawing with powdered graphite and paper towels forces student to not only see the ways in which abstract shape and value creates total form, but also forces them to be much more inventive with the actual marks used to describe the form.

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For their self-portrait project students are asked to make 30 drawing of themselves in sequences of 5, 6 sequences total. Each drawing will be fully considered, both object (the face) and background and should take no more than 45 minutes to complete. In fact, as the project evolves the drawings will naturally take less and less time to realize. The primary goal in this exercise is to allow students to develop a sensitivity to the material by keeping then subject consistent.

Towards the end of the residency Didier will meet with students in studios for 15 minute sessions to discuss individual progress and then in the final days conduct a group critique with student's work.

Didier William holds an MFA in painting from Yale University, and a BFA in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Port-au-prince he was a 2009 recipient of the Toby Devan Lewis Fellowship in painting as well as the 2006 recipient of the Morris Lewis Award for painting. He has exhibited paintings in group shows at Kravets Wehby gallery in New York, Deitch Projects in Long Island City, Swann Galeries in New York City, Gallerie Schuster in Berlin, as well as traveling exhibitions in Baltimore, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Greece. He is currently on the faculty in the Art/Art History Department at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York.

In the year leading up to Oxbow, I became obsessed with the program, I was entranced with reading testimonials and researching interdisciplinary learning styles. When I arrived at Oxbow I was never disappointed, despite my endless expectations. I will forever cherish the time I spent at Oxbow and the connections I made there. Through Oxbow I was able to hone into the ideas I was thinking about, to refine my artistic process and to see the world in a new light every day of my life. I'm not going to say that without Oxbow I wouldn't be the person I am today, but I will say that without Oxbow it would have taken me at least four years to become who I am after one Oxbow semester.

— Phoebe Dubisch, Fall 2018

Artistically, I learned a lot of new techniques and mediums while here. I had access to much more than before and I made the most of it. I tried everything I could and always talked to my teachers and peers about new ways I could make art. Every so often, I completely stepped out of my comfort zone. Experimenting with technique and testing my artistic boundaries has helped me realize how many paths I have to choose from in the art world and that makes me excited for the future.

— Macy Manning, Fall 2023

Oxbow opened me up to what was out there in the world to go out and grab, and gave me so much that I take with me everywhere I go, with everything I do.

— Nina Palomba, Spring 2008

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