" title="artmat" width="440" height="331" class="size-full wp-image-17216" />Editorial Intern
It began as an enjoyable activity with her father, but painting eventually turned into a lifetime hobby for Fran Kalish.
Kalish was born in Toronto, Canada, but moved to Long Beach when she was 12 years old. High school is where she began to paint.
“My father and I started painting at Long Beach City [College] together,” she said. “We mostly focused on oil paint— drawing and oil.” She continued to paint mostly with oil paint, but has also used pastels and water mixable oils.
Kalish’s subjects mostly include landscapes, still lifes and portraits. “I do a lot of en plein air,” she added. “En plein air” is a French expression that means “in the open air.” It is used to describe the act of painting outdoors.
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Kalish is a member of the Southern California Plein Air Painters Association (SoCalPAPA), an organization that is made up of beginning art students, leisure-time painters and professional artists who hold critiques and share information beneficial to an artist’s growth.
Kalish has several inspirations. One is the Dutch painter and etcher Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. His contrasts of darks and lights are what Kalish admires most. “His highlights are beautiful,” she said.
