In 2009 Tim Rees picked up his first set of oil paints and never looked back. He moved to Chicago in September of that year to paint at the historic Palette and Chisel Academy. In 2010 he held his first solo show at the P&C, where he was well-received. Chris Miller stated in a review of the show: "He pulls these strong compositions together like he's been doing it his entire life." After just a year and a half he joined the staff of instructors and began teaching drawing and painting classes. He soon began teaching figurative and landscape painting workshops, including a week long intensive in the south of France at the age of 26. He has won several awards, including the Palette and Chisel’s People’s Choice award at the annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Southwest Art Magazine's "Artists to Watch", and Fine Art Studio Online's Bold Brush Award. He has also been in several publications, including features in American Art Collector Magazine, International Artist, and Southwest Art Magazine.
Timothy believes in drawing as the root of strong painting, and is proficient in many mediums, from charcoal to ballpoint pen. “Drawing teaches us most of what we need to know about painting: the shapes, values, edges, and composition- everything except color and paint application.” With this in mind he developed a method of charcoal drawing quick sketches that allows him to go beyond gestures and tackle all of these drawing issues, prompting many to say his drawings look like beautiful monochromatic paintings.
He puts higher stress on compositional beauty rather than hidden symbolism, and prefers to allow the design, color, and edgework to tell the story of his paintings, from simple vignettes or still lifes to the energetic glimpses of his plein air landscapes. Technique is paramount to reproducing an idea, and with that comes a thoughtful, logical approach to executing a painting. “Just because a painting looks energetic or done with ease does not mean it should be done haphazardly. I think a lot about each brushstroke and try to encourage students to do the same. It’s easier to take your time and get it right than spend the entire time fixing mistakes."
Timothy taught the traditional training program at Scottsdale Artists' School from 2014 to 2017, and the traditional apprentice format and curriculum at Rees Atelier in Mesa, AZ from 2017-2020. He now lives in Maquoketa, IA.