Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Kim's Game

Name Class Date

David McClure, Kim's Game. Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
David McClure originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/david-mcclure/
Artist’s dates
1926 – 1998

In context

Kim's Game — David McClure

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1920
  2. 1930
  3. 1940
  4. 1950
  5. 1960
  6. 1970
  7. 1980
  8. 1990

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 72 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of David McClure (1926–1998) every dated painting, decade by decade

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/david-mcclure-kim-s-game-AR28BQ-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Espresso #403a36

    Catalogued palette

    • #403A36
    • #707273
    • #CEA59B
    • #C67334

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Espresso
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Bold How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Softly Mixed Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by David McClure over the last twelve months — 1 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 100.0%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 4 most looked-at works by David McClure

    1. 1 Salmon Bothy, Dunbeath 33.3%
    2. 2 Still Life with Japanese Print 33.3%
    3. 3 Boats at St Paul's Bay, Malta 33.3%
    4. — Kim's Game this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 99.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 19 works by this artist, of which 3 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    David McClure

    Born in Lochwinnoch, United Kingdom

    Early Life and Education

    Born: February 20, 1926, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, United Kingdom

    Died: February 20, 1998 (aged 72)

    Nationality: Scottish

    Attended Queen's Park School in Glasgow.

    Served as a Bevin Boy in the mines of West Lothian during World War II; early works depict mining scenes and portraits.

    Studied English and History at Glasgow University before focusing on Fine Art.

    Studied at Edinburgh College of Art (1947-52), influenced by Anne Redpath, William Gillies, John Maxwell, and Robert Henderson Blyth.

    Awarded a travelling scholarship in 1952-3 and an Andrew Grant Fellowship in 1955-7, leading to periods working in Spain, Italy, Sicily, and Norway.

    Artistic Style and Development

    Early work influenced by Surrealism and Cubism.

    Developed a rich Colourist style, often referencing French Post-Impressionists like Matisse, Gauguin, Picasso, Braque, Chagall, and Redon.

    Known for vibrant still lifes, nudes, landscapes, and family portraits.

    Style evolved over time, influenced by John Maxwell in the 1960s.

    Celebratory of good things in life and nature; informed by art history, literature, and music.

    Career and Teaching

    Taught painting at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art (1958-1985).

    Became Head of Painting at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in 1983, succeeding Alberto Morrocco.

    Reputation as an inspirational and caring teacher; known for opening the minds of students.

    Wrote a monograph on the painter John Maxwell.

    Major Achievements and Recognition

    Elected to the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) in 1971.

    Exhibited widely in group shows in Scotland and internationally.

    Held numerous one-man exhibitions, including at the Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, and Thackeray Gallery, London.

    Commissioned for the reconstruction of the King's Room at Falkland Palace, Fife (murals and ceiling paintings).

    Received the Guthrie Award in 1956.

    Legacy and Historical Significance

    Considered a significant figure within the Scottish Colourist tradition.

    His work reflects a deep appreciation for colour, light, and form.

    Remembered as an influential teacher who fostered creativity in his students.

    Continues to be exhibited and collected by art enthusiasts and institutions.

    Where to read more

    • The artist David McClure originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/david-mcclure/
    • Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/david-mcclure-kim-s-game-AR28BQ-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Kim's Game

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/david-mcclure-kim-s-game-AR28BQ-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    McClure, David. Kim's Game. n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/david-mcclure-kim-s-game-AR28BQ-en/
    APA
    McClure, David (n.d.). Kim's Game [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/david-mcclure-kim-s-game-AR28BQ-en/
    Chicago
    David McClure. Kim's Game. n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/david-mcclure-kim-s-game-AR28BQ-en/
    Harvard
    McClure, David (n.d.) Kim's Game. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/david-mcclure-kim-s-game-AR28BQ-en/

    Look closely

    Kim's Game — David McClure

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at John Stone (1950), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
    5. If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    How do I discover artworks close to "Kim's Game" by David McClure?

    The Similars page of "Kim's Game" by David McClure presents related artworks.

    What underlying hue runs through "Kim's Game" by David McClure?

    "Kim's Game" leans toward an amber to saffron tone.

    Are the colors of "Kim's Game" by David McClure vivid or muted?

    The colors of "Kim's Game" by David McClure show a subtle color saturation with a balanced intensity.