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Tuesday, December 27, 2022
December Newsletter, 2022
Thursday, December 15, 2022
New Works: Time Passing as Color, oil on panel, 24 x 24 inches
About this oil:
I wanted to create a forest scene without knowing the time of day or the season. As I was laying out the composition with dark blues, the painting began to point the way to an immersive experience, a scene from inside the forest, so I followed along.
Detail was kept to a minimum but the scene looks very complex. It’s primarily two colors, blues and greens, but this forest has a secret. Any dark passage or color other than the first two produces some enchanting effects and that is where the appearance of complexity comes from.
This was a pleasure to explore and paint and as the oil neared completion, a title began to float into my head. It had been a long day and I was working late on this piece. I thought of all of the color combinations applied to this work as the day moved from afternoon to late evening. That's when it occurred that the time was being marked by the color changes, just as it occurs in nature.
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Ken Elliott Fine Art Newsletter: November, 2022
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Tuesday, September 13, 2022
3-Day Intensive Advanced Strategies Workshop with Ken Elliott
Castle Rock, CO (Denver Metro)Fri - Sun, November 4-6, 2022sold out
Fri - Sat, 9:30 - 4 pmSunday evening after break, Photoshop Tools 4:30 - 6 pm
Open to artists at all skill levels and mediaAn indoor, fully immersive, three-day workshopLimited to 6 artists, $590.Contact Ken to register / more information / register online303-995-1611 email
Ken will discuss strategies for creating better artworks with a variety of common and creative tools.The workshop will focus on concepts for making better starts, compelling artworks, going to new places in your work, and how to make fine art. They will use informative videos and pass on strategies, some not the literature, but handed down from the very best teachers. Ken will be going deeper into the how-to of making more appealing artworks with a variety of ideas and tools. After the day's sessions, the group is invited to further discussions and dinner. After the Sunday session, Ken will present Photoshop techniques for taking your works to the next level and creating better pathways for finishing your artworks. You will be given a simplified Photoshop guide and have access to a large photo file of over 2000 inspiring artworks.
Private lessons by appointment
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| Just After the Sun Has Set Oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches |
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| Hidden Sunset oil on canvas, 60 x 60 inches |
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| Trees in Half Shade oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches |
Ken Elliott Private Lessons:
I have really enjoyed giving private lessons over the years as well. It is casual, focused and fun. There will be a big result. Give me a call and we'll discuss what works best for you. Transportation and accommodations are included for out of town guests in Ken's home / studio. Please inquire by email or 303-995-1611
A private lesson recommendation:
"Ken Elliott is an excellent host and a very accommodating art instructor who helped me clarify my goals and improve my skills. He offered productive review, practical methods and excellent business advice. I benefitted tremendously from our class and feel confident the quality of my work has moved to another level. Thank you Ken."
Rona Lynn Fitzpatrick
A private lesson recommendation:
"Ken Elliott is an excellent host and a very accommodating art instructor who helped me clarify my goals and improve my skills. He offered productive review, practical methods and excellent business advice. I benefitted tremendously from our class and feel confident the quality of my work has moved to another level. Thank you Ken."
Rona Lynn Fitzpatrick
Yellow with Red Insisting
oil on canvas 30 X 40
From Ken's Alaska Workshop demonstration
Ken Elliott Making it Fine Art Workshops
There are always new workshops being planned. If you would like for me to do a workshop in your area, please contact me to make arrangements. View the current workshop schedule on the website
In the Workshops, we will be discussing strategies for making fine art and taking your art to the next level. Please contact me if you want me to teach a workshop in your area.
Ken comes from a background of working in the art gallery and ancillary art businesses for over 40 years. As an artist for 25 of those years, he can speak to the business and creative aspects of being a professional artist.
From a Boulder, CO Workshop attendee:
"Just a quick note to let you know how much I learned, enjoyed and benefited from your art workshop at Jacque Michele’s studio Jan. 16-17. It was a groundbreaking eye opener for me in so many respects. At the end of the two days I felt like you had given me the tools to truly free up my art work and go wild with color and strokes. A very liberating experience indeed. It was such a pleasure to meet you and study under you. Hope we will be seeing more of you in Boulder."
A.R.
Wood at the Lake
Pastel on sanded paper, 15 1/2 x 14 inches
From my workshop with the Pastel Society of Colorado
Pastel on sanded paper, 15 1/2 x 14 inches
From my workshop with the Pastel Society of Colorado
Ken studied with Wolf Kahn for a month at the Santa Fe Art Institute Master Class program. He came away with enough information for a lifetime. For decades he has been associated with a number of wonderful and successful artists. As a former gallery dealer, he has a great deal of experience and knowledge about past and present artists and their reasons for success. Having grown up in the arts with framing, gallery management and as an artist, he has much to offer to the hobbyist and professional artist.
Teaching Experience:
Madden Museum art class with Casey Klahn, Denver, CO
North River Arts Society, Marshfield, MA
Beatrice Art Guild, NE
Anchorage Art Guild, AK
Colorado Springs Art Guild, CO
Colorado Pastel Society, CO
Pikes Peak Pastel Society, CO
Teaching Experience:
Madden Museum art class with Casey Klahn, Denver, CO
North River Arts Society, Marshfield, MA
Beatrice Art Guild, NE
Anchorage Art Guild, AK
Colorado Springs Art Guild, CO
Colorado Pastel Society, CO
Pikes Peak Pastel Society, CO
In the Workshops:
Ken will discuss strategies for creating better artworks with a variety of common and creative tools. The workshop will focus the strategies for making better paintings, going to new places in your work and how to make fine art. Much attention will be given to improving your own artworks and career.
Ken will demonstrate painting using oil and pastel. He will discuss the idea of making strong starts and keeping the way open for more interesting and dramatic finishes.
Attendees are invited to bring whatever they wish to paint with and work on. You may bring works or visuals to start, works in progress, and finished works to evaluate. There will be a lot of conversation about the mental aspects of making good art by design and experiment. The mental aspect is the quickest way to get the breakthroughs to the next big success in your art. Ken will bring some finished works to share with the group.
Ken will demonstrate painting using oil and pastel. He will discuss the idea of making strong starts and keeping the way open for more interesting and dramatic finishes.
Attendees are invited to bring whatever they wish to paint with and work on. You may bring works or visuals to start, works in progress, and finished works to evaluate. There will be a lot of conversation about the mental aspects of making good art by design and experiment. The mental aspect is the quickest way to get the breakthroughs to the next big success in your art. Ken will bring some finished works to share with the group.
There will be serious discussions, laughs, and your questions. We will all come away with new tools to take your art to the next level.
More Comments:
"Thank you so much for the wonderful, thought compelling workshop. You rekindled my love for making art. Your enthusiasm is contagious and felt throughout the room. You set up a stimulating environment that provided continuous visual images. Your generosity in sharing your own photos was much appreciated. I found you to be humorous, supportive and kind. I would recommend you as an instructor to anyone who would like to take their art to the next level."
"Yours was exactly the kind of workshop I had hoped it would be to give me the focus I needed. I can't thank you enough for coming all this way for such a small group...but I think you got the students who needed you the most!
"The Workshop was amazing. It made me get out of my way in terms of a different painting method and expanded my vision. Also, the friends I made from that weekend are wonderful. My eyes were opened and I can't go backward from that."
R.
"Thank you for sharing all your stories. I think you have a great way of helping people grasp and put into practice the principles of manifesting. Cheers!"
Anita Mosher website
"Thank you so much for lighting up our lives and our paintings at this past weekend’s workshop! I loved hearing about your time with Wolf Kahn, your thoughts on painting, the beautiful demo, and of course the great feedback you provided us on our own paintings. You really reignited my desire to paint freely. I hope to spend another weekend painting with you sometime soon."
"Thank you for our workshop! It was a great two days. You are an amazing host and instructor, (two things that don’t always work together). You pulled something from each of us and it was wonderful to be a part of it. Thanks to the moon and back."
V
"So, when my friend, Ken Elliott, told me he was co-teaching a workshop on color with Casey Klahn, I immediately said sign me up! Ken's work is simplified impressionist landscape with an emphasis on bold color like reds and yellows. Casey's work is influenced by the cloudy days of the northwestern part of the United States, and his paintings are simplified, abstracted landscapes. Casey uses subdued colors like blues and purples. Both artists' style and color sense are so dramatically different than mine that I knew I would be challenged by this workshop. And indeed I was! I have to smile when I see the work I produced in this workshop. It's so unlike my usual work."
Lee McVey website
I so enjoyed meeting you and being part of the workshop. You got me on fire!!!!!
Ed
"Wow! My weekend of private lessons was fabulous! While I was there I stepped into a whole new world that my soul was calling for. Wonderful conversations, a beautiful time with great art everywhere and artistic success!"
Kate
"Thank you so much for including me in the wonderful weekend workshop at the Castle Rock Artist "Retreat" :D I found all of you to be a delight and am so happy to meet each of you! Ken, you are a wonderful teacher & inspiring person!! The one day with you in your B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L home & "artist sanctuary" was "exactly" what I needed on so many levels !!! Thank you for your generosity, great color sense, sharing of your artful knowledge & supply resources. I came away with a renewed art spirit and also w/ some new artistic ideas for applying paint to the canvas! Very inspiring indeed!
Jeannie Paty website
"When I signed up for a painting workshop, who knew that it would be so much more. Thank you Ken. For your kindness, generosity of spirit, and sharing your knowledge and skill of painting with us. And thank you to everyone for making our time together a magical weekend which will be cherished. Fortunately the universe provided me with what I needed, whether I knew it or not."
Linda
"Your workshop changed my whole outlook on what I might be able to do with my art career and gave me the confidence to really go for it. It was also huge from a creative standpoint, helping me focus on color and having that be the lead/primary solution to my paintings as a colorist and abstract artist - but also from the manifesting angle it was my introduction to the whole idea and what set me on my course as a professional artist."
Kirsten McGannon website
"It was a fabulous workshop! I know we all had a lot of fun and really enjoyed having you here. We would love to have you come back again next year!"
Donna
"Just wanted to thank you again for a very inspiring, informative, and fun workshop. I worked LARGE today!
Maxene
"Thank you for all your inspiration!"
Deb
"Hey, I DEFINITELY recommend this! SIGN UP for Ken's class! Take your art further than it's ever been!"
Nanette
"You are a wonderful, vibrant instructor!"
More Comments:
"Thank you so much for the wonderful, thought compelling workshop. You rekindled my love for making art. Your enthusiasm is contagious and felt throughout the room. You set up a stimulating environment that provided continuous visual images. Your generosity in sharing your own photos was much appreciated. I found you to be humorous, supportive and kind. I would recommend you as an instructor to anyone who would like to take their art to the next level."
"Yours was exactly the kind of workshop I had hoped it would be to give me the focus I needed. I can't thank you enough for coming all this way for such a small group...but I think you got the students who needed you the most!
"The Workshop was amazing. It made me get out of my way in terms of a different painting method and expanded my vision. Also, the friends I made from that weekend are wonderful. My eyes were opened and I can't go backward from that."
R.
"Thank you for sharing all your stories. I think you have a great way of helping people grasp and put into practice the principles of manifesting. Cheers!"
Anita Mosher website
"Thank you so much for lighting up our lives and our paintings at this past weekend’s workshop! I loved hearing about your time with Wolf Kahn, your thoughts on painting, the beautiful demo, and of course the great feedback you provided us on our own paintings. You really reignited my desire to paint freely. I hope to spend another weekend painting with you sometime soon."
"Thank you for our workshop! It was a great two days. You are an amazing host and instructor, (two things that don’t always work together). You pulled something from each of us and it was wonderful to be a part of it. Thanks to the moon and back."
V
"So, when my friend, Ken Elliott, told me he was co-teaching a workshop on color with Casey Klahn, I immediately said sign me up! Ken's work is simplified impressionist landscape with an emphasis on bold color like reds and yellows. Casey's work is influenced by the cloudy days of the northwestern part of the United States, and his paintings are simplified, abstracted landscapes. Casey uses subdued colors like blues and purples. Both artists' style and color sense are so dramatically different than mine that I knew I would be challenged by this workshop. And indeed I was! I have to smile when I see the work I produced in this workshop. It's so unlike my usual work."
Lee McVey website
I so enjoyed meeting you and being part of the workshop. You got me on fire!!!!!
Ed
"Wow! My weekend of private lessons was fabulous! While I was there I stepped into a whole new world that my soul was calling for. Wonderful conversations, a beautiful time with great art everywhere and artistic success!"
Kate
"Thank you so much for including me in the wonderful weekend workshop at the Castle Rock Artist "Retreat" :D I found all of you to be a delight and am so happy to meet each of you! Ken, you are a wonderful teacher & inspiring person!! The one day with you in your B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L home & "artist sanctuary" was "exactly" what I needed on so many levels !!! Thank you for your generosity, great color sense, sharing of your artful knowledge & supply resources. I came away with a renewed art spirit and also w/ some new artistic ideas for applying paint to the canvas! Very inspiring indeed!
Jeannie Paty website
"When I signed up for a painting workshop, who knew that it would be so much more. Thank you Ken. For your kindness, generosity of spirit, and sharing your knowledge and skill of painting with us. And thank you to everyone for making our time together a magical weekend which will be cherished. Fortunately the universe provided me with what I needed, whether I knew it or not."
Linda
"Your workshop changed my whole outlook on what I might be able to do with my art career and gave me the confidence to really go for it. It was also huge from a creative standpoint, helping me focus on color and having that be the lead/primary solution to my paintings as a colorist and abstract artist - but also from the manifesting angle it was my introduction to the whole idea and what set me on my course as a professional artist."
Kirsten McGannon website
"It was a fabulous workshop! I know we all had a lot of fun and really enjoyed having you here. We would love to have you come back again next year!"
Donna
"Just wanted to thank you again for a very inspiring, informative, and fun workshop. I worked LARGE today!
Maxene
"Thank you for all your inspiration!"
Deb
"Hey, I DEFINITELY recommend this! SIGN UP for Ken's class! Take your art further than it's ever been!"
Nanette
"You are a wonderful, vibrant instructor!"
M.J.
"Thanks SO VERY MUCH, Ken, for such a fun, informative, and energetic workshop. Your enthusiasm is contagious. What a wonderful weekend!!"
Christine
"You are so gracious. Thank you so much for the wonderful workshop and ALL that you shared. It was a great weekend."
Suzanne
"Love the class, you are a great teacher!"
Betsy
"I feel so enriched and on fire to paint big and glowing colors. If you ever get a chance to study with Ken Elliott, I highly recommend him. If you need help getting to his workshops just read his book Manifesting 123"
Francine
"Great class Ken! Thank you for all the good tips and inspiration. So glad you came to Houston."
Kay
A good time was had by all! Thank you!
Barbara, Workshop organizer and attendee
"Thank you Ken for a awesome workshop, picked up some new tools to advance forward. Looking forward to using them tools. I had a great time meeting everyone and working together."
Scott
"Thanks SO VERY MUCH, Ken, for such a fun, informative, and energetic workshop. Your enthusiasm is contagious. What a wonderful weekend!!"
Christine
"You are so gracious. Thank you so much for the wonderful workshop and ALL that you shared. It was a great weekend."
Suzanne
"Love the class, you are a great teacher!"
Betsy
"I feel so enriched and on fire to paint big and glowing colors. If you ever get a chance to study with Ken Elliott, I highly recommend him. If you need help getting to his workshops just read his book Manifesting 123"
Francine
"Great class Ken! Thank you for all the good tips and inspiration. So glad you came to Houston."
Kay
A good time was had by all! Thank you!
Barbara, Workshop organizer and attendee
"Thank you Ken for a awesome workshop, picked up some new tools to advance forward. Looking forward to using them tools. I had a great time meeting everyone and working together."
Scott
Monday, August 29, 2022
New Work: Weather Moving Across, oil on canvas, 36 x 60 inches
Exhibiting; Madelyn Jordan Fine Art, Scarsdale, NY
$9300 framed To purchase
I was very intrigued by an image I had of this weather pattern and took my time thinking about the possibilities before beginning this oil. My first concern was how far I wanted to take the color.
Typically, weather like this creates a grey cocoon with very little direct light and that didn’t hold a lot of appeal to me. Then there was the compositional arrangement of that long, slender cloud running across 5 feet of canvas.
Photo references are good to a point, but the information contained there wouldn’t be enough for an appealing painting.
I had to jump in somewhere and it began with the cloud shape with the veils of rain on the right. To support that shape going left, more cloud forms and the brighter yellows and pinks were added. My photo reference was of the taller cloud, extending off the top of the image and the land mass below went all the way of to the horizon line. The only light source would be between the two and I felt it would severely limit the more colorful possibilities I had in mind.
So while blocking in this oil, I had the idea to cut back the amount of land in the foreground, adding enough water to create a bay…that’s everything fell into place. The reflective surface of the water provided more color opportunities and considerably more light.
The additional water set up an extreme amount of depth and a playground for more atmospheric effects – an unexpected bonus!
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