Ken Elliott / For the Color

2012-03-07T07:56:00.001-08:00

My suite of four etchings have been published. Each is made with two metal plates, embossing and with hand-coloring in gouache. This suite of four is in an edition of 200 with 20 artist proofs. Note that the hand-coloring means that images will vary slightly.

Available as a suite or individually at $600. each
View the flyer View the video

2012-03-07T06:00:00.001-08:00

Denver workshop flyer

I hope you will consider attending Casey Klahn's Pastel Workshop May 19-20, 2012.
It will take place at Joan Fullerton's studio in Parker, CO
To sign up for workshops contact Casey at caseyklahn (at) gmail dot com.

Take some time and check out his blog to see what a truly gifted colorist and teacher does. I'll see you there!

2012-03-04T23:24:00.004-08:00

Artists do the most amazing things: Follow this link to some remarkable film-making. http://www.wimp.com/carnivalparty/

The music coupled with tilt-shift and time-lapse photography is mesmerizing.

It's a must see.

The tilt-shift technique makes Rio and the Carnival look like something out of a toy box.

2012-03-04T22:03:00.001-08:00

My March Newsletter has just been posted. In the Newsletter I've announced my two-person May show in Taos with an accompanying article in Southwest Art Magazine and I've been included in a November six-person show at the Madden Museum, Denver. It's already a very busy year!

I've also published three new giclee prints in three sizes, prices range from $300-$890.

Sunset Chroma (available as orignal pastel and as giclee print)

2012-02-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

I am so very intrugued by the idea of artworks with a singular color.

The trick is to make a work of art that is not ordinary - not just one note played on the piano. To make the reds sing in this 36x36 canvas it takes different reds and other colors in play all across the canvas. It looks so very simple, but it is the result of hundreds of marks, reworks, dead ends, chance and risks. It was a pleasure to have it on the easel day after day in conversation. It was also fun to load up the brush with a hot red and load it on the canvas like icing a cake.

"Enveloped in Red" oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

2012-02-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist this one. It is amazing how much is involved after the art is made: recording, photography, editing, framing, shipping, promoting. It is quite the production and there is only one employee. I'm definitely not complaining...being an artist is the greatest job in the world. Kudos to artist Garnet Hettz for this bit of fun:

2012-02-09T09:36:00.000-08:00

I've just completed six new collages. They are currently on exhibit at Framed Image, Denver through March 14. They are small framed works that were a thrill to make. Prices range from $275-$475. You can view them all on my website. Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-04T20:37:00.000-08:00

EXHIBITING: I'll be showing at the Framed Image Gallery, Denver beginning February 5. I'm in a group show titled "Red." 5066 East Hampden Ave. Denver

NEW PUBLICATION: Two of Ken's pastels were included in the French art magazine, Pratique des Arts, January 2012 article about artists using trees as a subject: "La Poesie des Arbres," The Poetry of Trees. view the article

At the booth with the poster "Autumn Verticals"

NEW: Poems Publishing has just released new poster images of Ken's works and featured them at their West Coast Art and Framing show booth, January 2012.

2012-01-29T10:29:00.000-08:00

Off and on for a number of weeks now, I've been working on 4 new etchings. Here's an 8 minute video of how these plates are printed. This is a 14th Century method for making artworks on paper. What a grand, time consuming process. There is nothing quick about creating hand-made prints.

I'm with Mark Lunning, the master printer and owner of Open Press Ltd, Denver. Mark is inking and printing two color plates with a Chine Colle (colored mulberry paper) added to the process. The result is a three-color landscape print. I'll be releasing this and 3 additional etchings very soon.

Want to make your own prints? Contact Mark

2012-01-29T07:32:00.000-08:00

One of the great resources for curious artists are the auction catalogs. You can view marvelous works by the biggest names and some you have never heard of. I used to pay hundreds of dollars a year for these catalogs but now I can view them online. With these online catalogs you can zoom into the images and see them in very high detail. These images are educational and inspiring. Here is an image from an upcoming auction, the Impressionist / Modern Day Sale at Christies, London on February 8, 2012.

The image is by Alfred Sisley, "Saitn-Mannes," 1885. This is a blow up of the oil on canvas, 21 1/2 x 28 3/4. Should you want to take it home, it is expected to bring a price in the range of $600-900,000.

View Alfred's little gem here in greater detail: Christie's Feb 2012 sale, Alfred Sisley

While you are there you can sign up for your choice of upcoming sales at Christies for free - check out Sotheby's too.

2012-01-19T22:43:00.000-08:00

Flying Robots Build a Tower Near Paris

You can't make this up, but engineers with very creative minds and skills make cutting/flying edge art. From NPR video:

2012-01-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

Here is a fabulous film on Van Gogh to preview. You can stream the entire film on Netflix (their description below.) It is also available in the Apples store to download as a buy or rental.

Van Gogh: Brush with GeniusMoi, Van Gogh(2009) NR

Providing a rare and exciting opportunity to examine Vincent Van Gogh's artwork up close, this documentary also retraces the artist's footsteps, guiding us through the places that inspired him and his brilliant, vividly colored paintings.

2012-01-04T00:21:00.000-08:00

Last year closed out with my learning that the Four Seasons Hotel Denver used two of my large giclees on canvas for one of their Banquet/Meeting rooms. It's a nice honor and it goes nicely with the earlier Ritz-Carlton installation of two large, vertical giclees in the guest rooms here in Denver as well.

2011 was a very good year and December was the best sales month I have ever had. For all of you that were a part, thank you for the wonderful year and the merry Christmas you provided me!

Installed in The Four Seasons, Denver

Installed in the Ritz-Carlton guest rooms, Denver

Landscape Painting in Pastels

2012-01-03T08:16:00.000-08:00

Deborah Secor is an artist and art writer with much to share. She has generously offered her new online pastel instruction book for free. Landscape Painting in Pastels

The New Year, Etchings

2012-01-02T22:18:00.000-08:00

All of last December, I felt the urge to start this art blog and pass on what is happening in the studio and also the interesting things that come my way.

For a couple of weeks in December I was working with the Master Printer, Mark Lunning at Open Press Studios in Denver. I'm doing 4 new etchings there, each 14 x 14 inches. It's been ages since I've made etchings - they were just small experiments at the time. I had forgotten that it takes a very long time to create each image, but I love going into the print studio and spending the day there. These images are done on two color plates, one color printed on top of the other and if you look closely, you will see embossing from the deeply etched plates.

The project is not finished yet, but I wanted you to get a look at two images from the last proofing session. I'll get back to you when the suite of four is complete.