New Work: Bright Flow II, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 inches

 

Bright Flow II, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 inches
$4750 framed
 
 
About this oil:
I was very intrigued by the idea of a stand of bright, yellow trees fading into the shadows. Moving from bright to dark is also an opportunity to use an array of colors to make it happen and I looked forward to watching it play out.
 
The accuracy of the tree forms is secondary to the color and possible combinations. It’s all about making that yellow form glow and move. The tree on the right creates a stage of sorts and the stream below is useful to amplify the yellows and to provide the surprising reds on the lower left.
 
It all sounds simple enough but I started on this oil about a year ago, working on it on and off during that time. Sometimes the simple must have its season.

​Next 3-Day Intensive Workshop with Ken Elliott / July 21-23, 2023

3-Day Intensive Workshop with Ken Elliott

Castle Rock, CO Denver Metro, Fri-Sun, July 21-23, 2023 

Workshop flyer

Open to 6 artists $590

Sold out / next workshop Sept or Oct TBA

Fri - Sun, 9:30 - 4 pm

Sunday evening after break, Photoshop Tools 4:30 - 6 pm

Conversations will continue after hours with those that want to stay for dinner.

Open to artists at all skill levels and media

An indoor, fully immersive, three-day workshop.

Open to 6 artists, $590.

Airport transportation and some lodging is available. 

​

To Register

Questions? Contact Ken

303-995-1611  email

View the workshop video

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.

You will be going deeper into the how-to of making more appealing artworks. ​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.

Ken will demonstrate painting using oil and pastels, if requested. In addition to making art works, Ken will talk about business and promotion, necessary tools for success in the marketplace.

​There will be serious discussions, laughs, and your questions with more continuing after class hours. We will all come away with new tools to take your art to the next level.

Ample time will be given to live problem solving, daily critiques and creative options.

​3 immersive days / $590 per person. 

Please note that Ken is available for group Workshops in your area or individually or groups up to three for the remainder of 2022.

​Contact Ken to schedule a workshop in your area.​

Please inquire by email or 303-995-1611

New Work: Air through the Forest, oil on canvas, 40 x 40 inches

Air through the Forest, oil on canvas, 40 x 40 inches $6650 framed

For this painting I developed it in a different way, putting in the foliage first and with a lot of paint on the brush. The leaves set up a delicate, lacy effect and added movement.

The vertical trunk patterns create the horizontal and vertical aspects of this painting. As the tree trunks recede, they are surrounded by the yellow tones and it gives off the illusion of atmosphere. The placement of the tree trunks from left to right complete the composition, filling the space, adding more movement and interest.

The atmospheric effects weren't something I was striving for, but once I saw what the yellow tones were doing, I let the painting develop that way, continuing with thick strokes, layer after layer and it was fascinating to use so much paint and still give the illusion of tinted air. 

New Work: Saccade XII, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 inches

Saccade XII, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 inches $10950 framed
Saks Galleries, Denver, CO

It's good to have a number of paintings going in the studio to work with. In this 12th Saccade, a very textural painting developed because I worked over another oil from 4-5 years ago. The heavy impasto that resulted took me back to those Monet works. It was a joy to create a forest with all of that ready-made texture.

The purpose of the Saccades is to create a painting without a singular point of interest. Doing so presents a number of problems, first being that all the areas on the canvas are equally interesting. This is a good practice for most paintings anyway, so this oil puts that idea to task.

There is the additional game in play here and that is depth. The viewer gets the impression of being in the darker part of the forest looking out. The light is there, but nothing much is revealed. 

There is a considerable forest pattern effect across the 4 x 5 foot space. It has an abundance of complexity and just enough depth to be an intriguing presence on the wall.

About the Saccades Series shown here:
"Since the late 19th century, researchers have been aware of the phenomenon of saccades, the rapid movement of the eye as we shift our attention from one thing to another. As a result, vision itself is discontinuous. We construct a “map of reality” from saccades much as a film editor puts together a scene from individual camera takes." From an article by the film maker Errol Morris, NY Times

New Work: The Light in the World I and II, oil on panel and canvas

The Light in the World
Oil on panel, 40 x 40 inches    Saks Galleries, Denver, CO, $6650 framed

The Light in the World
Oil on panel, 24 x 24 inches
Private collection 

It was a great honor to have recently have toured the Holy Land with a group wonderful people from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Fortunately, we safely exited the country just before the virus began appearing there. There are so many good memories of the people, places and experiences.

Our guides kept us busy every day and although we took a lot of photos, they were mostly of the sights with very few that were the sort of scenes that I would be painting from. 

An exception to the daily travel photos was an evening in Jordan at a nice hotel on the edge of the Dead Sea. I was sitting alone with this long, unobstructed view across the water to Israel. It was a quiet evening before sunset and I had the long promenade to myself. As the light was changing, I began to shoot the scene. There may be art in this... As it turns out, I did the 24 x 24 study on panel and used to for the larger, 40 x 40 oil on canvas.

After my return to the U.S., I kept thinking about that evening and how to create a compelling painting from that idea. Ignoring the main color from the photos, I was struck by the tiny bit of orange-yellow of the sunset in a portion of the photo and I decided to create a painting exclusively with those glowing colors. I rejected the sunset portion by using a heavy crop on the photos, just leaving a portion of the long shoreline, sea and sky.

Once the painting began, the land mass became the compositional anchor and the place where the colors started to flow. As the painting progressed, the flow became an important part of the sea and sky as well. I didn't catch it at the time, but my insistence on this limited group of colors and movement in every part of the scene is what made it all come together in an interesting way.

As I was adding the last brushstrokes to the work, a title came to me, something that touches us all, "The Light in the World."

Grateful notices: At the Pond's Edge, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 inches

At the Pond's Edge, oil on canvas, 48 x 60 inches
Exhibited by: Sorelle Gallery, New Canaan, CT
Video: Ken discusses the making of this oil 

This is a painting that was in progress during three seasons, Fall, Winter and then Spring. Each season was represented here at one time and eventually painted over with the following season. The process was enjoyable and a lot of color work was done but this large oil took up a long studio residence in what seemed like the season of perpetual indecision.

Once Spring appeared in the studio window, green solutions presented themselves. Yes? No? The greens were tried and failed but they did work nicely in the lower portion of the blue trees. Spring with blue trees? In this case yes, and when the blues blended into the greens mentioned earlier, the painting began to come to life.

Add the aqua in the background for more drama and for good measure, the yellow tips catching light at the top of the painting.

In the end, what seemed to make this oil work were the contrasts between the darker trees and the light yellow/greens at the top and bottom. Care was taken to soften the sky and foreground, further increasing the effect of mass in the center trees.

Throughout it all, the oil was telling me what to do and I followed along, not being concerned about the time it was taking.

March 2020 Newsletter

Ken Elliott's Fine Art Newsletter March 2020 View this email in your browser March News: About the Virus... since we are all up to date, I would like to simply add this. Sadly, one of the great American artists recently passed. Wolf Kahn was a very big influence on many levels to me. I was fortunate to have studied him for a month at a masters class in Santa Fe, NM. He was instrumental in pointing me, a very green artist, in a good direction with solid advice. I do cherish the many times we had together and his remarkable works live on. His wife, the remarkable painter, Emily Mason, passed three months earlier. I hope they are enjoying themselves!   Here are a couple of his videos: Wolf Kahn Landscape Painter, and Wolf Kahn at Niagara Falls. If you watch carefully, you will see secrets revealed. Also, here is his obituary from The Washington Post Now for a joyful gift While we are in our homes, we can virtually tour 500+ cooperating world museums working with Google.The arts touch us on so many levels - breathe deeply here. And now that there are less distractions these days, I'm finding that many artists, including me, are feeling inspired to dig deeper and further enrich the world with art. It's a wonderful motivator! Please note that galleries everywhere are working on reduced hours or by appointment, but all works are available for viewing online and the galleries are available by phone and email. Give yourself a lift and view the remarkable works of art online. Change your view and see the world as the artists do! My workshop in the Denver Metro has been announced - more info below. Feel free to contact meabout having one in your area. Let's embrace the good in the world and be safe. Ken   New Works: FOREST PLACIDO Oil on canvas, 40 X 48 inches     $6750 framed Saks Galleries, Denver, CO More about this oil on Ken's blog, For the Color In the Galleries:   ALL OVER SUNSET, STUDY Pastel 13 3/8 x 17 7/8        $2150 framed Page Waterman Gallery, Wellesley, MA GLOWING TREE LINE Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches     $5250 framed In the studio BRILLIANT FOREST Oil on canvas, 40 x 40     $6650 framed Gallery 89, Steamboat Springs, CO More about this oil on Ken's blog, For the Color WINTER CONTRAST Pastel 15 1/4 x 19 1/8   $2700. framed Sorelle Gallery, New Canaan, CT More about this pastel on Ken's blog, For the Color FOREST SEQUENCE I Oil on canvas, 48 X 120 inches on two 48 x 60 inch canvases. $23500 unframed    Sorelle Gallery, New Canaan, CT More about this oil on Ken's blog, For the Color Video / Ken discusses this oil SACCADES XIV Oil on canvas, 50 x 50 inches     $9850 framed Saks Galleries, Denver More about this oil on Ken's blog, For the Color About the Saccades Series: "Since the late 19th century, researchers have been aware of the phenomenon of saccades, the rapid movement of the eye as we shift our attention from one thing to another. As a result, vision itself is discontinuous. We construct a “map of reality” from saccades much as a film editor puts together a scene from individual camera takes." From an article by the film maker Earl Morris, NY Times       more on my blog Workshops / Private Sessions /Studio Visits: New 2020 Making it Fine Art Workshop, Denver Metro: Sat - Sun June 6-7 Limited to 6 artists, 2 spaces left More information below. Please inquire $390 per person. Complete info on the Workshops page Private lessons by appointment. Here's a video about what happens in the Group and Private Workshops Contact Ken to arrange a studio visit or Workshop. It is always a pleasure to meet you. Take your work to new heights. These workshops and private sessions will focus on strategies for making better paintings, colorist tools, going to new places in your work and making fine art. We will be going deeper into making better and more appealing artworks with a variety of strategies including Photoshop insights made easy. all workshop info   Ken Elliott American Landscapes coffee table book: This large coffee table book reprises 25 years of my works in oil, pastel, monotype, etching and collage.Large, coffee table hardback version, 11 x 13 inches, 94 color pages with essays. Book and a signed giclee print of the cover image: $150 or just order the book for $115. Also available as an iBook / download on Apple devices for $9.99. You can preview the complete book and how to order your electronic or hardback versions from my website.     My Blog, For the Color Want to follow along in my studio? Come across some interesting art bits and intriguing posts from elsewhere? Check out my artist's blog: For the Color and on the right of the blog under Followers, click Join this Site. Right now you can view vintage videos of Renoir, Degas, a Piet Mondrian video montage, comments about my works and observations about museum artworks from some recent trips. View my newest artworks: This monthly newsletter is the best way to stay up to date with my new works and events. You can also follow me on Facebook and go more in depth with my blog, For the Color. To view the total of my works in all media and in all my galleries, go to www.kenelliott.com Thank you, Ken SaveSave Copyright © 2020 Ken Elliott Fine Art, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Ken Elliott Fine Art Castle Rock, CO  80108 Add us to your address book Contact Ken 303-995-1611 email website Sign up for my Art Blog: For the Color Sign up for this newsletter Image top, cropped here: All Over Sunset, Study Pastel, 13 3/8 x 17 7/8     $2150 framed Page Waterman Gallery, Wellesley, MA American Art Collector Magazine: "Elliott's canvases display the strikingly vivid modern hues in which he chooses to render his contemporary landscapes."  Southwest Art Magazine: Although his paintings loosely reference photographs and plein-air sketches, they refuse to exist within the confines of already-prescribed images. Rather, they stand independent of any specific place or time, the fulfilled pursuits of the artist’s visual and intellectual explorations. Elliott wields color boldly, creating sizzling, vibrant shapes that are at once kinetic and placid, grounded in unifying illumination, and focused compositions. He has a fascination with line structure as well, believing that “edges empower colors.”  Private Lessons and studio visits: I have really enjoyed giving private lessons individually or with groups over the years. It is casual, focused and fun. It is always a pleasure welcoming collectors into my studio, please email me a call to arrange a time. The workshops are very stimulating and you will see a big result in your approach to making fine art and clarity on your career strategies. Let's discuss what works best for you. What they are saying: "I had a clue what might be in store for my friends, but it went WAY beyond. You have a real gift. What a FANTASTIC couple of days!!!’ L. "Your painting demonstrations and the information you gave us  was invaluable- no wonder your paintings are so moving. I so enjoyed meeting you. Thank you for coming to Virginia." S. "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 and your generosity in sharing those 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." "I can't thank you enough for coming to Boulder! Thank you for your clear eye, your hard work, your beautiful color and your careful feedback. I'm now a different Painter...maybe a different person? I loved the weekend. And I can't wait until we get to soak up your love for the work, for Wolf Kahn, for COLOR -- yet again (note that I'm greedy).You are an amazing addition to our lives." M. "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. Thanks also for your generosity in sharing the numerous links." "I hope to spend another weekend painting with you sometime soon." B.H. "Thank you for the 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. "Thank you Ken. It was a wonderment! I learned so much." Kathy "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!" K. "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!" D. "Just wanted to thank you again for a very inspiring, informative, and fun workshop. I worked LARGE today!" M. "Thank you for all your inspiration!" D. "Thanks SO VERY MUCH, Ken, for such a fun, informative, and energetic workshop. Your enthusiasm is contagious. What a wonderful weekend!!" C. "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." "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." L. "Love the class, you are a great teacher!" B. "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 bookManifesting 123" F. Website Facebook Twitter Pinterest SHARE THIS EMAIL

Grateful Notices: Turning Autumn, oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches

Turning Autumn
Oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches, private collection
Exhibited:   Gallery 89, Steamboat Springs, CO

My sincere thanks to the collector that purchased this oil.

This painting works on numerous levels: the light running in from the right, delicate foliage helping to create depth, the verticals of the tree tops, and the deep blues happily contrasting with the yellow foreground.

That's a lot happening in this canvas, but the 4 foot square format provides plenty of creative room and there is plenty to see. The eye travels from the bright foreground all the way up and back to those atmospheric aquas at the very top. It's a very satisfying slice of the forest.

New Work: Forest Placido, oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches

Forest Placido
oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches
Saks Galleries, Denver, CO   $6750 framed
 

As this painting progressed, more atmosphere seemed to circulate in this forest scene. I really didn't notice right away because I was more focused on working out a variety of aquas and blues. The color changes not only added more interest - more to see, but it also created the effect of diffused light coming in from the side and the top.

This is a complicated work and it's interesting that all the while, I was striving for more simplicity! 

For this oil, I began with a lot more detail and then began subtracting between the tree trunks by adding those background colors. 

The entire color palette is a bit subdued with very few spots of full-strength color. There is so much of the 'back and forth' to create this - brush to paint, paint to canvas and repeat, look, brush to paint again. It's a very calming routine despite having a lot of problems to solve along the way. 

As it often happens, this painting went through a lot of changes. In fact, it's painted over the top of a previous oil with a Lot of Problems. It felt really good to cover it up.

In the last painting session, the oil was not quite right so I used purple-blues to paint over most of the existing bright green grass at the bottom. It changed the feel of the entire oil, creating a calming, unifying effect, leading to the Italian title, Placido. In classical music, it is an instruction to play the passage in a peaceful, calming way.

I miss working on it already, but it's back to the studio tomorrow where more experiences await.