New Work: Yellow and Red Forest, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

 

Yellow and Red Forest, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

In the studio, $5700 framed

 
This piece expands on my earlier 24 x 24-inch work, Colored Veils. Every time I start a new canvas, it quickly takes on a life of its own and that was definitely what occurred here.
 
While I initially set out to retain many of the elements I liked in the smaller painting, this larger canvas evolved in another way. As I worked, the composition shifted, evolving into a more abstracted interpretation of the original forest scene.
 
The bold split between the yellows and reds in the composition divides the canvas almost in half, creating a striking contrast without additional tree trunks interrupting the central area. I enjoy the sharp, modern effect of this division—it feels fresh and dynamic. Although I’d like to say this was entirely intentional, in truth I was simply responding to the canvas, finding the best solutions in the moment.

Lynn’s Sky, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

Exhibiting: Saks Galleries, Denver, CO.

$5700 framed
 
My friend Lynn had her photo taken with this sunset in the background. The glowing orange and blue clouds made an intriguing combination, inspiring me to paint them.
 
There was a subtle glow in that sky and in translating it to the canvas, I made a conscious effort to illuminate every part of this work. Making that happen involves numerous variations of each color, an intriguing puzzle.
 
Another important aspect to this work is how everything flows from side to side, the light flowing upward and the descending diagonals at the top. 
 
The dark, radiant strip at the bottom wasn’t originally planned but my experiment with the radiant blues set off all of those warmer colors nicely.
 
This is a painting full of nuance and it was a pleasure to explore them all.

Ken Elliott Fine Art Newsletter, October 2024

 

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October News: "It’s not a matter of painting life. It’s a matter of giving life to a painting." Pierre Bonnard Last spring the Phillips Museum in Washington D.C. put up a very big show of Bonnard's works. You can view it here. Self portrait, 1930   I like to think of Bonnard as the great colorist that came after Monet and he is often on my mind when I am attempting to follow his lead. Adding to that, I think of it as working toward making compelling works and thrilling my picky self.... tricky business! My sincere thanks to the many collectors that took my works home last month and to my wonderful galleries.  I just completed the last of the 3-Day Intensive Advanced Strategies Workshops for the year and I also want to thank all that attended, bringing their curiosity, joy and sharing their gifts during the class. Everyone learns and as the instructor, it can be said that I admit stealing along the way.  Classes will resume in the spring next year but in the meantime, I do day-long 'paint alongs' for $50 where we are both painting separately and we huddle for problem solving. Send me an email if you are interested... It's very informative, casual and great fun. email Ken I'm looking forward to what the winter brings and the rest of what has been a remarkable and interesting year.  Here's to very good things for you.... Ken

New Works: Colored Veils Oil on panel, 24 x 24 inches Exhibited: Dominique Boisjoli Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM. About this oil Grateful Notices: Soft Illuminations Oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches Private collection About this oil Soft Tones at the Creek Oil on canvas, 50 x 40 inches Exhibited: Madelyn Jordon Fine Art, Scarsdale, NY Private collection About this oil Weather Moving Across Oil on canvas, 36 x 60 inches Exhibited: Madelyn Jordon Fine Art, Scarsdale, NY Private collection About this oil Low Lights Oil on canvas, 40 x 40 inches Exhibited: Dominique Boisjoli Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM. Private collection, New York\ About this oil Yellow Day Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches Exhibited: Breckenridge Gallery, CO Private collection About this oil Available Works: Winter Light I Oil on canvas 30 X 40 inches Exhibiting: Breckenridge Gallery, Breckenridge, CO $5600 framed About this oil Sun on Snow III Oil on canvas, 48 x 72 inches Exhibiting: Saks Galleries, Denver $13500 framed About this oil Yellow Winds II Oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches $9250 framed Exhibiting: Sorelle Gallery, Westport, Connecticut About this oil Workshops and Mentoring Sessions: Take your work to new heights. My Workshops and Mentoring 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 and in some sessions, there will be time for Photoshop insights made easy. all workshop info Here's a video about what happens in the Group and Private Workshops Ken Elliott American Landscapes coffee table book: This large coffee table book reprises over 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: $160 or just order the book for $129. eBook versions available for Amazon Kindle Fire®, Apple iOS devices, and macOS computers for $14.99.You can preview the complete book and how to order your electronic or hardback versions from my website. View my newest artworks sign up for this newsletter here Softwestern View Oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches Exhibiting: Breckenridge Gallery, Breckenridge, Colorado About this oil 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. To view the total of my works in all media and in all my galleries, go to www.kenelliott.com. Please pass this onto a friend and they can sign up for this newsletter here. Thank you, Ken Contact Ken 303-995-1611 email website Sign up for Ken's blog Sign up for this newsletter Image top: (cropped here) Colored Veils Oil on panel, 24 x 24 inches Exhibited: Dominique Boisjoli Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM. About this oil 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: One of the best artists and teachers I know. S. "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 work shop was so inspirational for me. My mind is still spinning in a good way!!" D.  "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 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. "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." "Love the class, you are a great teacher!" B. SHARE THIS EMAIL

Meet Ken Elliott / Bold Journey Interview / Q&A, September 2024

 

Making it Fine Art Workshop: Moving to the Next Level 3-Day Workshops with Ken Elliott / 2 October dates, 2024

Castle Rock, Colorado (Denver metro)

October 18-20       1 opening remaining

Sat. evening after break, 4:30 -7: Photoshop Tools and discussions.

Open to artists at all skill levels and media
An indoor, 3-day workshop
Limited to 5 artists, $590.

To register / more information
Workshop flyer 
Contact Ken: 303-995-1611

 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. 

Together, we 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.

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.

 

Grateful Notices: Tree Veil, Blues and Greens, oil on canvas, 36 x 60 inches

Private collection, CO. 

Thank you to the collectors of this oil.

About this oil:

Often when I am beginning an oil I set out a task for myself. This is a favorite motif of mine and for this piece I wanted to increase the complexity but at the same time, to create a scene that is more delicate and atmospheric.

There is the color of course, the reason I love going into the studio, and although there appear to be 3 major colors, each is supported by a variety of other colors and contrasts, both light and dark.

This began as a demonstration for one of my art classes and the point was to make a good start. In the hour allowed for this, the general composition was painted in and the vertical trees were indicated. 5 feet is a lot of canvas to cover in a short time but after the ‘sprint,’ the new oil showed potential.

This is one of those oils where it was quickly coming to life as I continued to work on it. There was the tendency to rush, but instead I took my time along with the other studio works in progress, giving it a couple of months for all that complexity to come into a balance and elegance.

Grateful Notices: Into the Forest Surround, Oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches

Into the Forest Surround,  Oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches

Exhibited: Dominique Boisjoli Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico
 
Thank you, Dominique and to the couple that purchased this oil for their collection.
 
About this oil:
When talking with other artists and students, I like to bring up the question of how can we make a green forest more interesting. Color is an obvious tool but composition, complexity, contrast, depth and atmosphere are some of the many other solutions and here they are the drivers of this oil.
 
At least that is what I started out to do last year. This painting is a variation of a smaller, vertical one I was very happy with, so I laid out this more ambitious, 4 foot square version. As it turned out, I literally got lost in the woods in this one and after a number of studio sessions and a lot of hours, I just put it away for a time.
 
Months later I brought it out and took a hard look at where the painting was and what would be needed to make it better. In this case, the most obvious solution was contrast - more darks and lights in the tree trunks. Once that was attended to, more depth in the painting emerged and the oil immediately came to life. 
 
This is where it is fun to be an artist that loves color, so that said, I pushed the color everywhere, while adding whatever made the painting more interesting and compelling, putting more hours in and pushing it to a better place. 
 
The painting will tell you when it is finished, and although I didn’t want to let it go because the process was so enjoyable, there was nothing left to add, so out into the world it goes.