Renaissance photographs by Freddy Fabris

Freddy Fabris is a remarkable portrait photographer and his Renaissance styled portraits of car mechanics are transcendent. Wasn't that the point of so many Renaissance paintings?

I have only posted a few of his insightful photographs of car mechanics. Take the time to see more of this remarkable artist's works on his website.

Enjoy the visual feast!

Photography from his Renaissance Series

Grateful Notices: Columbine Country Club, Denver

Two of my oils were recently selected for the Columbine Country Club. They have assembled quite an art collection for this remodeling project and I'm honored to be a part.

At the bar, 3 x 3 foot oil on canvas

At the entry, 4 x 5 foot oil on canvas

My thanks to Debbrah Courtney of Denver Art Company Inc. for her selections and to my Denver gallery, Saks Gallery Cherry Creek.

BRIGHT PATTERNS
Oil on canvas, 48 X 60      Collection, Columbine Country Club
More about this oil on Ken's blog, For the Color

ILLUMINATED FALL II
oil on canvas 36 x 36  Collection, Columbine Country Club

Grateful Notices: Marsh Tones, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches

Marsh Tones, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches  Private Collection

My many thanks to the collector that brought this oil for her home.

About the oil Marsh Tones:

First off, I want to thank Ed Chesnovitch for his great photo of this marsh. Living in Colorado doesn't allow for much marsh scenery, so I am grateful to Ed and the composition he captured.

At the beginning of this oil I wanted to use colors I haven't used before and to keep everything fresh. This scene is very atmospheric with a haze everywhere that is also reflected in the water. There is a sun effect in the photo, but early on I decided to play that down.

It was important for me to begin with a variety of colors, not knowing exactly how they would come together. There isn't a lot of visual information here, so the plan was to use color as a key interest. The land and tree masses are essentially three bands of color, so it felt essential to add more chroma in unexpected ways.

As the painting developed it became apparent that the contrasts and clarity in the foreground would be important to this work and as the scene receded, just enough detail was maintained to carry the viewer's interest back to the trees and sky. Since this is a horizontal landscape, care was taken to simultaneously keep it interesting across the entire left to right space as well.

There is much to see here but without high detail and a glow suffuses everything, bringing the oil to life. To make a work with this amount of subtlety is a bit like a minimalist poem with the point clearly made. It is so easy to overwork something like this.

Currently Exhibiting at the PACE Art Center, Parker, CO

EDGE OF THE WOODS, AUTUMN
oil on canvas, 36 x 36   $5100 framed

Parker Artist Guild Annual Exhibit: “2017 Colorado Showcase” PACE Center Art Gallery.

I am honored to have been juried into this exhibit at the beautiful PACE Center in Parker, CO.

The 46 painters and sculptors juried into this year’s show work in a variety of mediums including oil, watercolor, pastel and mixed media, as well as photography, clay, stone and bronze. 

Through December 26, 2017

October Newsletter, 2017

Ken Elliott's Art (Late) October 2017

October News: the late late version Is it November already!? Well, jumping right into the newsletter, I'm honored to have been selected as part of the 2017 Colorado Showcase at the PACE Center, Parker, CO. This annual exhibit was assembled from artist submissions from across the state. The 46 painters and sculptors selected for this year’s show work in a variety of mediums including oil, watercolor, pastel and mixed media, as well as photography, clay, stone and bronze. The show was juried by the PACE Center curator Rose Fredrick. I hope you can attend the Opening Reception: November 3, 6-8pm. There will be music, appetizers and a cash bar. This event is FREE and open to the public through December 26. PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker, CO 80138  map Recently, two of my oils were purchased by the Columbine Country Club. Many thnaks to Debbrah Courtney with the Denver Art Company and in copperation with Saks Galleries, Denver. It's a delight to walk into the main entry and see that 5 foot oil hanging there. Currently I'm working on 3 oil commissions for a prominent hospital out of state and two more commissions have just been approved for another hospital in Michigan. It is fullfilling work, making oils for these healing centers. My grateful thanks to all that were involved in the selection process. My best wishes to you and thank you for your kind support! Ken New Works: Red Progressions Oil on canvas, 48 X 72      $13250 framed Exhibiting: Saks Galleries, Denver More about this oil on Ken's blog, For the Color View the 3 minute video of this oil with Ken narrating Edge of the Forest Oil on canvas, 36 X 36      $5100 framed More about this oil on Ken's blog, For the Color Currently Exhibiting: Edge of the Woods, Autumn Oil on canvas 36 x 36   $5100. framed Exhibiting: PACE Center Art Gallery, Parker, CO as part of the 2017 Colorado Showcase. Through December 26. Yellows at the Two Creeks Oil on canvas 36 x 48    $6800 framed Exhibiting: Saks Galleries, Denver Received Award of Merit, Governor's Art Show and Sale at the Loveland Museum, CO Grateful Notices: Bright Patterns Oil on canvas, 48 X 60 Sold to the Columbine Country Club by the Denver Art Company and Saks Galleries, Denver More about this oil on Ken's blog, For the Color Illuminated Fall II Oil on canvas 36 x 36 Sold to the Columbine Country Club by the Denver Art Company and Saks Galleries, Denver Workshops / Private Sessions: Take your work to new heights. These workshops and private sessions will focus on strategies for making better paintings, 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. Schedule private lessons anytime and coming up in May: Making it Fine Art / Advanced Strategies workshops My next workshop will be in mid-May, 2018. Details will be announced soon. Contact Ken to learn more or to schedule a private or group workshop in your area.  all workshop info Great things happen in these Fine Art Classes with information that will last a lifetime. Ken's work at the Denver International Airport Should you find yourself at the Denver Airport, take the time to view my work and those of my gifted Expand artists / colleagues reproduced in the Main Terminal. You will see the images between the baggage claim areas and behind the car rental counters. This “Here to There” themed display was curated by the DIA Art and Culture Program. The airport desired more color in the main terminal spaces and happily, we were allowed to use it as our playground. Many thanks to my fellow artists and everyone that made this possible! Our EXPAND artist group is comprised of five artists from the Denver metro area: Victoria Eubanks, Janice McDonald, Carol Ann Waugh, Mary Williams and myself. Publications: A Survey of Paintings and Prints at the PACE Center with works in oils, pastels and monotypes. This exhibition catalog can be purchased online here. 30 color pages and text by the artist. $10 plus $4 postage. Ken Elliott American Landscapescoffee 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 Contact Ken 303-995-1611 email website Art Blog: For the Color Sign up for this monthly newsletter Image top: Edge of the Forest(cropped here) Oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches 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: I have really enjoyed giving private lessons over the years. It is casual, focused and fun. There will be a big result in your approach to making fine art and clarity on your career strategies. Give me a call and we'll discuss what works best for you. Lodging and transportation can be provided for the Castle Rock Workshops. What they are Saying: "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!" Kate "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 "Thanks SO VERY MUCH, Ken, for such a fun, informative, and energetic workshop. Your enthusiasm is contagious. What a wonderful weekend!!" Christine "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." Linda "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 " Website Facebook Twitter Pinterest SHARE THIS EMAIL

Richard Diebenkorn holds a special place in my mind. He was an expressionist painter that moved to figures and landscapes and finally to the abstracts like the Ocean Park #79, 1975 show below.

The CBS Morning broadcast mentioned below is illuminating and revealing. Diebenkorn was not only a great artist, but a genuinely good man.
Ken

Richard Diebenkorn, Ocean Park #79, 1975 (Philadelphia Museum of Art, purchased with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and with funds contributed by private donors, 1977, 1977-28-1. © 2016 The Richard Diebenkorn Foundation)

View the broadcast:
CBS Sunday Morning broadcast, 1988

"A master of contemporary American art, Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993) was noted for landscape paintings, thoughtful figure studies, and geometric abstracts.

In this report for "Sunday Morning," which originally aired on December 27, 1988, correspondent David Browning visited Diebenkorn's studio in California's Sonoma County, to discuss the artist's "trial and error" approach; and New York's Museum of Modern Art, where Diebenkorn was being celebrated by a one-man show of his drawings."

Here is another good resource for all things Diebenkorn: Richard Diebenkorn, Painter's Table

Grateful Notices: Autumn Cascade I and II, oils on canvas, 32 x 32 inches

Autumn Cascade I, oil on canvas, 32 x 32 inches
Private collection

Autumn Cascade II, oil on canvas, 32 x 32 inches
Private collection

I have always had a soft spot for these two oils so I was delighted when they were purchased together for a private collection.

There is a great deal of paint texture on these and it is evidence of the many changes that these two oils went through. The big take away from these two works came about when I realized the artworks were in good shape but they weren't fresh enough. I certainly didn't want to do another round of adding more layers of paint and making small tweaks. So I just loaded up the brush and quickly painted what was needed in bold strokes. 

Well that worked nicely with the red trees in the background and after doing the same to the yellow trees, the painting came to life. All of the previous work wasn't wasted though. All of that layering produced a thick, rich texture for the last strokes to dance over. It was reminiscent of those Monets I saw on the museum walls. "How did he get that texture?"  

Now I know. He was constantly adding layers to his work with his long bristle brushes... thousands of moves, dabbing and dabbing. He said that he never really finished a canvas, indicating that he could always find another place to dab on more color to achieve perfection. 

I know the feeling!

My sincere thanks to the collector that purchased these two works.