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Category: Painting
flower painting in Old Washington
It’s been awhile since I’ve painted from life (direct observation-no photos).
the underpainting I had a wonderful time painting with Old Washington’s Wednesday paint group.
Flower painting is NOT as easy as you might think (at least not for me). Flowers can be mean, horrible monsters as models…with their seemingly simple and dainty translucent petals.
finished painting It was fun! I got to visit with friends and I’m happy with the painting. Thank you Vicki Tichenor for the photo of me at the easel!
Ken at the easel View from pavilion at Devou Park, Covington, KY
This is one of my go to locations for when I’m in the mood for a wide city view from a distance. I have my sketch, let’s set the easel up and start painting!
I found a shady spot…let’s get some paint on this panel! 
We have most of the underpainting worked out. The lights and darks of concrete/glass towers can be tricky…every time a cloud moves, EVERYTHING changes. I’m hoping for some dramatic light before we start with the color. That’s asking a lot at 4pm, but you never know what may happen when painting outside in the wild! 
We are at that awkward stage of the painting, where everything is crazy looking, and I’m questioning all my life choices. Starting with, “what was I thinking?!”. I’ll either pull it together and it will be amazing, or I’ll wipe the panel clean. Either way, it’s been a nice day up at the park. Stay tuned 
Progress report. No tears (yet), and it’s coming together 
That’s a wrap!!! Had a beautiful day! 
Our finished oil painting!!! Had a great time…now time to get some food and head back to old Washington. Thanks for painting with me! Old Washington plein air painting
Spring is right around the corner, and that means it’s time to dust my rusty trusty paint box off and paint outdoors (like Monet and the other french impressionists)! I had a rough start (spilled my solvent and had to go home for more) but in the end, I got a finished painting that I’m happy with. I painted different views of this corner (Warner Lane) in Old Washington last year. This year, I wanted to paint the view from the highway. it’s only possible when the trees are sleeping and don’t have any leaves.
I had so much fun, I’m going to go out and try to get another painting today. Can you guess where I’ll go? Stay tuned to find out!
Virtual/in person exhibit : Part 1 Plein Air Out West
Earlier this summer, I needed a change of scenery, so
I packed my paints and went out WEST
On this trip, I followed the tradition of Plein Air painting
First made famous by the French Impressionists of the 1800s. Instead of working inside a studio, these paintings were painted outdoors; directly from life. My ‘studio’ was the wide open spaces of the west. I did not touch up the paintings afterwards, nor did I use cameras or any other digital tools. Every stroke of paint was created while standing outside in front of the subject of the painting. It’s all about capturing the essence of the moment.
For generations, artists have traveled west to paint
Exploring a new, unfamiliar place, with high altitude, wind and a different kind of light and weather brought some challenges, but those challenges are what makes plein air painting so special and fun! There’s no time to get caught up in details. The paintings are made up of broad, expressive strokes. Being in these awesome new places gave me much needed joy and inspiration that I was able to put into the paintings.
My dream was to hang these together in a group
then invite you all to come see them in person at my studio in Cincinnati. I’m still going to do that, but I want everyone to stay safe during the pandemic, instead of one big opening I’m going to give you the first look through this email.
Art online is nice, but it’s 1000% better in person
If you are willing to wear a mask and comfortable visiting an indoor public space, I would still love to invite you to my studio at the Pendleton Art Center in Cincinnati. You can see this series AND another series of more abstract and whimsical style paintings IN PERSON on Tuesday and Thursday from 11-7pm the 21st and 23rd of September. To avoid crowds, appointments are preferred. You can email to make a reservation, or call/text me at 859.652.3136.
If you were waiting for more abstract, colorful studio paintings,
make sure you have subscribed to my email newsletter and keep an eye on your inbox, I’m working on an email sneak peek: a series of completely different style (and new!) studio paintings. They are in a more colorful, abstract, and whimsical style you may be familiar with. If you want first ‘dibs’ the email will come out later this week.
Thanks again for your interest/support of my work. Hope to see you in person soon. Stay safe out there!
Kenbethel methodist church – slip up, mason county, ky 24 june 2021
this charming little church, sits on top of a hill, just a country mile north of down town slip up kentucky. its going to make a great painting…lets do it! 
heres my sketch…lets paint! 
heres the underpainting…i did a little bit of squishing, so the barn in the background could fit into the vertical proportion…now it color time!!! theres lots of light this morning, so i think the dominant color today will be YELLOW…stay tuned…these things rarely work out the way i plan, happy surprises happen all the time! 
i have some colors down. the painting wants to lean toward green. of course, its summer, and EVERYTHING wants to lean toward green these days. 
up to this point, ive only used a #12 flat brush…a pretty big size considering the size of the painting. now im going to switch to a #6 flat, and dive into the details! 
bethel methodist church, slip-up, ky oil on hardboard 8×10” UPDATE: This painting found it’s new home!!! Thank you for supporting my work!!! mutter gottes kirche covington, ky 22 june 2021
i dont see travel to europe in my near future, fortunately, we have an old german church here in northern ky. im going to try and paint it today 
Here’s my sketch…let’s Paint! 
this is a tricky one..in the tower, where light hits, its lighter than the sky, but not everywhere… and im tempted to move everything left 2 inches 
scooted the church over a few inches…now its color time!! 
laying in some colors…time to tackle some of the buildings details… 
when im up close, painting, i feel like the painting is failing…but when i take a few steps back and see thebig picture, its actually coming together… thats the nature of an impressionist painting…maybe life too?! 
i’m calling this one finished! mother of godchurch, 12×16 oil on hardboard Want to add this original painting to you art collection? Click below for more information.
Plein Air At the Baker Hunt Art and Culture Center – 15 june 2021
todays painting is at the Baker Hunt Art And Culture center in covington. 
Here is my sketch…let’s start painting!!! 
heres my underpainting…time for color. this scene is backlit (the sun is behind the subject) so ill have to think about how i want to tackle all these shadows 
i have a strategy for my colors…..lots of cools, because everything is in shadow. it feels a little bonkers at this stage, but im going to try and pull it all together into a beautiful impressionist painting…stay tuned! 
getting closer…going to catch those last details, then call it a wrap! Devil’s Tower, WY plein air 9 June 2021
In this short time, I have fallen in LOVE with Wyoming…my new favorite state (after Kentucky, of course). It’s time for me to head back home, but not before I visit and make a painting of the iconic, Devil’s Tower. The temperature today is in the high 90’s…probably comfortable weather for the devil…but hotter than I am used to. 
Here’s my sketch…let’s start painting! 
my underpainting…next let’s add color! 
The stone formation is an interesting color…i interpreted it as a purple and yellow orange. 
The finished painting!!!!! I’m sad to leave Wyoming today, but happy to have this painting experience to have forever….And I will be back soon! Thanks everyone for cheering me on during my paint trip out west! Kepler Cascades – Yellowstone National Park 7 June 2021
I’m back in Kentucky after a wonderful and inspiring painting trip out west! Internet was hit or miss, so I didn’t get to share everything as it happened. Here’s the view of Kepler Cascades in Yellowstone National park–Let’s make an oil painting to capture the beauty… 
…my sketch of the falls…time for color 
i’m working out the colors of the painting…it’s not visible from my photos, but this is an EXTREMELY busy spot, there is a constant flow of people asking me what I’m doing–and giving compliments/encouragement. Most of my trip has been in wilderness–being around people again takes some getting used to. 
The finished painting!!! I hope to show this (and the other paintings from my trip) this fall at the re opening of my studio at the pendleton art center. stay tuned for more details! Painting the Flaming Gorge canyon – Wyoming 5 june 2021
this is the east view of the flaming gorge canyon in South West Wyoming…it’s hard to photograph this incredible and wide view. thank goodness i’m a painter, and can squeeze it all into one scene.
here is my sketch. 
my underpainting…really tricky to squeeze it all into one view. 
starting to lay in colors…i’m still getting used to the atmosphere and colors of the west. This canyon is green on the left, then red and white rocks on the right. 
almost done…just needs a few more details 
here it is! The Flaming Gorge view from the east. Oil on hardboard 12″ x 24″ 
forgot to include my photo of the artist at work…so you have proof it was really me out there 🙂