about Ken
I grew up on West Avenue in the working-class town of Sewaren, New Jersey. Sewaren is part of the larger Woodbridge Township and is sandwiched between the industrial sections of Perth Amboy and Carteret. The oil refineries and abattoirs (the French word for slaughterhouse) were on the North and South of me and the Arthur Kill and Staten Island on the east. A freight train ran 100 feet from my back door, which rattled the dishes when it passed a few times a day. We were right in the flight path of Newark airport. It kind of sounds awful but it wasn’t.
The trainyards and wetlands surrounding Sewaren were my childhood playground and oddly enough they actually influenced my art. I loved the mechanical and manmade structures, which I like to describe as the Industrial American Landscape. I do representational art, realism; that’s what I like, and railroads, boatyards and factories were part of my pallet. Pastels are my medium of choice although I have dabbled in others, and may do so in the future.
I loved and enjoyed art from an early age and displayed a bit of an eye for it. I was accepted into Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, but only attended two years. (1975-77). I attended for graphic design because that’s what I was told to go for, but I really enjoyed the fine art / painting side of it.
I left Pratt, to work in a chain of retail stores selling reproduction art by classic and contemporary painters. The store also offered custom framing. I enjoyed being by art and painted casually during my free time.
Life happened; marriage, two children, new career, home ownership and I packed the pastels away and put them up in the attic. (Notice, I didn’t throw them away)
Fast forward 25 years I started performing musically on a regular basis with a good friend, Steve Beal. During a break, I was relaying a story of when I attended Pratt. Steve (an accomplished musician and artist himself) said “Hey! I went to Pratt too!” I acknowledge that and announce that I “used to paint”. He gave me a puzzled and disappointed look and said, “Used to paint? you either paint or you don’t; there’s no ‘used to!’”
The following week as I was setting up to perform, Steve handed me a bag containing three 2” x 2” canvases and a paint brush, and announced “Here, start small!” Steve remains one of the most positive influences in my life.
My favorite artists include; Edward Hopper, John Singer-Sargent, Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth, N.C. Wyeth, and Hunter Biden (Anyone who can get $500,000 for blowing watercolors on a piece of paper with a straw has to be everybody’s favorite).
AWARDS & recognitions
YouTube TV 35 Promo for Gallery on Main - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPTpFRc8kzc
2019 - The Barron Arts Center - 350th Anniversary of Woodbridge Celebration - Trustee’s Choice Midnight Crossing
2021 - The Pastel Society of Cape Cod - Juried Show Blue Ribbon Breakfast in Providence
2022 - Gallerium Show - Emotion June 15 - July 15, 2022
Shows
2022 - Residency - Gallery on Main, 101 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ
2022 - August 28 - September 25 - Gallerie Westerhoff 5 Calvin Place, Metuchen, NJ
2022 - September 9 - October 1 -Viewpoint 54 - Eisele Gallery 6936 Madisonville Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227
2022 - September 17, 2022 - I Love Keyport Art Festival Throughout Keyport, NJ
2022 - October 8, 2022 - Barronfest, 95 Port Reading Avenue, Port Reading, NJ
2022 - October 20, 2022 Reception Gallery on Main 101 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ 7-9 PM
2022 - October 30 - November 26, 2022 - The Koether Gallery at Cranes Mill
Reception Sunday 11/6 3-5 PM
2023 - January 3 - January 28, 2023 Veridian Artists, New York, NY - Director’s Choice Video presentation