Chris and Ken on a painting trip to Maine

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Kenneth Evans (b. 1944)

Evans Studio Gallery presents an exhibition of works in contemporary coastal themes.

Ken was born by the shore in Stamford, CT. It was this proximity to New York City early on which afforded him the opportunity to study in the city's museums and to paint in its abundant art world, from abstract through his own version of realism, to now what is a semi-abstracted view of reality, leaving much open to the viewer. He is inspired by Turner in this respect, especially Turner's later years. He has a BA from the University of Connecticut in 3 years study, as well as a Doctorate, and has also studied painting privately for over a decade with several of the better-known painters of these genres including Kurill Doron, Joseph McGurl and John Stobart of the Royal Academy.

To achieve the artist's vision, a piece, which may have a rather "less is more" open, immediate, and peaceful appearance, often has taken many layers and various subtle techniques to achieve. Most often this would be due to the substantial use of surface texture and the energetic use of palette knife, with dragging and dripping, then blended in under layers of tinting glazes and lacquer to see light bouncing from the toned canvas behind.

In these techniques he fuses classical coastal and abstraction, marrying influences from his historical and Turneresque studies with his early years in New York City and the abstract expressionist environment. At times this can clearly be seen in paintings in this exhibit such as "Home by the Sea," where there is a rather Turneresque sky, a classically painted middle ground, and a scrapped and dripped, abstract expressionist foreground.

Well recognized and award winning his work has sold nationally and internationally and is represented in a number of fine art galleries across the country. He has had one-person shows or been featured most years since 1996 from Newport, RI to Carmel, CA. He has taught painting at the Cape Museum of Art for many years and after several other museums also featured his work, he recently was given a one-person Cape Maritime Museum Exhibition where his painting "Building Belle" had been the entryway piece for this museum for many years.