http://kenney.bigporchstudio.com/index.php en shawn@shawnkenney.com Copyright 2011 2011-09-02T20:08:46+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/farm_table_paintings_-_charlestown_gallery_solo_show http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/farm_table_paintings_-_charlestown_gallery_solo_show/#When:20:08:46Z [smug]1459782362_WhncgR9[/smug] "Farm & Table" - my first solo show in 2 years, featuring 35 new paintings - is now up at the Charlestown Gallery in rustic South County RI. Here's a quick peek at... [smug]1459782362_WhncgR9[/smug] "Farm & Table" - my first solo show in 2 years, featuring 35 new paintings - is now up at the Charlestown Gallery in rustic South County RI. Here's a quick peek at some of the walls, taken just before the opening. (click images to enlarge - additional images in ARTWORK section of site) [smug]1459996174_XmDSNGG[/smug] "OK boyo, you're 40 now. Let's see what's under the hood." These larger, looser canvases were far beyond the measure of my powers when I returned to the studio 5 years ago. (Unfortunately, the same isn't true for my writing - I've been away from blogging most of this year, so apologies in advance for this quick-clunky update.) [smug]1459996499_5XBX2MT[/smug] Like cooking, familiar ingredients can be approached many ways - I'm continuing to find both comfort & challenge at the table. (and, as always, thru the magical serial work of old friends Rembrandt, Monet, de Kooning & Van Gogh. ) [smug]1459782277_ztNzDfx[/smug] The Farm paintings currently float somewhere between specific & mythic - inspired by trips to farms in nearby RI/CT/MA countryside as well as from images that refuse to be dislodged from my mind. If there's a familar feel to some of these, it's probably because they've endured gestation periods of several years - as charcoals, smaller works, or as earlier ambitious-but-failed efforts. [smug]1459782776_F3CBQF9[/smug] Hoping the coming school year brings a little routine back to the blog. I've been floored by the response to the show - thank you! 5000 SOUTH COUNTY TRAIL CHARLESTOWN, RHODE ISLAND 02813 http://www.charlestowngalleryri.com 401-364-0120 Because of widespread power outages due to Irene, 'Farm & Table' has been extended thru September 12th.   2011-09-02T20:08:46+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/Piggy_Farmstead http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/Piggy_Farmstead/#When:21:49:20Z [smug]1280118896_8jmrFcq[/smug] l to r: Shawn Kenney, Matt Jennings. photo courtesy Dave Gilstein/Charlestown Gallery  The 4x5ft tamworth painting above was installed this past fall at... [smug]1280118896_8jmrFcq[/smug] l to r: Shawn Kenney, Matt Jennings. photo courtesy Dave Gilstein/Charlestown Gallery  The 4x5ft tamworth painting above was installed this past fall at Farmstead, the ridiculously good cheese shop (along with La Laiterie Bistro) run by Matt & Kate Jennings on Providence's East Side. Kate's a phenomenal baker & chef Matt's past 6 months included: pulling a trifecta in the Cochon555 by winning his third straight Boston competition; a nod in Food & Wine's '40 under 40 issue' and...oh yeah, he's a finalist for Best Chef - Northeast at the James Beard awards next week. So...when the Prince o Porc sent me a message last spring reading "Interested in rotating, revolving art show in La Laiterie?"...well, round here, that's a "Wicked Good" fit. (Did I mention that Matt was at the White House to participate in the launch of “Chefs Move to Schools”, a program the First Lady created to pair chefs with schools in their communities?) The offer prompted my most ambitious works to date. They're included on the site as part of this update...and my FB artist page has additional images of the install...but best yet, stop by for a glass of wine and some stinky cheese (if you're lucky, there still might have some 'Winnimere' by Jasper Hill Farm.) What else is new? The site's been simplified, amplified, unified - easy to see, everything right up top at yer fingertips, with a passel of about 50 new images for starters. Still need's a little finetuning here & there - lotta rust in the system - but i'm always happy to hear your thoughts. The huge archive of food paintings will soon have a site of their own - http://midnitekitchenart.com/ - along with a much-needed reboot of the Will Paint for Food site. There's a solo show this august and inclusion in Networks2011 - more on those later. Last note - I'm tremendously fortunate for the support i received - both thru loved ones and very understanding galleries during the past 18 months. My mom's sudden passage in September 2009 took the wind out of my sails - and effectively closed the studio for about a year. I'd also like to thank both Scott Conary for his stellar work on the site reboot and a trusted crew of friends for time & energy spent field testing before this went live. THANK YOU sk 2011-05-06T21:49:20+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/nocturnes_opening_photos http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/nocturnes_opening_photos/#When:02:46:02Z [smug]627826038_Fgzdq[/smug] moon maiden, 30in x 30in quick shout out to everyone for the great turnout last night! gonna post some better in-show photos a bit later but wanted to get these up –...[smug]627826038_Fgzdq[/smug] moon maiden, 30in x 30in quick shout out to everyone for the great turnout last night! gonna post some better in-show photos a bit later but wanted to get these up – here's some point-and-shoot shots taken as we were closin the joint… [smug]627826057_foJWR[/smug] (click on images to enlarge) [smug]627826103_9SZwm[/smug] [smug]627826081_Eq3w8[/smug] love hearing what people are drawn to – one of the sleepers, the rough unframed charcoal (above, lower left and below, enlarged) was far and away the one mentioned most by painters…maybe not surprisingly, that group were the ones to pick up on the ryder and rothko influences lurking beneath the hopper/wyeth/rembrandt patina… [smug]628010370_y9gJB[/smug] [smug]627825990_zxaw8[/smug] started framing the some of the larger food works in traditional gold and silver. bit of a break from the clean black or blonde wood used exclusively over the past few years, but the response was overwhelmingly positive- [smug]627826123_mgvZL[/smug] [smug]627884179_EoEKS[/smug] evening shower, 30in x 40in mr jif is going home as a kitchen companion to the fluff featured in the August issue of American Art collector – 3 of the 4 works in the magazine had red dots. [smug]627904110_2vRNZ[/smug] peanut butter, 20in x 24in we ended the late night full of wine and great food (homemade lobsta mac!) watching the huge storm surge break on charlestown beach under the distant glow of block island. thank you all – couldnt've pulled it together without amazing support from family and friends. doubleextra thankyou to gallery owners gilly and renee, for saintly patience and faith. it pulled me thru when the show was looking like it might not happen. thanks guys! this show's for you, mom- xo Artwork, News 2009-08-24T02:46:02+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/cattle_call http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/cattle_call/#When:07:53:37Z [smug]624874546_koSgE[/smug] dusk, 30in x 40in; evening quartet, 24in x 48in; moon maiden, 30in x 30in (click to enlarge) works on deck for the upcoming solo show at the charlestown gallery. feelin...[smug]624874546_koSgE[/smug] dusk, 30in x 40in; evening quartet, 24in x 48in; moon maiden, 30in x 30in (click to enlarge) works on deck for the upcoming solo show at the charlestown gallery. feelin like the brush is finally catchin up to the charcoal. [smug]624874589_yJhJM[/smug] omen, 30in x 40in, acrylic on canvas Uncategorized 2009-08-20T07:53:37+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/mandarins http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/mandarins/#When:20:32:36Z [smug]526307222_xYdGS[/smug] mandarin bowl, 8in x 8in, acrylic on panel (image courtesy charlestown gallery) mandarins for you, mom- [smug]525772421_aDAyt[/smug] mandarin, 4in x 6in, acrylic on...[smug]526307222_xYdGS[/smug] mandarin bowl, 8in x 8in, acrylic on panel (image courtesy charlestown gallery) mandarins for you, mom- [smug]525772421_aDAyt[/smug] mandarin, 4in x 6in, acrylic on panel (image courtesy bayview gallery) Uncategorized 2009-08-16T20:32:36+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/fruits_summer http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/fruits_summer/#When:08:29:17Z [smug]604168274_5Dgmg[/smug] cherries, 6in x 6in, acrylic on panel (image courtesy powers gallery) [smug]604168265_BseTv[/smug] berries, 4in x 6in, acrylic on panel (image courtesy powers gallery) Artwork 2009-08-12T08:29:17+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/margarita_for_mom http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/margarita_for_mom/#When:01:18:52Z [smug]604168286_An9pD[/smug] margarita, 8in x 10in, acrylic on panel (image courtesy powers gallery) This margarita's for mom. it's been a ridiculously trying summer and all of the thoughts sent out...[smug]604168286_An9pD[/smug] margarita, 8in x 10in, acrylic on panel (image courtesy powers gallery) This margarita's for mom. it's been a ridiculously trying summer and all of the thoughts sent out to the family are greatly appreciated. thank you. quick studio update- the margarita, this pina colada and a buncha new smaller food works are currently in the "summer with a twist" group show at the powers gallery. [smug]604168293_Xo6R3[/smug] pina colada, 8in x 10in, acrylic on panel (image courtesy powers gallery) 2 small food paintings were featured in a gorgeous kitchen spread this past june in RI Monthly magazine. love seeing 'em at home. [smug]556068887_Urf3G[/smug] (image courtesy RI Monthly just weeks away from my solo show at the Charlestown Gallery – postcards are out (image here) – next post will have more about it, but for now: a shout out to scott for getting this blog back online. your well-timed visit to the studio helped pull the works out of the figurative fire. sometime the best medicine is a blunt WTF from an old friend – even better if that friend's been along since the skinny & charcoal-covered collge days, when "having a voice and showing in galleries someday" seemed more like crazy conversational byproduct of an allnighter than future probability. MUCHAS GRACIAS, hermano. ----- Artwork, News 2009-08-09T01:18:52+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/news_from_kitchen_stadium http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/news_from_kitchen_stadium/#When:09:35:45Z 4 crazy months since my last blog post…hard to know even where to begin so i'm jumping in with the latest… [smug]503113456_qcxLH[/smug] first up - The RI Commission on Women invited me to show...4 crazy months since my last blog post…hard to know even where to begin so i'm jumping in with the latest… [smug]503113456_qcxLH[/smug] first up - The RI Commission on Women invited me to show the food paintings for an event in conjunction with the RI Community Food Bank's Women Ending Hunger Program. it's my first solo show in a large space – the atrium gallery in providence's capitol hill/state house complex – and it's looking like i'll have 45-50 pieces to fill er up. i've always said that a well-made painting should be able to hold its own on a wall, regardless of the size. now it's time to put the theory to the test. the reception this coming monday, april 6th from 4-6pm. (more info at the bottom) among the rhody-inspired works in the show is this 12×12 in bag o burgers, still wet and shot in what my better half likes to call 'kitchen stadium.' [smug]503113438_uJpLT[/smug] it's literally our kitchen – i've moved my studio back to the home base to save both time and money – and have been paintin up a storm. the rest of the studio is around the corner, and the proximity to the big butcher block, fridge, and controlled lighting (that lil white remote is a dimmer) has paid off in works more ambitious in both setup and scale. [smug]503113403_DAwh6[/smug] above, the initial blockin on a 20×24in bag o' bread courtesy of an amazing local baker – great guy, food tv challenge winner, published AUTHOR…and well, that's another story. [smug]503113422_k7wkg[/smug] and after…if you look closely, that's the fridge to the right, complete with some finger paintings and doggie meds on top. 4 more bread-inspired works will make the show as well. last, but certainly not least – i was recently honored with the 2009 RISCA Fellowship in Painting Merit Award. congrats to winner and former studio mate Sean Thomas – additional 2009 recipients can be found here. – Will Paint for Food reception Monday, April 6, 2009 from 4-6pm show thru april 14 at the Atrium, One Capitol Hill, Providence RI 02903 401-222-3880 http://www.arts.ri.gov/about/directions.php Artwork, News 2009-04-01T09:35:45+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/bite-sized_holiday_update http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/bite-sized_holiday_update/#When:19:24:14Z [smug]430712367_HTdkP[/smug] vanilla extract, bubble gum, ea 3.5in—3.5in, acrylic on panel Little Pictures at the Providence Art Club saw the debut of the new bite-sized food paintings i've been...[smug]430712367_HTdkP[/smug] vanilla extract, bubble gum, ea 3.5in—3.5in, acrylic on panel Little Pictures at the Providence Art Club saw the debut of the new bite-sized food paintings i've been working on. the reception was great – someone remarked, "i'm enjoying that your paintings are getting looser and more expressive, especially at that small scale." couldn't ask for a better comment on my work. (well, that, and this.) [smug]430712353_gUczu[/smug] hunt and peck, 18in—36in, acrylic on canvas (image courtesy charlestown gallery) the chickens feel just as loose at 10x the scale. they're among the works that will be on display this saturday at Charlestown Gallery's Hoiday Show. (They're also the only gallery outside of my studio that currently carries the large food paintings.) More Rhody Holiday show info: my Holiday Studio Sale is tomorrow Dec 6th – Bulls, food paintings large & small, and some new nocturnes. for hrs and a sneak preview, click here Little Pictures Providence art club hrs and directions click here. Last but certainly not least – finally pleased to announce that Dryden Gallery (aka Prov Picture Frame) is carrying work. They've been behind me since Sale no 1 a few years back and will be my home base in providence going forward. Just stocked em with a selection of bulls, food paintings and new charcoals. Great folks, top-notch framing, and, maybe best of all, are part of the expansion of Will Paint for Food. Artwork, Uncategorized 2008-12-05T19:24:14+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/halloween_treats_candy_corn_lucius_malfoy_stephen_king http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/halloween_treats_candy_corn_lucius_malfoy_stephen_king/#When:19:57:48Z Halloween is here, bringing a bone-chilling 31 degrees to New England this morning, along with ghosts and vampires and werewolves and, of course, candy corn. [smug]401034728_woBSq[/smug] candy corn,...Halloween is here, bringing a bone-chilling 31 degrees to New England this morning, along with ghosts and vampires and werewolves and, of course, candy corn. [smug]401034728_woBSq[/smug] candy corn, 4×6in, acrylic on panel -available- this year's also brought another volume in AUTHOR Gregory Maguire's delicious Wicked Cycle – great way to (temporarily) escape a news season filled with stories of a fear-mongering witch from alaska, a ghastly economy, and the spectre of election tricks, not treats. [smug]401046457_nBkbn[/smug] if you click on the photo above, the candy corn above can just be seen to the far right, along with bigger 'food' paintings (pumpkin, 12×12) and much bigger works (like the burger, 2ftx2ft) during our open studio last month. [smug]401046554_oJfqq[/smug] as always, it was a treat to see friends and extended family – and the overwhelmingly positive response to the the first color 'farm' works (for scale, my dog andy is on a 2fx2ft canvas) and newer bulls (below: strange II, 30×40 and cherry bomb, 2ftx2ft) made my leap to larger, brushier formats worthwhile. [smug]401046517_kH8vy[/smug] the biggest surprise was spotting actor Jason Isaacs, aka Lucius malfoy. The actor was truly gracious – warm and polite when recognized and – after mentioning that his wife told him to bring some "iconic Rhode Island artwork" back to london – he bought a frozen lemonade print. Warm fuzzies all around – a piece of my art going overseas, 100% of the purchase going to the RI Community Food Bank, and some imaginary ad campaigns full of possibilities (Join a Death Eater in the fight against hunger… or This year, Michael Caffee is helping Rhode Islanders…) i'm still smiling. [smug]306255935_9qsQK[/smug] cannoli, 4×6in, acrylic on panel The chocolate-chip covered cannoli is one of 10 works that have been up at Susan Maasch Fine Art in Portland, Maine the last few months. It's especially sweet to show in Maine – home to old friends, family, and memories – like the field study below… [smug]333364910_kU7mr[/smug] maine field study ca. 1993, 9×12in, oil on board NFS …home to longtime artistic heroes the Wyeth clan, Winslow Homer, and Stephen King (the work below, inspired by It, was pretty much my first stab at painting with brushes and canvas in high school.) [smug]406475354_CqhDk[/smug] Pennywise ca. 1988, 24×24in, NFS …but perhaps the best reason is that i'm showing alongside longtime friend scott conary. He's got a post about it here. (although i'll admit it's pretty spiffy to be showing alongside william bailey, eric aho and titus welliver, too.) [smug]361961556_fDWt6[/smug] maine cheese, 6×6in, acrylic on panel This cheese (Eleanor Buttercup from Hahn's End in Phippsburg, ME – picked for us by Kris at K.Horton specialty foods) came home along with a few other maine treats, including killer bread from Micucci's Ital grocery & a whoopie pie from Two Fat Cats Bakery. wish we could've brought home a trunkload of fries (best-ever) from duckfat. most of the above were all one one killer food block, topped off by the fine folks at Rabelais books. (everything you ever wanted and more 'bout cookbooks & food & farm culture – even out-of-print- in one bookstore) Inspired into taking a road trip? this site is worth a look. – this weekend is also traditionally a time to honor the departed…so a last nod, and some words to live by, from Paul Newman: “We are such spendthrifts with our lives,” Mr. Newman once told a reporter. “The trick of living is to slip on and off the planet with the least fuss you can muster. I’m not running for sainthood. I just happen to think that in life we need to be a little like the farmer, who puts back into the soil what he takes out.” (from the NY Times obit) Artwork, News 2008-10-31T19:57:48+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/supersize_me_big_works_big_news http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/supersize_me_big_works_big_news/#When:10:36:04Z …or what i did on my summer vacation. we're celebrating our 3rd annual Open Studio this weekend. (has it really been that long? as Chazz Michael Michaels sez, it's mind-bottling.) if you're...…or what i did on my summer vacation. we're celebrating our 3rd annual Open Studio this weekend. (has it really been that long? as Chazz Michael Michaels sez, it's mind-bottling.) if you're interested in coming out, we'd love to see ya – info's at the bottom of the post. [smug]374270672_4ac9j[/smug] end-of-summer recap: FINALLY ventured into making dining room-sized works – the 24×24″ pieces below were among those featured alongside Andrea Kantrowitz this past august at the charlestown gallery. her work crackles with an intensity – almost too much – akin to Ivan Albright's. [smug]361058216_339YH[/smug] owners gilly & renee surprised me with a limited run of one of the popular works, with 100% of proceeds going to the community food bank – $300.00 generated to DATE. thanks guys! [smug]361058154_DDis5[/smug] the philly pretzel was a prize catch from a road trip to see family earlier this summer, and served as inspiration for the work that's part of a group show at the courtyard gallery (click for additional image and info) this month. [smug]353507845_gEjkg[/smug] soft pretzel, 5×7in, acrylic on panel courtyard gallery gallery owners rudi & frances are kindly are donating 15% of ALL sales to community food banks. (additional special thanks to roland and jackie for the unexpected long-term loan of the copper pot – lotta wiping down and repainting – sorry it took so long to get it right!) [smug]361961607_qrPMC[/smug] copper pot, 10×14in, acrylic on panel courtyard gallery the nocturnes below are part of a solo show on display thru the end of October at Jonathan Edwards Winery. (for scale, the small one on the right is 20×20″…apologies for the poor photo!) [smug]374270649_2JrJM[/smug] it's our favorite vineyard in the region, and i was psyched to be invited to show during the harvest. dynamite wines and a beautiful setting make it worth a picnic run while the weather's still with us. one last shoutout – i've donated a work on paper to the as220 print lottery. there's a lotta good stuff going on all month, culminating in the lottery on the 27th. and one last heartfelt thankyou – to everyone that dropped me a line or stopped by the blog, studio, or openings this year. many thanks for the continued support. sk - Open Studio info: friday Sept 19th 7-9 sat/sun from 12-5. 560 Mineral Spring Ave #319** Pawtucket Rhode Island 02860 (bet. Lonsdale and Smithfield aves, opp. Lorraine fabric) there will be shuttles running between the 9 participating mills this year. click here for more info. **please note the new room address – if you've been to the studio previously, we're in the same building, but at the opposite end on the top floor. take the main staircase to the top, make a right, and go to the end of the hall. Artwork, News, Studio 2008-09-17T10:36:04+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/weekend_updatebest_of_ri_new_bulls http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/weekend_updatebest_of_ri_new_bulls/#When:18:39:19Z [smug]343061200_KzEV3[/smug] Newsflash #1 – Rhode Island Monthly's annual "best of" issue hits the streets this week, & the food paintings are included as a 2008 Editors' Pick. i'm blown away –...[smug]343061200_KzEV3[/smug] Newsflash #1 – Rhode Island Monthly's annual "best of" issue hits the streets this week, & the food paintings are included as a 2008 Editors' Pick. i'm blown away – and speechless. the link to the complete writeup is here. Newsflash #2 – for the first time in….ohh…3 years, maybe? there are some new bull paintings available – just in the nick of time for the flora & fauna opening at the charlestown gallery this weekend. it's meant some late late nights (driving by the 560 mill at 2am-ish and wondering about the heavenly chorale coming from somewhere above? it was Górecki's Symphony No. 3.) really feel like the food works paved the way, & am looking forward to seeing what happens next with em. here's a sneek peek: [smug]343061207_hS5nB[/smug] strange & thunderhead, ea 30×40in, acrylic on canvas the gallery currently has 5 bull paintings & a selection of charcoals in addition to the food works. Flora & Fauna reception Sat Aug 2 5:30-7:30 Charlestown Gallery 2183 Matunuck Schoolhouse Rd Charlestown, RI 02813 401-364-0120 Artwork, News 2008-08-01T18:39:19+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/rhode_trips http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/rhode_trips/#When:19:20:35Z [smug]334017853_4apys[/smug] frozen lemonade, 5×7in, acrylic on panel a friend put it best – "the weather's been hell on my lawn, but it's perfect for (getting out on) my motorcycle." (amen,...[smug]334017853_4apys[/smug] frozen lemonade, 5×7in, acrylic on panel a friend put it best – "the weather's been hell on my lawn, but it's perfect for (getting out on) my motorcycle." (amen, and thanks, dave) today i'll be cruisin down to the charlestown gallery to drop off this frozen lemonade commission. (in the area this weekend? it's also the 30th annual hot air balloon festival – which also apparently features pig races.) earlier this week it mean a trip down to judge the 10th annual little compton art show with nancy-gaucher thomas and whitmore boogaerts. (festival is this weekend – great reason to stop in at evelyn's.) [smug]306255935_9qsQK[/smug] cannoli, 4×6in, acrylic on panel tomorrow, it'll mean a trip to the Hill, where we got the reference for this chocolate-chip covered cannoli. if ya need an excuse besides the al fresco dining, Giuliano Bugialli will be up at Venda on saturday (spend $10 and you'll get a copy of his foods of sicily and sardinia…ciao!) Artwork, News 2008-07-18T19:20:35+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/ketchup_mustard_brewer_patriot http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/ketchup_mustard_brewer_patriot/#When:08:00:41Z [smug]328984037_hnvLU[/smug] squeeze bottles, 8×8in, acrylic on panel it's finally Hot – true summer HOT. it's also All-Star break, and a buncha Sox are off to Yankee Stadium this week. pick...[smug]328984037_hnvLU[/smug] squeeze bottles, 8×8in, acrylic on panel it's finally Hot – true summer HOT. it's also All-Star break, and a buncha Sox are off to Yankee Stadium this week. pick your excuse – either way, it's perfect time for a cold one and a coupla dogs (or is it the other way around?) [smug]328984054_NEfXZ[/smug] lager bottle, 5×12in, acrylic on panel -sold- thx, joe! nother local boy heading to the game is brian fox – his second consecutive year as official artist of the MLB event. i've known bri a long time (can't claim that it was since little league, but i was in the dugout when he took his work from triple A level to the big leagues) and it's been a treat to see the hard work in the batting cages pay off. congrats, bro. Artwork, inspiration 2008-07-10T08:00:41+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/rhode_island_reds http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/rhode_island_reds/#When:19:40:23Z [smug]306255965_nYHyG[/smug] fruit tartlet, 4×6in, acrylic on panel these 3 studies in red are…uhh…fresh off the vine. well, freshly varnished. i'm still fightin reds – and, armed with a...[smug]306255965_nYHyG[/smug] fruit tartlet, 4×6in, acrylic on panel these 3 studies in red are…uhh…fresh off the vine. well, freshly varnished. i'm still fightin reds – and, armed with a lighter touch & a more vibrant palette, i lost the first few rounds to the cartoonish colors of the tartlet, the soft velvet of the raspberry cake, and the deep deep gloss of the berry. [smug]306256028_qRoxC[/smug] mini raspberry cake, 4×6in, acrylic on panel the colors were pure enough, but also to the point of feeling local and unrelated. out of frustration, in spite of the unresolved paintings, i ate my reference and turned the works to the wall to cool their heels. when i finally came back to them, i decided to work from memory – after all, wasn't the point of the studies to improve my hand and eye for the imagined bulls and landscapes? [smug]306256046_kuX4f[/smug] strawberry, 4×6in, acrylic on panel i'm happy with the results – even if they may lack some of the immediacy and swashbuckling strokes of the 'from life' works. We're back at the Charlestown Gallery for our second season and the freshly-varnished trio is part of a passel of 'food paintings' i've just dropped off. we'll even be showing some of the bulls and farm stuff later on this summer. The gallery's in South County, Rhody's bread basket – if you're looking for something else to do in the 'hood, the URI Farmers' Market takes place 'bout 10 minutes up the road on saturday mornings. 2183 Matunuck Schoolhouse Road, P.O.Box 1367, Charlestown, Rhode Island 401-364-0120 :: http://www.charlestowngalleryri.com Artwork, News 2008-06-04T19:40:23+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/causes_for_celebration http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/causes_for_celebration/#When:19:17:35Z quick Ides of May update – 10 reasons to toast. 1. finally completed this champagne bottle. some births are difficult, and this one – slated for the food…glorious food show in december, has...quick Ides of May update – 10 reasons to toast. 1. finally completed this champagne bottle. some births are difficult, and this one – slated for the food…glorious food show in december, has been giving me pains for a while now. [smug]295661037_2mBeJ[/smug] champagne, 7×12in, acrylic on panel (click image for detail) 2. we've been invited to show in a Portland, Maine gallery starting in june. 3. accepted an offer for a solo show at a fantastic vineyard this sept/oct, during harvest. (details soon on both soon – along with some other gallery happenings) 4. just dropped off this martini, commissioned as a gift from the folks at Powers Gallery to another artist in their stable on his 90th birthday. had a great day in next-door Concord, Mass. [smug]295660939_EyJm6[/smug] martini(detail), 5×7in, acrylic on panel 5. can't confirm the final tally just yet, but last i'd heard milkbone piece (new pics here) at the RISD museum benefit had a bid of $400 on it. 6. thanks mostly to the efforts of my studiomates, the open studio was a hit (photo below: 'gallery wing', just before my camera ran out of batteries for the day) [smug]295658130_cFwmU[/smug] 7. my work made a cameo in the Macolm Grear exhibit at RICs Bannister Gallery last month – drawings i'd done as a pup for the olympic medal campaign back in 95! [smug]295658153_b3TQy[/smug] 8. shipped boxes of food notecards up to Montpelier, VT, where our friends Josh & Jess just opened Capital Kitchen 9. In Prov, it's gallery night tonight. if nothing else, go see Dean Richardson's work at the Providence Art Club before it comes down this weekend. 10. free iced coffee at participating dunks today. nuff said. [smug]194818514[/smug] iced coffee 2007, 8×10in, acrylic on panel -sold- Artwork, News 2008-05-15T19:17:35+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/open_house_let_there_be_north_light http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/open_house_let_there_be_north_light/#When:17:46:08Z [smug]286679901_FD4ZL[/smug] The new studio is finally up & runnin. to celebrate, we're havin an inaugural open house this saturday afternoon – a chance to meet my new studiomates and see the new...[smug]286679901_FD4ZL[/smug] The new studio is finally up & runnin. to celebrate, we're havin an inaugural open house this saturday afternoon – a chance to meet my new studiomates and see the new digs. [smug]286679812_KcEiD[/smug] we've got north light, great work space, and both gallery and lounge areas. if you've been to my old studio. the new one's in the same building – now at the 3rd floor, at the opposite end. (take the main staircase to the top floor, make a right, and follow the sign of the bread to the very end of the hall.) [smug]253140462_b4pSH[/smug] new studio mates, from left: jason brockert, dan sousa, sean thomas. (click on each for links & work) we'll have some cool beverages and snacks – if stoppin by and need wanna check out some great local chow spots, i've listed some at the bottom of the post. here’s the skinny: sat May 3rd 11-5 560 Mineral Spring Ave #319 Pawtucket Rhode Island 02860 (bet. Lonsdale and Smithfield aves, opp. Lorraine mills) new to the area, my studiomate jason posted a map here. (*note: this isn't the big building- (or pawtucket-) wide open studios – those are in september) - local chow spots: wicked good cheap eats, just north of Mineral Spring on Smithfield Ave – Shish Kebeb (lebanese), La Arepa (stuffed corn pies), and Hartley's Pork Pies. heading down mineral spring into CF: on Broad – killer mex at La Casa del Pueblo. on Dexter: Stanley’s Famous Hamburgers (RI institution since ‘32) as well as a ton o’ Latin American restaurants About 2 miles away, on the Pawtucket/Providence East Side: Dougherty's (140ish beer options to go with great pub food) and the timeless Moder Diner. At the junction of East Ave & Hope St/Blackstone Blvd: LJ’s BBQ, Garden Grille (Vegetarian), Rasoi, India (both Indian), Ran Zan (Japanese) & Chez Pascal (dinner only -think Chez Panisse and Gramercy Tavern) At Mineral Spring Ave & Charles St – Pinelli’s North End Cafe. (gluten-free!) About a mile down from the Mineral Spring/Smithfield Ave intersection (heading to Providence) – Chelo’s. oops – almost forgot. KILLER vietnamese food- Pho Horn’s. bout 1-2 miles away in the Shaws plaza on Main st (leave the studio, make a rt onto Lonsdale, which becomes Main st.) and, of course, Dunks everywhere. mine’s cream no sugar if you’re driving by. Hope to see you! News, Studio 2008-04-29T17:46:08+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/dean_richardson_providence_giants http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/dean_richardson_providence_giants/#When:18:39:27Z [smug]284811925_cjMoq[/smug] Dean Richardson The Traveler Hasteth in the Evening, oil on linen (image courtesy Providence Art Club, click to enlarge) Dean Richardson's probably my favorite living...[smug]284811925_cjMoq[/smug] Dean Richardson The Traveler Hasteth in the Evening, oil on linen (image courtesy Providence Art Club, click to enlarge) Dean Richardson's probably my favorite living painter. Thinking of what he can do with sheets of color and a palette knife, my eyes mist up, just as his did when describing Goya's work to us as young posturing RISD painter-bees. His show at the Art Club (with Merlin Szasz, opening Sunday) is a rare return to Providence for the former Providence Giants 3B – he's been showing up at the Chase Gallery in Boston for the last decade (images here.) [smug]284811972_Zdzf7[/smug] Dean Richardson Night on the River, oil on linen (image courtesy Providence Art Club, click to enlarge) As an Instructor, his quietness (shyness, actually – once saw him at an opening of HIS OWN WORK hiding out at the ice cream stand across the street) was intimidating – but with a few deft marks and quiet comments, he could cut to the heart of the painting like none other. later, when I had not painted for several years, his words again resonated: "I was not a good painter in school. Painting sense eluded me. It took me years to get a feeling for it. Some of my inability must have come from frustration with that, but mostly it was that I didn't know who I was. Art school teaches you a stance. It's not about art. Art is doing what you feel. I crept up on my sense as a painter, a feeling that I had a point of view. It took me a while to get there, but once I did, I had no choice but to paint." more images, and an artist's statement, here. Dean Richardson and Merlin Szasz Opening Reception: Sunday, April 27, 2-4 pm Providence Art Club 11 Thomas St Prov RI 401.331.1114 - PSA#2 – My work's still up on the walls at Chez Pascal – and if you needed an excuse to drop in, here it is, gift wrapped: the Knockout combo of their mighty kitchen and Andrew Shotts (Food TV's top chocolatier in America) come together for their annual chocolate dinner this Monday, Apr 28. Artwork, inspiration 2008-04-25T18:39:27+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/going_to_the_dogs http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/going_to_the_dogs/#When:18:30:10Z [smug]283720400_m3dBR[/smug] milkbone, 4×6in, acrylic on panel Last night was the kickoff for Going to the Dogs, (could be the theme of the blog lately, given the lack of updates) a...[smug]283720400_m3dBR[/smug] milkbone, 4×6in, acrylic on panel Last night was the kickoff for Going to the Dogs, (could be the theme of the blog lately, given the lack of updates) a canine-inspired invitational & auction at the RISD Museum. my contribution was a no-brainer – with a 13yd old mutt, the milkbone (prime vehicle, with PB, for doggie meds) is a staple in our kitchen cupboard. [smug]295658182_jroMH[/smug] the mix of invited artists – mostly from RI, too numerous and accomplished to list 'em all here – ranged from 'ol hounds with international reps (richard merkin) to risd faculty (melissa ferreira) and younger providence pups like cw roelle. wasn't just 2d work, either – scott benson contributed a gorgeous maple doggie dining table. finally got to put some faces to familiar names, including photog traer scott (even if a shelter pup hasn't already claimed your heart, her b&w portraits are incredibly moving – better still, she also contributes a portion of proceeds from sales of the book to the aspca) [smug]295658192_vCXzf[/smug] personally, it was a treat to see my work hung on a wall that's previously hosted the works of degas and picasso – professionally, it was one to be included in such a solid show. – one last 'art & animals' tidbit – this Creature Comforts video. dare ya not to laugh. (thx gilly & renee) —- Going to the Dogs info: work can be seen (and bid on) during reg museum hrs - Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm; third Thursday monthly until 9pm 224 Benefit Street, Providence RI 02903 USA 401 454-6500 the event wraps up on May 3rd, with guest Frank Robinson auctioneer & gala cocktail party 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information 401-454-6505. Artwork, News 2008-04-23T18:30:10+00:00 http://www.shawnkenney.com/news/entry/lemon http://www.shawnkenney.com/index.php/news/entry/lemon/#When:19:31:54Z [smug]218725988[/smug] lemon, 4×6in, acrylic on panel This lemon is one of 4 pieces selected for a group show opening this weekend at the Courtyard Gallery in Mystic, Ct. It was an honor to be...[smug]218725988[/smug] lemon, 4×6in, acrylic on panel This lemon is one of 4 pieces selected for a group show opening this weekend at the Courtyard Gallery in Mystic, Ct. It was an honor to be invited to exhibit alongside fellow artists from the Providence Art Club & the Salmagundi Club of New York. think it's the 4th lemon painting i've made – no doubt one of 80,000ish lemon paintings throughout the history of the planet. readily available, their simplicity makes em perfect subjects for whatever you're looking to do with paint. as always, i'm looking to convey presence. (come to think of it, could be a post about another venerable institution, the mighty Led Zep. Presence ? the Lemon Song ? guess ya gotta be a fan.) afterwords they're dynamite in the kitchen (more here.) what's not to like? details: Courtyard Gallery 12 Water St. Mystic, CT 06355 860-536-5059 reception Saturday March 29th 5-8pm on view thru may 14 Artwork, News 2008-03-28T19:31:54+00:00