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Kenn Backhaus
Kenn was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and spent much of his childhood on the family farm near Burnett, Wisconsin. His fondness for nature became the catalyst for his art. Kenn's parents encouraged his artistic education and following High School, he attended Layton School of Art in Milwaukee,Wisconsin. After graduation from Layton in 1973, he embarked on his professional career in Design and Illustration. As a commercial designer and illustrator Kenn received many awards at both local and national levels, which included acceptance in the Annual Society of Illustrators Show in New York. Although Kenn took pride in his commercial
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"Back Side of Cat Harbor," Oil on Linen, 12x16 |
successes, his heart always belonged to the fine art of outdoor painting.
With developing interest in the historic Plein Air style of painting, Kenn decided in 1984, to devote more time to his passion for painting and the love of the outdoors. He found that capturing true color, value and the mood of a subject was best done on location or through direct observation. His passion for painting has broadened his subject matter to include not only landscape, but also figurative, portrait, still life and wildlife.
Kenn's works have been juried into many shows across the country, including the Oil Painters of
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"Fishing off the Cat Harbor," Oil on Linen, 10x12 |
America National Shows. His works have received many awards including an Award of Excellence in the 1998 Regional Oil Painters of America Show, Arlington Heights, IL, 1999 Finalist winner The Artist Magazine, a Best of Show in the 1999 Invitational American Plains Artist Show, Midland, Texas, the Tara Best Landscape award in the 2003 Oil Painters of America National Show, Taos, New Mexico and the Fredrix Artist Canvas, best landscape award in the 2004 Oil Painters Of America National Juried Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, Washington.
Kenn has had articles published on his work in the July 2004 issue of Southwest Art
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"Rooms Available," Oil on Linen, 9x12 |
and also the December 2004 issue of Plein Air Magazine.
Kenn is a Signature Member of both the Oil Painters of America and the Plein-Air Painters of America. He also served as President of the Plein-Air Painters of America from the year 2000 through 2001.
Kenn is one of fifty artists selected from across the country to participate in a traveling museum show titled "FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA". The exhibit will open at the Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA in the Spring of 2004 and will travel across the country to various museums through 2007.
Artist Statement
Becoming a Member of an ever-growing family
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"The Cool Shade of San Juan," Oil on Linen, 16x20 |
of representational painters across this country, I am dedicated exclusively to explore to the fullest the potential of our surrounding landscape. My goal is to make the experience of painting a singular one with the viewer. I believe that a painting is not just an illusion in two dimensions, but also that of a moment in life, captured on canvas. Painting is a language varying in mood and atmosphere that reflects the diversities of life itself. I enjoy the challenges of various subject matters, so my approach to the painting process is to involve the viewer with those subjects as
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"Sunny Afternoon Catalina," Oil on Linen, 9x12 |
much as possible, not only through those choices, but also through how I elect to portray those subjects. Allowing the viewer to interpret and finish parts of the painting is more interesting than if the painting is totally spelled out for them. I want the viewer to see the use of the medium, the end of that brush stroke, the spontaneity, the assuredness of the artist. If I can give the viewer a sense of the atmosphere, a sense of light in the scene, maybe just to open their eyes to the simple beauty around us, then I feel I have accomplished my goals. If you agree with this ideal, then come take pleasure with those artist's efforts and share a common passion, the passion of Plein Air Painting.
For additional information about Kenn Backhaus please visit www.kennbackhaus.com. |
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Honorary Signature Members
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Danny Bushart
Judy B. Montagne
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