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Ken Knight

Ken Knight Biography

Australian Plein Air Master

 

Born in 1956 in Sydney, impressionist artist Ken Knight is one of Australia’s most revered landscape painters.   In his own words, Ken says “Landscape images, derived from a direct response to the subject for the integral theme in my work. As an impressionist I paint en plein aire, painting in oils with a spontaneous and free manner. The challenge for me lies not so much in relaying photographic information, but in capturing the essence and spirit of a scene. By reducing the landscape and abstracting elements from it, I enable the viewer to make an intimate interpretation of the image. Thus perception follows observation in the same way as the viewer may have responded to the original subject. Through the elimination and reduction of detail I can convey reality strongly and more robustly, without creating areas of unnecessary distraction which detract from the overall picture. It follows that in this impressionist pursuit “less becomes more”. The challenge for the artist becomes one of finding the right dynamic balance each time the easel is set up outside – to observe, perceive, interpret, and abstract. In finding this balance, the artist relies heavily on colour – perhaps the greatest tool available. Colour should not be limited to merely setting a mood or establishing time of day, it should create energy and set up tensions that are integral to the life force of the painting. The control and exaggeration of colour in the landscape are fundamentally important. Used in conjunction with thick paint, palette knife and energetic brushwork, the artist can create a painting that offers something a little different each time." Early Years Ken was always interested in art and from the age of 9 he began to paint and draw. Holding a paintbrush or pencil always felt entirely natural and his love of the outdoors became the feature of all of his artwork, especially inspired by camping trips with his father and the rest of his family in the countryside. His very first painting was when he was ten years old and was a small watercolour based on the Georges River, which he visited with his father. Ken went to the Sydney University where he originally trained to be a social science teacher. He had tried to get on the Fine Arts course but as he didn’t choose art as a subject in High School he did not gain a place on the course immediately. However, in 1978 he achieved a Bachelor of Arts from Sydney University before embarking on secondary school teaching. Eventually, he became a teacher but after three years, he decided to focus on painting as it was always his passion.  He studied art overseas in London and Paris and in 1995 gained an Artist in Residence at the Arthur Boyd Bundanon Trust. He continued his art studies overseas, revisiting Paris and London as well as studying in Amsterdam.  In 1998, Ken became an Associate Member of the Royal Arts Society in New South Wales. Ken continued studying art in various cities and countries of the world from 2001 to 2007 including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Egypt, Vienna and once again he studied in London and Paris. Style Ken favours the “plein aire” approach which involves contact with nature and all of his paintings have an air of freedom and honesty.  His style means he always paints outside which allows him to “feel” the subject and he prefers not to paint from photographs. When he paints, he sometimes closes one eye while blurring the other so he isn’t distracted by detail that overshadows the main subject of his picture. Ken often paints water, especially beach, river and harbour scenes. He also favours mountains, hinterlands, plains and tablelands.   Influences Ken says that he is inspired by various artists. He remembers at the age of 19, standing in front of Elioth Gruner’s “Spring Frost” at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.  Additionally, Ken is inspired by Arthur Streeton, Michael Shannon, Rubery Bennett and Arthur Boyd.  In 1996, Ken collaborated with Arthur Boyd while staying in Riversdale on the Shoalhaven River. Ken holds great admiration for Monet, Turner and Diebenkorn. Exhibitions Ken’s first exhibition was in 1979 and he sold out. He has exhibited at the Wentworth Gallery and his work is displayed in private collections and corporate collections in Australia, England, the USA, Mexico, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, Singapore, Japan, France and New Zealand. 


 "For Ken, painting outside is a deeply emotional and necessary experience for capturing the essence and spirit of the scenes he depicts in his en plein air masterpieces. His inspiration comes from the great outdoor painters, the impressionists from Turner through to Monet, and from Australians like Streeton and Boyd. Ironically, in a country desperately short of life’s most precious commodity, there’s plenty of water in his work. From beaches, rivers and harbour-side shores to snow capped mountains and in the starkly beautiful, yet subtle and muted golden hues of hinterlands, plains and tablelands. His images are as Australian as all get-out. And it’s these images of the faces of the dry continent that Ken simplifies by gentle abstraction to produce very modern impressions of the land. He paints quickly but surely, not wanting to concentrate on the detail, less it inherit a photographic quality in his eye and hence his brush. Rather, he imbues his elements with passion, emotion and a love for the landscape that has become his raison d’être and an integral part of himself. He’ll blur lines, soften edges and abstract elements to leave the work open for an interpretation that the viewer can call his or her own. This is his art." - Stan d’Argeavel MA (Visual Arts) ANU


 

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