We’re excited to kick off our In the Studio series with local artist Ken Wheeler! His Blue Plate Special series featuring paintings of local diners like Steve’s Place and New Way Lunch caught our eye, and we were thrilled to catch up with him to hear more about how he got started, his process, and his take on art as a business - read it all below!
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I grew up here in Queensbury where I graduated from Queensbury High school, class of 76. My wife Holly is from South Glens Falls. We married in 1980, the same year we started our sign business, K.D. Wheeler Custom Signs. We have operated our business out of a studio/workshop next to our home since 1985. We have two daughters, the oldest, an art teacher with the Queensbury High school and our youngest is a journalist who writes for Bloomberg Law.
In addition to my artistic pursuits, my wife and I have been buying foreclosed properties, about one every 5 years, and rehabbing them as rentals. I love restoring old houses. Model railroading is another of my creative passions, and I am currently the President of The Upstate Model Railroaders, Inc., located in South Glens Falls.
On Beginnings
I am a self taught artist / craftsman and graphic designer. My father, a land surveyor and cartographer also dabbled in drawing, so I would say he was my earliest and greatest influence. I began my interest in fine art about the same time I started making signs. I started painting in oil, however, with the birth of our first child, I switched to watercolor, due to the chemicals and smells associated with oil painting.
I took my first watercolor lessons from a local artist, George Hartwell, through a BOCES adult learning program. I became a member of LARAC and within a few years, I was serving as a board member. In the beginning, we marketed our signs through the LARAC June Arts Festival and within the first few years, I was also exibiting and selling my watercolors at the show as well. We were regular exhibitors at LARAC for over 20 years. I joined the Upper Hudson Valley Watercolor Society in the late 80’s were I served over ten years as their President. I am now an honorary life member.
I am a juried, signature member of the North East Watercolor Society, a member of the Glens Falls Elks Lodge 81.
In 2004 I recieved an individual artist grant through the NYS Arts initiative, facilitated by LARAC. My Blue Plate Special series was a result of that grant, and includes 10 paintings of diners in and around the community. The goal was to draw attention to the cultural significance of these icons of Americana, while we continue to see their slow decline as they succumb to the large chain coffee houses and eateries.
On Inspiration
My watercolors have been for the most part, landscapes and antiquities of the surrounding area. However, I am beginning to work in pastels and I am hoping to build my skills as a painter of life (figures), and hopefully portraits. I love the work of Winslow Homer for both his watercolors and his oils and I love the loose style of John Singer Sergant. I am inspired by so many of the professional and emerging pastel artists who can be found on the internet today.
On the Creative Process
I do work from photographs, but I prefer to work from photos I take. I also work from life and sketch on location when time allows. I almost always do a value sketch prior to starting a painting. I think, like a lot of artists, I suffer from insecurity and anxiety with every piece I do. Each work is not only a learning experience for me, but also a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. Working through the lows on each piece is the most difficult and some pieces stay on the easel for weeks before I get back to them, some get filed away and have been known to resurface years later. I try very hard to find something I feel is a success about every painting or drawing I do. I never throw anything out.
On Art as a Business
I am not currently involved with exhibiting. I do try to enter one show each year through the North East Watercolor Society, but for the most part, I am working on re-developing my style and want to build new body of work before venturing back out. When I do, it will most likely be through the internet, where I have a website and domain as kenwheelerstudio.com where I sell originals and prints as well as a greeting card line . I think social media is the new marketplace for art and I feel it is important to build a brand. I plan to launch a new version of my website in the coming months where I hope to engage visitors with the process of creating art, which I hope will inspire them to visit often and hopfully purchase works they follow.
Ken Wheeler Studios
Website
hide-ad
This story was made possible by Doc’s Restaurant and The Park Theater.
Have you been back to Doc's yet to try out their new summer menu? Between the great food, the ambiance of the gorgeous patio (complete with summer blooms, string lights overhead, and friendly serice!), it’s the perfect summer night out. Too hot or rainclouds in the sky? The classic charm of the main restaurant inside the Park Theater never disappoints. Staying in? Take-out is available too! Book your table for this coming weekend here - Doc’s orders ;)
Thanks for supporting the businesses that support Glens Falls Living!