Artists discover art in all kinds of ways. Consider Kenneth Ferguson’s path into art.
“I would have to say that I probably got into painting in order to pursue my love of history,” he says. “I didn’t see it happening through the more usual routes of teaching or writing, so I ended my college years with a BFA in illustration. What I really wanted to do is bring some life back to the past and thought there was no better way to do this than visually. Thirty-plus years later, I’m still pursuing that goal, particularly in the areas of American military and tribal history of the 19th century. Each new painting allows me to delve into the material culture of the subject I’m portraying—what was worn, what was carried and why.”
The Soldiers Coat, watercolor and gouache, 24 x 24”
Today, Ferguson is not one to rely completely on historical photographs or photo shoots of models dressed in period clothing. “I enjoy the quest of finding the references needed and piecing it all together to create a completely new composition,” he says. “The main figures in my work are usually rendered with a dimensional appearance and a focus on detail. Backgrounds are portrayed flat as if they were a stage set. Balance and design are also extremely important compositional elements in my work, which often features a circle within a square format.”
Storm Rider (Crazy Horse), watercolor and gouache, 24 x 24”
Tattered Glory (George Armstrong Custer), watercolor and gouache, 14 x 14”
Ferguson continues: “Enjoying the cleanness of watercolor and the process of painting from light to dark, I’ve stayed with that medium my whole career and developed a technique which embraces rich color, sharp lines and clean edges. Instead of framing under glass, completed pieces are finished with a crystal-clear archival acrylic varnish. This not only protects the painting, it adds to its visual depth and gives the colors a little extra pop.” —
Want to See More?
www.kennethfergusonfineart.com
(262) 374-2984
Represented by King Galleries
7077 E. Main Street, #20, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 | 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, NM 87501
www.kinggalleries.com
Instagram: @kennethfergusonfineart
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