Steven Kenny’s art possesses an underlying theme of our interaction with nature. He accurately states that we are animals, and even though we think of ourselves as intelligent, most of our decisions are influenced by nature and animal instinct.
“We humans explore the world but do not look inward – at our own interior landscapes. If we understood how we function, we’d be better off,” he explains.
The Person
Three-year-old Steven’s imaginative drawing of a five-legged horse clearly indicates his future artistic abilities. He was off and running toward the art world. There are no other artists in the family, but his mother was a crafter and seamstress, and his father was handy with repairs. He grew up with three older brothers in Peekskill, N.Y., and an understanding that you can do anything you want with your hands.
Steven earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Rhode Island School of Design, spending his senior year in Rome, studying independently in a European honors program. The Baroque works of Italian and Dutch masters spoke to his impressionable spirit.
Despite having majored in illustration, Steven didn’t aspire to become an illustrator but rather a fine art painter. After college, he made the rounds of New York City galleries, which were impressed and receptive but didn’t want to represent the artist. Six months later, the “starving artist” turned to his talent as a commercial artist to pay the bills and continued his creative artist endeavors on the side.
Over the next decade, he became more successful and realized he didn’t have to live in a city. He could live anywhere as long as he was close enough to meet with gallery owners in a city like Washington, D.C. Virginia seemed to fit the bill. Fast-forward 13 years, a divorce, reconnecting with his high school sweetheart, a move back to New York state, another move to Florida to get warm, and finally, three years ago, the search for just the right spot in Virginia — Floyd!
The Artist
Chatting with Steven about his thought processes and how he designs, he shares that he usually starts with a human figure, often in a photograph. When looking at photos of people or animals, if he pauses, he knows there is a possibility for a painting. The story builds around the image in his mind and triggers his creative vision. Steven has a unique style of surreal montages blended into landscapes, figures and nature while employing oil painting techniques from the Renaissance and Northern Baroque periods to create contemporary works of art.
His admiration of the 16th-century Dutch and Italian painters from his university days appears not only in the human forms reminiscent of the old masters but also in his use of nature. Many of his works seem to morph into imagery from 1940s advertisements, likening back to his days as a commercial illustrator. His work is a natural collage of many things and influences—and blends beautifully.
He has created equine-themed works; one is a lovely white horse flying across his Facebook page called The Flock. When he painted this one, he first thought of a Northern Virginia fan who loves horses. The painting quickly sold when he emailed her a photo of that white horse. The Flock appeared on the cover of the 2022 edition of Artemis Journal, an annual literary and art publication which has showcased creative poets, authors and artists in the Appalachians and beyond for more than four decades.
The Art
Steven Kenny paints in his home studio. Each painting takes about a month, although he created 16 during one exceptionally productive year.
He exhibits in galleries throughout the United States, like St. Petersburg and New Orleans, as well as in Australia. He also sells paintings and prints from the online gallery on his website.
He says he is an art history fanatic and likes contemporary art. Steven has never taught an art class, but the future may hold that option. His philosophy is to have no goals, just work and do what he loves, and opportunities will come and find him.
The Future
His wife also loves horses, and the couple plans an adventure in Northern Spain this summer. While staying in that area, they’ll ride each day, so it’s highly possible that there is another horse portrait in the not-so-distant future!
Speaking of his wife, Diohn is a retired psychologist. The couple collaborated on a project and developed Sacred Story Cards. The cards show one of Steven’s paintings on the front, and the reverse has an affirmation written by Diohn.
To use the cards, you imagine a problem facing you, like: “What childhood influences are affecting my relationships?” Then, you randomly select one or more pictures or pick the ones drawing you in. When you turn the card over, you’ll find statements to interpret, like: “Expressing authentic self” or “Trust innocence.” The advice is to consider the thoughts and memories you have when you read those words, perhaps even write down your insights to capture your sacred story.
www.stevenkenny.com
(845) 545-5978
Facebook, steven.kenny.studio
Instagram, @stevenkennyart
Text by Jo Clark
Writer Jo Clark has tried and enjoyed numerous arts and crafts, starting with Sewing Cards at age 3 and creating Swedish Weave Dishtowels at 4. A beach girl at heart, her favorite works by Steven Kenny are The Vessel and The Lighthouse. Keep track of Jo’s adventures on Instagram @JoGoesEverywhere and Facebook @HaveGlass,WillTravel.
