Today we’d like to introduce you to Ken Downs.
Hi Ken, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was an amateur photographer all of my adult life. My career was at the Honeywell located here in Kansas City Missouri. I retired about 17 years ago from their purchasing department . About 13 years ago, my nephew bought me Watercolor paint as a gift. This started a new adventure as being an artist. I enjoyed watercolor painting and did quite well winning ribbons in contests etc. but I decided I could not do what I wanted to do with just Watercolor paints and I took up Acrylic painting. After Acrylic painting, I took up oil painting and that’s what I currently do. I enjoy oil painting so much I can’t imagine evolving to any other media.
I have been successful in winning ribbons in contests and sales in art shows. I performed the task of art show judge numerous times and have been asked to be the public speaker at numerous art leagues. Indeed I have been blessed.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has been amazingly smooth. My skills continue to improve.
The topics of my paintings evolve from one series of paintings to another. My Kansas City Icon series, botanical series, music series, Asia series, Automotive series, City at night series, and Still life series have all been fun and successful.
As you know, we’re big fans of Retired from Honeywell. My art business is “Art by Ken Downs”. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
One man business. My work is photo realism.
What’s next?
I look forward to watching my work evolve. My current series is “Forever Summer “ with the same young woman on the beach in different situations. In the last painting she is dancing, by herself, on the beach. What fun I am having.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Kenwdowns
- Facebook: Ken Downs
