Thinking I was going to be late with my slow driving to see the views of the river, I ended up arriving right on time. Ken had just stepped outside to turn off a sprinkler and invited me into the house where he introduced me to his wife, Nola. As we walked through their home headed for a back deck, I stopped to look at several Ken's wildlife paintings some of which I'd recalled seeing when he had a show at the art center last year.As we stepped out onto their deck overlooking the river, the view -- with the river flowing directly at us -- was breathtaking! The sound of water rolling over the rocks coupled with the large trees rising around the three-tiered deck made me feel like this was an ideal place to spend many years of one's life (even in Oregon's winter rains!).
Looking out from the deck, far in distance I could see cars on Hwy. 126 on other side of the main stream of the river. Two streams passing around islands in the river converge directly in front of the McClellan's home. Ken brought out a painting he had done of their river view and we set it on the rail of the deck and I took a picture which shows what you see before you in this glorious setting (without the eagle today!).
I sat down with Ken and Nola at their outside dining table and started the interview -- distracted by all the beauty and sounds of rushing water below. I was surprised to learn that Ken had taken a 20 year "break" from his wildlife painting while finishing his career of over 40 years as a graphic designer for two different printing companies. But after taking a workshop with Terry Isaacs at the art center in February 2006 (who he had met in the mid 80's at a Robert Bateman workshop), Ken started painting again. His work with acrylics is amazingly realistic -- so much so that I wanted to reach out and touch the fir on some of his animal paintings.
Ken works in his home studio from photographs he takes in nature and of wildlife at places like Wildlife Safari (as well as of deer as they're standing at river's edge taking a drink just across the water). He has a growing collection of photos from from observing nature on their field trips as well. Now that Ken is retired and without the pressures of earning a living, he can "just do it" and enjoy the process of painting.In his studio, Ken had a painting in progress and was willing to do some work on it while I took photos of him. He worked on some grasses around the rocks in the river scene. Ken said he sometimes paints outside on the deck and has plans for converting the garage into a "studio with a view" (an amazing one at that!).
Ken draws inspiration for his painting from the following Bible verse:"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this in His hand are the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." - Job 12: 7-10
In a philosophy on wildlife art that he wrote in the late 1980's, Ken said "If animals, birds, fish and the earth are teaching us anything, it's the fact that man has to stop polluting and destroying the air, the soil, and the wildlife that it supports. Ultimately, it's the Creator who is trying to teach us that whatever happens to nature and wildlife will eventually happen to man."He went on to say "if the current wildlife art can make a 'statement' that will cause people to reflect on what we are doing to this fragile planet and perhaps change man's attitude towards doing something to preserve what we have left, then wildlife art will have a purpose."
After our interview, we went back inside the house to take lot of pictures of his paintings, many of which had just been framed for his member show in August with other artists at the art center. Of course, I took far more photos than I can share on this blog, so I encourage you to visit the show and see Ken's work. I can promise you, you'll go away feeling blessed by the experience of seeing the work of an artist with a great love and respect for nature and wildlife.More images of Ken McClellan's art follow the newspaper story.
(Note that clicking on the photos anywhere on this blog will enlarge the art image for better viewing).
Featured in the Springfield Beacon (August 1, 2007)
50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community
By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon
Ken McClellanInspired by Encounters with Nature
Last year, after putting his art career "on hold" for 20 years, Ken McClellan started painting again. The scenic beauty and abundant wildlife surrounding his home on the McKenzie River provide an inspiring backdrop and subject matter for his art.
Ken's goal as an artist is to share his love and respect for nature and wildlife. He hopes that people who view his paintings will find peace and serenity.
Ken believes that "mankind cannot improve upon God's creation in its many forms. We can only try to capture with paint some of the magical moments we observe that are the results of His hands. It is also my desire that viewers of my paintings will see God's handiwork in the pieces of art I create."
Over 20 years ago, Ken was honored to be juried in to a Master Class workshop offered by well-known wildlife artist, Robert Bateman. In 1987, at a second workshop with the artist in Montana, he met Terry Isaac from Salem who went on to become a successful wildlife artist. Ken decided to keep his day job at the time rather than becoming a "starving artist".
Last February, Ken (who had retired by then) discovered that Terry Isaac was teaching a workshop at the Emerald Art Center. He attended the class and was encouraged, challenged, and motivated to begin painting wildlife again. By the end of the year, Ken had his first show of new paintings at the art center!
In the presence of Ken McClellan's paintings of nature and wildlife, one feels blessed by the magnificent beauty of the earth and all of its wonderfully wild creatures. In his own words:
Inspiration To Begin: "I've always been interested in art and thought about becoming an architect or commercial artist. But I ended up working as a graphic designer in the printing industry for more than 40 years. In the early 1980's, I started painting wildlife subjects with acrylics and was honored to be accepted to attend a Robert Bateman workshop in Wisconsin. Then at another of his workshops, I met Terry Isaac who (20 years later!) inspired me to get back into painting wildlife."
Important Mentors: "As I mentioned, my most important mentors have been Robert Bateman and Terry Isaac. I'd also include Paul Calle who paints the Old West and mountain men, Morton Solberg for his watercolors of wildlife, and Carl Brenders, another wildlife artist."
Value of Art in Life: "Going out into nature and studying what God has created -- capturing the moment and telling a story with a painting -- connects your life with His creation in an inspiring way. You can't loose when you try to put on canvas what God has created."
His Artist's Legacy: "I hope people will see that it's never too late in life to start painting .. or to begin again! And to not be afraid to fail because you get better by learning from your mistakes. Hopefully, my legacy will be that the Lord was honored by my painting."
For more information about Ken McClellan and to see additional images of his art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.
"Cheetah Pair" by Ken McClellan__________________________________________________________________
About The Artist
Birthplace: Ely, Nevada
Arts Education: Self-taught and workshops with wildlife painters
Media of Choice: Acyrlics
Favorite Place to Do Art: At home in his studio
Favorite Subjects To Paint: Nature and Wildlife
Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association
Upcoming Show: Several paintings at Emerald Art Center (opening August 10th)
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"Harlequin Ducks" by Ken McClellan
"Near the Edge" by Ken McClellan
"Making Eye Contact" by Ken McClellan
