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| The Big Red Purse | © Kenton Nelson |
Kenton Nelson is a California-based artist whose work I would describe as "pared realism." Sometimes, as in this painting entitled
The Big Red Purse, there is a Pop Art quality to his subject matter and magnified views.
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| © Kenton Nelson |
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| On Providing Support | © Kenton Nelson 2006 |
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| © Kenton Nelson |
On Nelson's own site (which you can visit
here) he mentions an affinity for and influence by WPA art, a period to which both Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood belonged. I see a little of both artists in Nelson's perspectives, stylization and coloring.
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| Conjugation | © Kenton Nelson |
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| © Kenton Nelson | © Kenton Nelson |
Pasadena's Colorado Street Bridge is a recurring theme in Nelson's paintings. Nelson is a major figure in the preservation of Pasadena landmarks.
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| © Kenton Nelson |
Kenton Nelson's work evokes American suburbia of the 1950's, and perhaps his spare detail adds to the feeling of simpler times. Even when Nelson paints figures, there is a sense of isolation and suspended time.
Besides pared detail, Nelson has a very distinctive color palette, one which contributes to the retro quality of his work.
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| Mr. Wilkenson | © Kenton Nelson 2007 |
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| Saturday's Probability | © Kenton Nelson 2004 |
Nelson's paintings range in size from 12" x 12", like the image above, to what my local museum would call "masterworks," like Big Shoes, seen below at a 2011 New York exhibition.
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| kentonnelson.com |
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| © Kenton Nelson | © Kenton Nelson |
Kenton Nelson's paintings were featured in the recent movie, Something's Gotta Give, starring Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Look for a poolside painting and a great Edward Hopper-like view of a lighthouse.
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| © Kenton Nelson |
I saved my own favorite for last.
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