Native to Atlanta with an Industrial Design degree from Georgia Tech, Ken’s design career has carried him to every state in the country and to the far corners of the world. His formal training under a Bauhaus Professor taught him to produce designs that were both aesthetically pleasing and useful. Out of college, he served as an Air Force officer and even flew jets.
As a Disney Imagineer he led the creation of retail shops in Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Tokyo. He collaborated with Disney Legends Herb Ryman and Ken Anderson along with artist / illustrator R. Tom Gilleon in the creation of the shops for Epcot in Walt Disney World.
With a 30 year career in planning and design he developed his drawing and illustration skills while producing entertaining environments. Among Ken’s design creations were the Isleworth Club interiors for Arnold Palmer, renovation of Churchill Downs Clubhouse, development of the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center, Mickey’s Kitchen and the Disney Stores worldwide.
Out of Darkness (above)
Having studied watercolor thought-out his career, he recently has had time to pursue his passion for painting. The artist’s design profession is reflected in his attention to detail complimented by dynamic light and color. Pouring paints in transparent layers allows colors to mix in exciting ways, and when combined with brushed details, produces his dramatic compositions.
Artist Statement
Creativity and discipline are gifts from God and I have been blessed with these by the Holy Spirit”.
I believe painting like design, requires planning the work and then working the plan. The real joy comes from the unexpected, as the watercolors dry. For me it’s all about light and color giving contrast to the composition. Layering transparent color with “controlled looseness” keeps the work fresh and spontaneous. But good design requires detail, and after colors flow, contrast and focal point must be refined. The key is to keep it simple, so each viewer can fill in a personal story.