Kent Sullivan

Artist Statement

I paint contemporary traditional landscape paintings.

From that simple statement to the practical application of paint to the canvas, lies an immense field of artistic expression. My work is often compared to the Hudson River School artists who placed the spiritual significance in landscape painting.

Painting a compelling landscape – art inspired by natural world – is something much broader than simply depicting a beautiful scene. Capturing the mood, the atmosphere, the elegance of design, and the breadth of a place is a challenging and arduous task. Edgar Degas said “Painting is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do.”

Art Critic Laura Stewart Dishman described my work this way, “ Kent’s effectiveness is due , in part, to its inspiring subject, and its realism, but still more to the artist’s use of a long and successful tradition of romantic landscape painting.”

Here is my approach to painting.  Though color is very important, value carries more weight than color.  The timbre of each painting is carefully constructed, and my paintings are finished with a lot of detail.

I hope and expect people will respond to my paintings on an emotional level.  I want them to appreciate the painting not just simply as a rendition of a scene.  On a purely abstract level it intrigues their imagination.  There is pleasure in responding to the texture, the composition, the color juxtaposition, even the sheen of the paint.
  The “mood evocative” of that place, and that time. 

Commissions and Collections

Government
Nasa Artist and the Space Shuttle, Smithsonian 1983, 1985, 1987
Orange County Court House, Orlando Florida 1996
Corporate
Petro Lewis Oil, Denver Colorado 1980
Hastings Bank, Hastings Nebraska 1981
PPS Corporation, Jacksonville Florida 1999
Cahill Corporation, Orlando Florida 2001
Western Asset Corporation, Pasadena California 2004
Sun Bank Jacksonville & Orlando Florida 2005
Seaside Bank, Orlando Florida 2007
Public
Museum of Science and Discovery, Ft. Lauderdale Florida 1993
Ponte Vedra Golf Club, Ponte Vedra Florida 1999
Orlando International Airport 1995
Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville Florida 2000
Pablo Creek Golf Club, Jacksonville Florida 2000
Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, Miami 2003
Shades of Green Disney Resort 2005
CNL, Orlando Florida 2006

Black Canyon of the Gunnison 30 x 40 oil on canvas $ 12,500.00Cayo Costa 24 x 36 oil on canvas $12,200.00City of Gold 24 x 36 Oil on Mounted Canvas $ 12,000.00Dawn Seascape 24 x 48 oil on mounted linen $ 12,500.00English Channel at Fairlight 30 x 40 oil on canvas $ 13,500.00Killarny Ireland 24 x 36 oil on canvas $ 12,000.00Jackson Creek 30 x 40 oil on mounted linen $ 13,000.00Narita Japan 30 x 40 oil on canvas $ 13,500.00Ragged End 30 x 40 oil on canvas $ 13,000.00Scottish Highlands 36 x 48 oil on canvas $ 17,000.00Souther Canal 30 x 40 oil on canvas $ 13,200.00Tomoka Riverbend 24 x 36 oil on canvas $12,300.00Wildwood Creek 24 x 25 oil on mounted canvas $ 6,000.00Halifax Estuary Oil on Canvas by Kent Sullivan 16 x 20 $ 2500.00Marshside Grass 22 x 36 Oil on Board by Kent Sullivan $ 7,500.00Ragged Edges 30 X 40 Oil on Canvas by Kent Sullivan $ 11,500.00Soft Marsh 24 x 30 Oil on Canvas by Kent Sullivan $9,600.00Tomoka Basin 30 x 40 Oil on Canvas by Kent Sullivan $ 11,800.00
(904) 261-2535                5047 First Coast Hwy, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034         e-mail: info@waterwheelgallery.com