We were lucky to catch up with Kenneth Herren recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kenneth, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

If I could go back in time, I would have gotten much more serious about being a visual artist at a much younger age. I grew up in a very pragmatic environment; a meritocracy so to speak. From an early age I learned that education, hard work and one’s earning potential was of utmost importance. Deep down I always knew that there was an artist lurking in my genes, but i suppressed that notion and was off to a world of unfulfilling careers choices that fed the wallet, but not the soul. I finally landed in a vocation that allowed me to be around other artists and creatives and began the slow incorporation of the artist aesthetic. In 2010, at the age of of 53, I started putting paint on canvas and the doors to my avocation as a working visual artist opened…slowly at first, but with each new painting the possibilities and dream of becoming a valid addition to the visual arts community materialized. I suppose the time spent not working as an artist have added to my artistic”vocabulary,” but in the long run, I wish i would have turned away from the “success” driven pragmatic endeavors and made a much more heart centered decision to follow my passion.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

In 2005, after a failed career as a registered nurse and a number of other unfulfilling jobs, my wife and I took what we learned working for a small business as custom picture framers and opened our own custom frame shop and retail art gallery. We devoted much of our time to establishing relationships with local and regional artists and creating an environment that fostered the growth of emerging and “outsider” artists. Our model proved to be a successful little business and allowed for me to experiment with the notion that I could actually join the ranks of our visual arts community. We recently retired the business after 17 very fulfilling years and I am now painting full time. I have had the opportunity to to be included in many juried shows, have had a number of solo exhibitions and have sold more than 90% of the work that I have created! I have a fairly large collector base and have paintings in homes and offices across the U.S.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Hi, my name is Ken and I am an addict/alcoholic. Having lost careers, relationships, homes and just about everything any normal person would consider valuable including my sanity and nearly my life, I made a decision to turn my life around. With ninety dollars to my name and the clothes on my back, I hopped on a train that brought me from California to Minnesota. I soon found a lasting and fulfilling recovery that has allowed me to stay clean and sober for nearly 32 years. I am blessed to be able paint and the painting keeps me grateful…the key to a happy, joyous and free life. I was always a creative person but never considered myself an artist until I actually applied myself to the process of putting paint on a canvas. I soon developed a style that is unique, bold and colorful. My studio was previously in the basement of the art gallery and custom frame shop that I co-owned with my wife, Melissa in Minnetonka, MN. Recently retired, I now have a working studio in a light industrial area within the same suburb, giving me opportunity to travel and share my work with a much wider audience.
My philosophy as an artist and the creative process can be summed up by the following statement:
“We *(artists) are merely caretakers of someone else’s prized possession. We hold each creation in a state of reverie until the right person comes along to give it the continued honor it deserves”

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Selling artwork and to be rewarded financially is always a wonderful thing , but, for me, it is not the goal. Its also pretty cool to be recognized by other artists and gallery owners as valid. Being able to stand in front of a blank canvas and face off with the vulnerability of putting a piece of myself out in the world for any and all to see remains the most rewarding aspect of being an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kenherren.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/artistkenherren
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/artistkenherren
• Twitter: @artistkenherren

Image Credits
All images are owned by Artist Ken Herren