Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Steven Kenny. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Steven, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
As for encouragement, I felt that my parents were always behind me. When I was nearing the end of grammar school they offered me the opportunity to attend the High School of Art and Design in New York City. At that young age, the prospect of leaving my friends behind and commuting in and out of a big city was too overwhelming so I turned them down. However, when it came time to apply to colleges, I wound up going to the Rhode Island School of Design. They never balked at the tuition which must have been a considerable expense for them. They may not have always understood what I was doing artistically or where I was headed but they never questioned my motives.
The other thing I’m grateful to my parents for is the work ethic they instilled in me. I grew up believing that anything was possible if I applied myself and to never give up. Aside from whatever talent I may have, I credit this mindset for the success that I’ve had over the years. My three older brothers all went into business for themselves at one time or another and I looked at my career the same way: as a business. I am an artist as well as a business owner.
Steven, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Originally, my plan was to go to school to study forestry, not art. Then one day my father asked if I knew about Cooper Union in NYC which at that time was tuition free. He was hoping to get off the hook financially! I forgot about forestry and applied to three art schools. Cooper Union turned me down so I ended up attending the Rhode Island School of Design and majoring in illustration. Eventually, I had a successful freelance illustration career going but really wanted to be a fine artist. That transition did happen but took 10 years or so.
I’ve always had a deep reverence for nature and this explains my – perhaps misguided – early desire to have a career in forestry. My artwork has always been about the connection between humans and the natural world. I’ve always worked in a surreal style, even as an illustrator. Working this way allows me to visually blend the human figure with natural elements using realism to create believable images of imaginary scenarios. Viewers and collectors are always wonderstruck by my ability to convincingly convey fantastic worlds with a deep sense of mystery, emotion, poignancy, and humor.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I studied illustration in college but realized during my training that I actually wanted to be a painter instead. After graduating I moved to New York City to find a gallery to represent me. Gallery responses to my work were positive but no offers came. I started to run out of money and had to pivot. I fell back on my illustration training and became a successful freelance illustrator but painting was still my passion. I continued painting at night and, after 10 years, a gallery in Washington, DC agreed to represent me. I pivoted again and slowly made the shift from illustration to fine art. Sometimes these transition can be slow and patience is required.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I reluctantly joined Facebook in the late 1990s at the urging of a friend. He suggested I do it purely for business reasons and that’s what I’ve done ever since. In contrast to what is usually suggest to attract an audience, you will not find any personal posts on my Facebook page. It’s ALL about the work that I do, exhibitions I’m in, awards I receive, etc. The same is true of Instagram and both platforms have gained over 10,000 followers. So, my advice is to keep your artwork front and center. Don’t strive to make “friends.” Strive to find collectors and buyers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stevenkenny.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenkennyart/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steven.kenny.studio/
Image Credits
Steven Kenny