Ken Burney

My current study of painting is basically a mash up of impressionism and improvisational painting. I’m greatly influenced by Impressionist Camile Pissaro, Edgar Degas and Claude Monet because of their focus on light. I’m also moved by Wassily Kandinsky’s use of color in his improvisational paintings. My current body of work is being created with the medium of acrylic on canvas.

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Much like Jazz improvisation, I like to think of my process of painting as being spontaneous. However, there is a contour that I begin with or an “original tune” in my charcoal sketch on canvas.

 

In my current body of work - “A Jazz Series” -  I chose musical instruments being played as my primary subject because of the vibe and energy that's created.

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How a band is set up, how a trumpet is held, how a guitar is being played and the color of music - all of these come together in my mind and they re vibrant and moving..images that I create in my interpretation of jazz music on canvas.

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Impressionism is painting characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities. I create large brush strokes in my composition with an emphasis on a composition depicting my interpretation of musical notes and its changing qualities. My interpretation is heavily influenced by painting without a plan or improvised painting. I’m not a musician, I am an artist, and my results are colorful, flowing, intuitively created and visually harmonic.​