We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kenneth Shanika a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kenneth, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
My father inspired me to believe that I could do anything I set my mind on doing. He taught me to dream, to follow my dreams and never give up. I’ve always tried to do the best I could with whatever I had.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I was taught early to make good decisions. My grandmother taught me a simple truth: If you always tell the truth, you only have to remember one story. If you don’t tell the truth, you have to remember many stories. Always tell the truth. It’s easier and people will trust you. I learned to take responsibility for my actions, tell the truth, and face the consequences of my decisions head-on. It simplified my life.
I my artistic ability came to me from my father. My father was a well-known professional artist and I owe much of my artistic background to him. As a young boy, I spent many hours watching him paint. He inspired me greatly.
I’m the second of eight children. I grew up in a simple, small house. From the time I was a toddler, I watched my father modify that house. With a shovel and wheelbarrow he dug a basement under the house then moved rooms around on the main floor and finally turned the attic space into bedrooms. Somehow he made space for all eight kids.
I watched him and later as I got older, I helped him with the constant renovations.
Dad worked several jobs at a time to support his growing family. He left for work before we got up to go to school and returned home after our bedtime.
Dad was an artist at heart. Some how he made time to create paintings in a corner of the basement. As a self-taught artist he created his paintings in the evenings and on the weekends. I remember sitting on a one-gallon paint can where I’d watch him paint. It was magical. I believed that my father could do anything. He inspired me and I learned to believe that I could do anything too. In a way he proved that one could move a mountain, one shovel full at a time. He taught me to dream, to follow my dreams and never give up. I’ve always tried to do the best I could with whatever I had.
I knew that I wanted to be an artist. My parents could not afford to help me with the costs of going to a university. I attended the Kansas City Art Institute on a combination of scholarships, grants, loans and work job on campus. I also held down weekend jobs. It was a struggle. There were many lean times. I earned my BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1975.
After graduating, I needed a job, so I started my own business. I owned the Colony Bistro Art Gallery and Frame Shop and America’s Heartland Gallery for nearly 28 years.
At 28 years of running a business I felt that I needed a fresh start. I needed to follow my dream of being a full time artist.
My wife and I decided with confidence and optimism to sell the business and move to Colorado so I could follow my dream. We purchased some land, I designed and built a house and studio and started fulfilling my dream.
I painted full-time, supplying galleries with my work, and entering and winning awards at art shows.
I was the original co-founder and the director of the Pikes Peak Plein Air Painters for nearly 20 years.
As my career was growing I met many fine artists who mentored me, encouraged me and influenced my work.
I’d be remised if I did not mention some of those people and artists and give them credit for their support.
First, and foremost my wife Cindi for her faith in me, unconditional encouragement and support. My daughter Jennifer who always gives me constructive criticism.
A special thanks to Lee Cable, who influenced me and introduced me to the Susan K. Black Foundation.
Pam Dean-Cable director of the SKB for her support a loyalty.
Jim Parkman founder of the Susan K. Black Foundation for encouraging me to mentor young people and supported me in starting my teen art classes.
The late great Morten Solberg who was was like an uncle to me. He inspired me. He taught me so much about working in watercolor.
David Rankin who continues to encourage and inspire me.
To the late Sir John Seere-Lester who was a true friend and mentor.
Suzy Seerey-Lester for being my friend and inspiration.
Wanda Mumm my mentor and friend.
John Phelps a role model.
Steven Left for continuing to encourage me.
Lauen McCracken for teaching me so much about working in watercolor and encouraging me to take chances.
I could continue to list many more people.
I would not be the artist or the person I am today without them.
Working in my studio I spend almost every day fulfilling my dream of being an artist. There is seldom a day that passes that you won’t find me hard at work creating paintings. Numerous paintings are scattered around my studio in various stages of completion. When not in my studio you can find me painting outdoors.
My primary focus is on creating landscape paintings in oils or watercolor. “I like to look for the subtle beauty of these areas”.
“I get so excited, there is so much beauty around me. I can’t control my passion. I have this burning desire to share my discoveries with other people.” I’ve spent years creating a series of paintings of the Pikes Peak region, the Rocky Mountains, and currently the area around the Lake of the Ozarks. My main focus is painting landscapes. My hope is for the viewer to emerge themselves in the scene and connect with it. I’d like for them to feel as though they were the first person to discover the location.
In addition to creating my artwork, I teach painting. I love to teach. I’m proud and humbled that so many of my students have become better artists.
My objective is to share my personal artistic vision with other people, to explore and interpret the beauty of the world around me, to record the vanishing west through my paintings, to teach and inspire.
I think the most important quality an aspiring artist needs is to never give up, to believe in themself, to be patient, and keep working.
They will need to develop all the skills to perfect their craft. They need to always continue to learn.
They need to understand the fact that they are a small business and learn the skills to operate as a business.
They need to learn how to effectively promote themselves and their artwork.
They need to understand that they need to share their experiences and vision.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
These are important to me and to any aspiring artist.: The most important quality one must have is to never give up, to believe yourself, to continue to develop all the skills to perfect your craft, to be patient, and always keep working.
Everyone needs to effectively promote themselves and their artwork and to share their experiences and vision.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
If I only had ten years left, I’d like to continue creating my artwork, growing and creating the best artwork that I can. I love to continue mentoring young people, teaching them how to think, act and be an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ShanikaFine Arts.com
- Instagram: Kenneth Shanika
- Facebook: Kenneth Shanika Studio
- Youtube: Kenneth Shanika
Image Credits
Kenneth Shanika
