As a native of Colorado, Scott Kennedy is well acquainted with the wilderness. His time spent in the mountains and valleys of the North American West have served to inspire a meaningful and realistic portrayal in his work. “Wilderness inspires me” explains Scott, “for through wilderness I can see a side of the creator.”

  Scott’s work is often more realistic than what is first perceived. As evident in his work he has a genuine understanding of wildlife…in that they are often present though usually go unnoticed.

  His watercolors are very unique. Instead of using a very web brush and washes, Scott keeps his brush almost dry which enables greater control of color. Working in this non-typical way each painting can take up to 300 hours to complete. This combined with little room for error (synonymous with watercolors) makes for an unprecedented challenge in each piece.

  From the glories of nature to the playfulness of sled dogs to the smile of a child, Scott Kennedy has journeyed all over the American and Canadian wilderness to discover there’s no place like home. Beginning his artistic career capturing watercolor adventure in the wilds, he made a purposeful transition to acrylics to share the joys of camping, hiking, dog sledding, fishing and family. “Acrylic colors can be layered so that they remind me of stained glass,” he says, “inspiring me to paint images that are more intimate as well as majestic.”

  Frequent childhood camping trips with his father instilled in him a reverence for the outdoors. Frequent lessons with his artist mother taught him line, color and perspective, starting at the age of three. He originally intended to work toward a dual major in wildlife biology and art at Colorado State. University, but soon art proved the more attractive. He was not at a loss of subject matter, starting with his own experiences white water rafting and exploring the wild. His work reflected his love and understanding of both wild places and the creatures who inhabit them—including the people who respect nature.

  Soon, however, the growth of his family and the inclusion of loyal pets brought Kennedy’s attention down from the mountains and many collectors are devoted to his heartwarming portraits of frisky sled dogs as well as siblings learning from each other or their parents. Now Kennedy’s art of both the great outdoors and the joys of home is collected in America and more than a dozen countries around the world. “It’s not only a pleasure for me,” he says, “but also an act of reverence to paint what I see around me.”

  Kennedy has collectors worldwide. His work has appeared on magazine covers and has hung in several major galleries including the Pro Rodeo Hall of Champions and Museum of the American Cowboy. Scott received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Colorado State University in 1981.