Kevin Menck is a plein-air painter based in Nashville, Tennessee whose work I’ve been following for a number of years.
After 15 years as a freelance illustrator, Menck transitioned into gallery painting, specifically plein air landscape painting. He has been posting his work and blogging his experiences in the field since 2007, and recently launched a new website and blog. The bulk of his past work, however, is to be found on the archive of his old blog.
Menck’s work exemplifies some of the best qualities that come from a long practice of dedicated plein air painting. One is the immediacy of his brushwork and paint surface, which is most visible in the reproductions of some of his smaller pieces. There is a wonderful no-nonsense, get right to the heart of it feeling that looks as though every brushstroke was intentional and left as is when put down.
At the same time, his landscapes have a terrific range of subtle color, atmosphere and value contrasts that suggest a strong feeling of place, weather, season and time of day.
Menck teaches workshops, that you can find listed on his website.
Menck’s work will be featured in an exhibition at Leiper’s Creek Gallery in Franklin, TN, for which there is an Artist’s Reception Sunday, June 22, 2014.
