RIVER TIDE STUDIOS
Kenneth Cook Artist
About Kenneth
Kenneth Cook is a northern California native who currently lives and works in Vallejo, California. He is a member of Arts Benicia and exhibits in shows and galleries. He has studied art with teachers all around the Bay Area.
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After years of working in watercolor, Ken has turned to acrylic and mixed media. "When painting in watercolor, you often have to work fast to catch special moments before the paint dries. Now, even with acrylics, I work rapidly, moving from canvas to canvas. But eventually the acrylic demands its time to dry, allowing my heart to catch up to the drying surface." The result is a work that captures a deeper, layered journey.
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"I work to capture a balance of beauty as I discover the composition. Everything starts randomly, even the paintings of figures always start as pure abstractions and then somewhere along the way, the figure demands to be painted." Kenneth's work is characterized by unique flow, motion and an unrelenting interplay of color.
A rare moment of still water on Carquinez Strait
Ebb and flow is a natural part of his environment. From his home near the Carquinez Strait, he witnesses the daily rhythms of tide pushing against relentless river currents. "The salt water is moving beneath the fresh water. Everything contends and mixes. It's layer on layer of transition. This resonates with me and my paintings.​"
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When not creating new works, Kenneth can be found paddling on the strait, or playing Celtic fiddle. He laughs, "Fiddle impacts the paintings as well, but we should save that for a blog post."
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With A Trip to Bodie at the California State Fair, July 2022
Juried Exhibitions​
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California State Fair, Sacramento, July 2022
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Bold Expressions, NorCal Arts, Oct 2022
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Honorable Mention​
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California State Fair, Sacramento, July 2024
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Award of Excellence​
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Feature Exhibitions
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Shadow Songs, Gallery 621, Benicia, Mar 2019
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Come Be New, Gallery 621, Benicia, Feb 2020
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Premonitions, Gallery 621, Benicia, Oct 2023​
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Sources of Light, Gallery 621, Benicia, April 2024​​​
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Group Exhibitions
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Holiday Show, Gallerie Renee Marie, Benicia CA, Dec 2018
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Art of a Community, Arts Benicia, Jan 2019
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Benicia Open Studios, May 2019
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Art of a Community, Arts Benicia, Feb 2020
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Art of a Community, Arts Benicia, Mar 2021
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Transitions, GATSA Art Show, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, Feb 2022
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Fresh or Frozen, https://artistalliance.space, 2022
Galleries and Retail Showings
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Gallery 621, Benicia CA, 2019-2022
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Sweetness & Light Floral Design, 2021