Ken Christmas
Ken's pastel pencil wildlife paintings breathe of meticulous detail and living energy that can only come from a long and intimate knowledge of the bush. After only four months of drawing, the glowing reception of his work from Art Galleries and critics in Vancouver, and vicinity, stunned even Ken himself. Ken was raised near Hamilton Ontario. His only contact with art was in public school, where he won several prizes in city-wide contests.
Ever drawn towards bush and marshlands, Ken has been a logger, a musician, and for some years ran a hunting camp in the district of Parry Sound, Ontario.
Ken's talent lay dormant until December 1985. The painting "PRIZE LYNX" in Chrysler's "Search for Canadian Wildlife Artists 1986" won Ken 1st place in Western Canada through B.C. Outdoors magazine, and 2nd. place in the national competition through Ontario Out of Doors Magazine.
Ken's paintings hang in private collections in Canada, the U.S.A. and overseas. Moving to Vancouver Island in October 1991, Ken now makes his home in Parksville, British Columbia. Canada.
Actual Image Size: 12 3/4" X 17"
495 Limited Edition price: $130.00 CAN
75 Artists Proofs price: $156.00 CAN
Public reaction to the original led to this work being ken's first to be printed as a limited edition. A simple piece, the detail is as visible from ten feet as from an inch away. The charcoal colored paper shows through the image an complements it.
Actual Image Size: 19" X 24"
496 Limited Edition price: $130.00 CAN
75 Artists Proofs price: $156.00 CAN
This big cougar may still roam K-Mountain in the Similkameen valley near Keremeos in British Columbia. Look closely at the eyes to understand why Ken nearly titled the work "Ghost of K-Mountain."
Actual Image Size: 23 1/2" X 17 1/2"
295 Limited Edition price: $130.00 CAN
30 Artists Proofs price: $156.00 CAN
In the title there is a clue as to what is taking place. Can you find the two black bears, a sow and her cub, that Ken has hidden in the background away from the big grizzly? Being tree climbers is a definite advantage in this situation.
Actual Image Size: 17" X 12 1/2"
950 Limited Edition price: $130.00 CAN
75 Artists Proofs price: $156.00 CAN
Note the curious nature of the cat staring with eyes capable of adapting to both day and night-time hunting.
Actual Image Size: 17" X 10 3/4"
950 Limited Edition price: $130.00 CAN
75 Artists Proofs price: $156.00 CAN
Wolves of today are retreating from the ever-increasing human presence in their territories. Looking back wistfully at vanishing trails and hunting grounds, the wolf's senses and wariness of man are summed up in the tittle, "Forbidden Boundaries."
Actual Image Size: 18 1/4" X 24"
300 Limited Edition price: $200.00 CAN
30 Artists Proofs price: $240.00 CAN
This work is drawn with pastel pencil, and stick pencil was also used to lay in the sky and snow. Polar bears have an incredible sense of smell - the tittle for this picture came easily.
Actual Image Size: 22 1/2" X 17 1/2"
950 Limited Edition price: $150.00 CAN
75 Artists Proofs price: $180.00 CAN
Waiting for the easy seal hunting that accompanies freeze - up near Churchill, Manitoba, this scene depicts a sparring event typical of the life of the polar bear. Could it be a mother driving off her mature cub to start life on his own?
"ALERT COUGAR"
"K-MOUNTAIN CAT"
"PASS US BY"
"COURIOUS CAT"
"FORBIDDEN BOUNDARIES"
"TWO SCENTS WORTH"
"SNOW BRAWL"