Doug Kennedy

Doug's work is often layers of acrylic and oils on canvas, but he also creates mixed media images on paper. His native Louisiana landscape serves as inspiration. He often chooses colors representative of nature in Louisiana ‐ the muted tones found in the swampy areas shrouded with Spanish moss, the saturated pink of an azalea blossom, the rich purple hue of a blooming iris. The natural palette brims with emotion and captivates the eye. The tinted, bold shapes can be as opaque as bayou water or as transparent as the morning fog in early Fall. Representative of shadowy memories or live inspiration, the brushstrokes mingle and collide.

For the artist, the process of creation is as important as the work of art, itself. He divides his time between his studio in Austin, Texas and the region of Louisiana that continually inspires him. At his twin brother's home in rural Calhoun, the open fields serve as an outdoor studio, and the earth as his easel. Kennedy communes with his medium in a way that is natural and intuitive. He spreads large, loose canvas panels on the ground, often several at once. This way, he can walk around each canvas as he paints and create multiple works of art in the same session, capturing a multifaceted point of view.

"Paintings that are created together have a base relationship. They are all related, but once I get them back in the studio and stretch them, the become more individual," he reveals.

His art has been included in countless galleries across the nation and can be viewed currently in Addison Gallery of Delray Beach, FL. In 2006, Kennedy received the prestigious honor of being chosen one of the four American artists to participate in the Art in Embassies (AIE), which has been championed by the Department of State in Washington, D.C. for over fifty years. As an AIE artist, Kennedy engaged in a cross-cultural exchange of art within international embassies and consulates to foster global creative dialogue. His work was featured in the United States Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam and later in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.