Norman artist Tim Kenney
was in Miami last week working on the sixth of 77 paintings he has planned with
a portion of proceeds from each going to the Nicole Jarvis Parkinson’s Research
Foundation.
MIAMI – His personality is as big,
bold and bright as his paintings, and Norman artist Tim Kenney’s heart is
wonderfully big too.
Kenney
was in Miami last week painting the sixth of 77 paintings he is creating in 77
days of scenes from each of the 77 counties in Oklahoma.
He is
donating a portion of the proceeds from the sales of each painting to the
Nicole Jarvis Parkinson’s Research Foundation, an Oklahoma organization
dedicated toward efforts to find a cure for the chronic illness.
Jarvis, a
44-year-old, OB/GYN Physician, and mother of twins, was diagnosed with Young
Onset Parkinson’s Disease, and she’s a friend of Kenney’s.
Kenney is
an abstract impressionist and colorist who paints with bold colors and strokes
to create paintings with feeling and excitement. His work sells for hundreds to
thousands of dollars and is growing in popularity with collectors across the
country.
He
started the 77 county endeavor on Sept. 4 in Jefferson County, and he has
braved Oklahoma weather, hail, heat, sun and rain as he makes his way to each
county to paint. His 77th and final painting in the series will be painted in
Norman on Nov. 19.
“They’re
all 16 by 20 inches, they’re $680 each, and 20 percent will go to fund
Parkinson’s research,” Kenney said. “Nicole was diagnosed six years ago, and
we’re great friends. I give my paintings to a lot of good charities in Norman;
the American Heart Association, Chamber of Commerce, the United Way and those
type of things.”
A retired
contractor in sales and marketing, Kenney took up painting while caring for his
ailing mother, and he hasn’t stopped since. Kenney is a prolific artist and
paints every day creating and capturing fantastic images.
“I’m a
full-time artist now. I started eight years ago,” he said. “I started painting
at 52 years-old, and I’m 61 now. It’s been crazy. I had never done a painting
before that age.”
He paints with oil on stretched
canvas with palette knives and brushes painting in plain air, outdoors on
location.
“These are oil paintings, and I use a
very thick paint and pallet knife, so it takes about a month to six weeks to
dry,” Kenney said. “It takes about four hours to paint each one probably. I
will start them on location and finish them in the evening.”
In Ottawa
County, he set up at the gateway arch on Main Street in Miami and drew
onlookers who watched him paint.
“This one
has already been pre-sold, but I ’m not going to say who bought it. He’s a
great guy, but I don’t know if he wants me to name him,” he said.
The
artist has painted in Jefferson County, Stephens County, Washita County, Greer
County, Mayes County, Ottawa County, Craig County and Osage County so far, and
was heading to the next county after a side trip.
Kenney
has already pre-sold 34 of the 77 county paintings to collectors and locals
interested in obtaining their county’s piece.
The
subject or view depicted in each of the paintings is sometimes requested by the
buyer, and other pieces are depictions of places he is directed to by locals.
“The day before yesterday
I was in Santa Fe to drop off paintings for a show, and so I painted on the way
in and out of state. When I came back in the state I stopped at Greer County,”
Kenney said. “I pulled into Mangum in Greer, and I asked them, ‘Where should I
paint?’ and they all told me this spot called Jay Buckle Springs. Everybody
knew about it, and I mean everybody. Of course, I never heard of it, and I
drove towards it and ran into another small town, Willow. A lady drove me up
there. It’s a natural spring where they all swim.”
He posted a photo of the completed
Greer painting on his Facebook page, and almost immediately one of Kenney’s
Norman friends bought it because he lived near the spring growing up as a
child.
In Mayes County Kenney was inspired
by natural beauty.
“We
stopped real early at sun up, and there was a beautiful sunrise coming, so I
stopped right there and painted,” he said. “It was great.”
In
another county, he painted a lake by request where the art buyer had fished in
his youth with his grandparents.
“He was
really emotional about it. It was pretty cool,” Kenney said.
Kenney
took a short break after painting in Miami to travel to Ohio and cheer on
Oklahoma University’s Sooners against Ohio State in their last football game
with his friends Dale Baker, and David Thompson.
The
artist has an overall plan for the 77 county journey but has been flexible with
his course as he travels around the state.
“It
changes daily,” Kenney said of his route. “I just had a grandson Friday, and I
had to make sure Duke was okay. He’s my fifth grandson.”
Once all
77 Oklahoma county paintings are completed Kenney intends to show the
collection in Norman. He may also offer prints of the Oklahoma paintings due to
the large interest shown in the pieces.
“The bad
ones too, there’s always one person who likes the bad ones. My wife likes them
all,” Kenney said with a laugh. “At least that’s what she tells me, who knows
what she really thinks.”
Kenney
posts daily on Facebook throughout the journey and posts photos of the pieces
once they are completed.
This
isn’t the first time Kenney has set off on such an artistic journey. In May of
2014, he made a 50-day tour with the goal of painting 50 paintings in 50 states
in 50 days donating a portion of the proceeds to Parkinson’s research. He accomplished
that goal, painting the final art piece on the 50th day in Santa Fe, New Mexico
of his grandmother’s house, which is now the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Research
Center.
“I flew
to Hawaii and Alaska, and I drove 12,800 miles. It was a great, great trip and
I had a ball,” Kenney said.
Kenney’s
artwork can now be found in galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Breckenridge and
Vail, Colorado, Gulf Shores, Alabama, Oklahoma City and Norman with up and
coming shows scheduled as well.
Asked
what his next painting project would be, Kenney said, “I did the 50 states, and
now Oklahoma. This is pretty big, and this is a real challenge, so we’ll see.”
To follow
Kenney’s journey and see his artwork visit his Facebook page at ‘Tim Kenney
Art’ or his website www.timkenneyfineart.com.
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