Ken Ferguson
Since childhood, I've had an interest in 19th century military history and the lifeways and material culture of this continent's First People; and these are the subjects I love to paint. When asked, I usually describe my paintings as historical figurative. Others have called them "storytelling portraits." No matter the description, and whether the subject is an ancient Puebloan of the American Southwest, a Dog Soldier of the Southern Cheyenne, or a Dragoon of Napoleon's Imperial Guard, my stylistic watercolor paintings are distinguished by their deeply vibrant color, meticulous detail and attention to historical accuracy. I also enjoy depicting the world around me with my "Wee Beasties" series of small paintings of birds, mammals and other subjects from nature.
Watercolor has been my preferred medium for more than 30 years. Early in my career, I began pushing the medium beyond the typical spontaneous, wet-on-wet approach to develop my own unique style. By using multiple overlays of paint and controlled washes, combined with dry brush and splatter, my paintings offer a distinctive approach that brings out unexpected brilliance in the pigments and permits a high level of detail. I finish the paintings with a clear, archival acrylic varnish that eliminates the need for glass.
Paintings are available through my studios in Lake Geneva, WI and Scottsdale, AZ and at select juried art shows across the country. Collected by art enthusiasts, watercolor aficionados and avid historians, my work resides in private, corporate and public settings in the United States, Canada and Europe. I accept a limited number of commissions each year and welcome anyone interested to contact me.
Education Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illustration, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Special Projects, Articles & Other Notables
Watercolor has been my preferred medium for more than 30 years. Early in my career, I began pushing the medium beyond the typical spontaneous, wet-on-wet approach to develop my own unique style. By using multiple overlays of paint and controlled washes, combined with dry brush and splatter, my paintings offer a distinctive approach that brings out unexpected brilliance in the pigments and permits a high level of detail. I finish the paintings with a clear, archival acrylic varnish that eliminates the need for glass.
Paintings are available through my studios in Lake Geneva, WI and Scottsdale, AZ and at select juried art shows across the country. Collected by art enthusiasts, watercolor aficionados and avid historians, my work resides in private, corporate and public settings in the United States, Canada and Europe. I accept a limited number of commissions each year and welcome anyone interested to contact me.
Education Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illustration, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Special Projects, Articles & Other Notables
- 2014 Master of the Southwest, Phoenix Home & Garden
- "Recording Artist", Phoenix Home & Garden, March 2014
- Western Art Collector, "State of the Art:Arizona," January 2013
- First Place Watercolor, Naperville Riverwalk Fine Art Fair 2012
- Award of Excellence for Painting, Geneva Arts Fair 2012
- Award of Excellence, Promenade of Art, Arlington Heights 2012
- Award of Excellence, Arti Gras 2012
- First Place Award Watercolor - Naperville Riverwalk Fine Art Festival, 2011
- Featured Artist & Award of Excellence, Oakbrook Fine Art Invitational Art Exhibit, 2011
- United States Postal Service Definitive Stamp Series
- “Artist Spotlight,” Scottsdale Airpark Magazine, February 2009
- The Crow’s Nest, The Journal of the Custer Association of Great Britain, Autumn/Winter 2007 & 2008
- CBC documentary, “Lewis et Clark – expeditions due passé,” Decouverte, Aug 2004
- “New Eyes on the American West,” InformArt, Summer 1998
- “The Native American Spirit,” U.S. Art, November 1996
- “Artist Preview—A Look at Six Exciting Artists,” Art of the West, Nov/Dec 1993
- Merit Award Winner, Wildlife & Western Art Exhibit & Sale, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1993
- Merit Award Winner, International Wildlife & Western Art Show, Chicago, Illinois, 1986
- United States Postal Service, Washington, DC
- Monroe County Historical Museum, Monroe County, MI
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
- Center for Tribal Studies, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD
- Crow Tribal College & Offices, Crow Agency, MT
- Bass Pro Shops, Springfield, MO
- ACUITY (formerly Heritage Insurance Group), Sheboygan, WI
- Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
- Lakefront Festival of Art, Milwaukee, WI
- MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival, Fort Worth, TX
- Scottsdale Art Festival, Scottsdale, AZ
- Geneva Arts Festival, Geneva, IL
- Oakbrook Fine Art Invitational, Oak Brook, IL (Featured Artist & Award of Excellence, 2011)
- Riverwalk Fine Art Festival, Naperville, IL (First Place, Watercolor, 2011 and 2012)
- Blue Sage Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
- El Prado Gallery, Sedona, AZ
- El Presidio Gallery, Tucson, AZ
- Hawthorne Galleries, Branson, MO
- Jack Anderson Gallery, Sister Bay, WI
- Marcus Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
- Moondance Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
- Morgan Gallery, Taos, NM
- Proud Fox Gallery, St. Charles, IL
- Shades of the West Gallery, Los Angeles, CA