Adam Kenney
About
With over two decades of drawing and painting experience, a BFA in Studio Art from Seattle Pacific University, a MFA in Digital Art from DigiPen Institute of Technology, and multiple years of teaching experience at my alma mater (SPU) in oil painting and color studies, I have felt blessed to grow in and share my artistic knowledge and discoveries with my students. Oil paint is the medium of choice for me, although I do stay active with charcoal and pencil drawing and sketching (as I think any artist should). My greatest joys come from seeing concepts and ideas click with students and to see a smile of delight cross their face as they learn that they can create beautiful work. I currently live in Western Washington, where I paint and show my work, as well as instruct and help art students grow.
My teaching style emphasizes a worry-free approach to creating art. Studies have shown that when we're worried or fearful, we struggle to learn anything. And one of the greatest benefits of creativity is that it can free us from stress and monotony. It is good for us! Therefore, my classes are always designed to break down the complexity of art into simple and actionable steps that can be easily understood. I emphasize four artistic principles: value, color-mixing, proportions, and composition. I have learned through great experience that the most important teaching tool is time spent practicing. As a teacher, I present the framework, the concepts, the knowledge, and the demonstrations, but it is the student (with helpful feedback) that will own the personal progress. And that makes for an inspired experience!
BFA in Studio Art from Seattle Pacific University
MFA in Digital Art from DigiPen Institute of Technology