About The Artist
Born in New Rochelle, NY in 1957, Kenneth Dinkel spent his early years in Larchmont Acres, New Rochelle and Rye, NY finally settling with his family in Armonk, NY where he remains today. Ken attended Ithaca College as an undergraduate and while there set records in the 50 and 100 freestyle swimming events, finally making state honors at the Division 111 championships at Colgate University. After two years at Ithaca, Ken left academics to start Mr.Goodstrip, a painting and refinishing company. Ken still owns and operates Mr. Goodstrip, which is now in its 31st year. According to Ken, there is a distinct similarity between his restoration projects and his landscape painting insofar as he can visualize the journey from start to finish with each piece. In contrast, improvisation plays a pivotal role in his abstracts and he thrives on the joy found in changing a piece several times before it becomes a tangible painting he can then share with others.
My sister Carol, was influential by introducing me to the arts as a young nine year old boy, taking me to Broadway plays, as well as to the Museaum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim. She lived near the famous Dakota Building, home to many famous artists, and musicians. Ken says of those moments, "I remember being in Awe of the great artists of yesterday". Carol took Ken to his first plays which were "Seesaw" with Ken Howard, Michelle Lee, Irene Ryan, and Tommy Tune, as well as "Pippen", with Ben Vereen. Ken loved these trips to Manhattan to visit his sister as they were always filled with artistic moments.
Ken can pinpoint the moment he knew he wanted to become an artist. In 1998 on a trip to Maine, Ken came upon a tall, thin man painting a pear in Keenebunkport gallery. This man, Val McGann, welcomed Ken into the art world with sage advice that proved critical: “Once you develop your skill,” McGann shared, “you’ll know you have it after about one hundred works.” For the eight years that followed this conversation, Ken spent every free moment honing and developing his skills as a painter. A contractor by day, Ken spent many a night brush in hand to “keep the feel” of his work.
In May of 2000, Ken married Nancy, the love of his life and now mother to two sons, Stefan (6) and Kenneth (5). Nancy is not only a partner and friend to Ken, but also his greatest critic and an aspiring portrait artist herself.
As an artist, growth is essential to Ken and nothing excites him more than the exploration of color, which he experiences in different forms. His work is vivid, showing a great deal of movement. His landscapes, often including water, require much patience but are extremely rewarding, while his abstract work proves an opportunity for him to have more fun and to let his hair down.
Ken has studied with Alan Reingold, one of America's top illustrators and is currently an art professor at The Parson's School of Design, in Greenwich Village, NY. Alan insists that Ken is studying "independantly" with him. Ken says Alan's advice, critique, and consultations are absolutely priceless.
Ken’s “big break” as an painter was in August of 2006. Having applied to a show at the Berkeley Gallery in White Plains, NY, Ken, along with eighteen other artists, was selected from the hundreds of applicants to the show. Jeremy Adams, Executive Directior of Que Gallery in Chelsea and D.B. Kim, Vice President of Design for Westin hotels, juried the show. Curator Bob Keiber showed a great interest in Ken’s work, introduced Ken to many other artists and invited him back to Berkeley Gallery in February of 2007 to take part in an abstract-themed spring show. Bob selected four abstract paintings and three landscapes to display, commenting that Ken had the makings of a “one-man show.”
President of the American Society of Contemporary Artists, Jessica Iwamoto, juried the pieces at the Berkeley Gallery in March and selected Ken’s abstract work “Fireworks” for an award. He was thrilled. As a winner, Ken earned an exhibit at the Berkeley Gallery in Manhattan. (E. 43rd St between Madison and 5th Ave) from July 1-31st with an artist’s reception on July 9th from 5:30-7:30 pm. For Kenneth Dinkel, this is “a dream of all dreams.”