Rose S. Kennedy
A lifelong resident of southeastern North Carolina, Rose Kennedy previously worked as a graphic designer. She also worked for 18 years with an art publisher/licensing agency creating water color/mixed media paintings in the juvenile genre. These images were sold nationally as prints and licensed for use on consumer products.
Rose now creates original oil paintings in her home studio and at Cape Fear Studios in Fayetteville, NC. Her style is painterly, with visible brushstrokes and harmonious hues that convey a sense of warmth and serenity. Detail is implied rather than described, allowing the viewer opportunity to engage with and interpret the painting on a personal level.
Her work has been juried into international, national and regional competitions, garnering awards along the way. Rose enjoys painting “en plein air”, and has been chosen to participate in a number of juried and invitational events over the past several years. In addition to painting she enjoys teaching others through workshops and private lessons.
Gallery
Biography
Born in southeastern North Carolina, Rose Kennedy grew up close to the coast, the Blue Ridge Mountains and all the beautiful landscape stretching in between. She developed heartfelt ties to earth and nature. Drawing and painting were her favorite pastimes, so continuing artistic ventures into adulthood was a given. With a degree in Commercial Art, Rose worked as a product/graphic designer for a home decor manufacturer. She also worked with an art publisher and licensing agency creating mixed media paintings in the juvenile genre. These images were recreated as prints and licensed for use on consumer goods.
Rose now enjoys the expressiveness of creating original oil paintings inspired by her observations in nature. Whether recreating the beauty of the landscape, painting street scenes, floral or still life, capturing the essence of the scene is her goal. Her focus is on creating a feeling of painterly presence within her work that implies detail without being literal. “I liken the lyrical nature of a painting to that of a musical score, following a rhythmic melody that creates beauty and mood within the piece.”
Rose’s work has been juried into numerous national exhibits and competitions, winning awards along the way. Teaching art lessons to adults and children, she works from her studio on the family farm and in downtown Fayetteville NC at Cape Fear Studios. As an active member of this artist cooperative, she has worked on a number of projects, including organizing children’s workshops, an annual national 2D competition, and monthly gallery exhibition rotations. Rose participates in a number of plein air events each year, including the Piedmont Plein Air Paint Out, the Azalea Festival Plein Air Paint Out, the Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival, Paint It Orange, Plein Air New Bern and the Suffolk Plein Air Festival. Her work is held in several private and corporate collections, and she is featured in the publication Painting North Carolina, A Visual Journey.
Artist Statement
Plein air painting is a joy for me, and makes my soul sing! I feel a spiritual connection with the landscape when out in nature capturing a scene. The challenge of getting the essence of a painting down quickly with shifting light patterns, weather changes and intrusive “no see ums” is a fulfilling experience that drives my desire to create. Many lessons have been learned through this practice that carry over into my studio work. My style is painterly, with expressive marks and harmonious hues that convey a sense of warmth and serenity. Detail is implied rather than described, allowing the viewer opportunity to linger and engage with the painting on a personal level.
Most recently my work has received honorable mention awards in the American Impressionist Society Online Members’ Exhibition and at the Suffolk Plein Air Festival.