Ken Elliot works with oil paints and pastels to bring abstracted scenes of nature to life. The Colorado artist’s frequently luminous landscape paintings, which feature trees, rivers, lakes, mountains and skies, ripple with energy. Elliot finds endless inspiration in the variation of the world around him, and the prolific colorist’s works are held in thousands of personal and private collections.
Elliot didn't begin painting until late in life. In 1967, he graduated from the University of Houston, where he studied art and advertising. His subsequent jobs as an art restorer, a picture framer and an art dealer in Texas exposed him to many styles and a range of mediums. Finally, in 1987, Elliot moved to San Francisco to embark on a painting career. He started by painting breathtaking sunlit scenes of Texas and California.
After a few years of teaching himself new skills and techniques, Elliot was accepted into a master class at the Santa Fe Art Institute. The class was taught by acclaimed painter Wolf Kahn — who studied with the legendary teacher and Abstract Expressionist painter Hans Hofmann — and Kahn’s insights have since proven indispensable for Elliot.
Elliot currently lives in Colorado, where he continues to create more Impressionistic landscapes. Sometimes he isn’t merely working on one painting — the artist usually has a number of works going at once and has said that the paintings can inspire one another. Elliot regularly exhibits at galleries in Colorado, New Mexico, Connecticut, Texas and New York.
On 1stDibs, find Ken Elliot prints, paintings, watercolors and more.
"Colors in the Breeze 1, " Abstract Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
This striking original oil painting by Colorado-based artist Ken Elliott captures the emotive rhythm and chromatic energy of a wooded landscape rendered in motion. Layers of rich pig...
Canvas, Oil
"Tangerine Evening II, " Abstract Landscape Oil Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
Ken Elliott’s masterful handling of color and form transforms a peaceful landscape into a glowing, radiant experience. In this original oil painting, the horizon splits a luminous la...
Canvas, Oil
Expressionistic landscape oil painting 'Colors in the Breeze IV'
By Ken Elliott
Located in White Plains, NY
Available at Madelyn Jordon Fine Art. 'Colors in the Breeze IV' 2023 by American artist, Ken Elliott. Oil on canvas, 36 x 36 in. / Frame: 37.75 x 37.75 in. This painting of a forest incorporates a palette of colors in green, purple, yellow, pink, and blue. Framed in a gold painted frame. Colorado based artist Ken Elliott, focuses on the western landscape and its rich store of ideas and inspiration. Painting rural scenery, the artist does not try to recreate nature or attempt storytelling but instead, wields color boldly, creating vibrant, contemporary landscapes that are both animated and peaceful. Early in his career, he was a student of Wolf Kahn, who inspired his work. Since 1988, Elliott’s work has been exhibited in numerous galleries nationwide. His work is collected in corporate art collections such as Hewlett Packard...
Canvas, Oil
"Light Moving Across, " Abstract Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
"Light Moving Across", by American artist Ken Elliott is a radiant, large-scale landscape that captures the poetic energy of nature through bold abstraction and vibrant color. A ser...
Canvas, Oil
"Into the Green Forest" Abstracted Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
Luminous and dreamlike, Into the Green Forest by Ken Elliott invites the viewer into a serene woodland world awash in light and layered color. In this large-scale oil painting, Ellio...
Canvas, Oil
Expressionistic landscape oil painting 'Red Stand'
By Ken Elliott
Located in White Plains, NY
Available at Madelyn Jordon Fine Art. 'Red Stand' 2011 by American artist, Ken Elliott. Oil on canvas, 40 x 40 in. This painting of a forest incorporates a palette of rich colors in red, orange, yellow, purple, and blue. Colorado based artist Ken Elliott, focuses on the western landscape and its rich store of ideas and inspiration. Painting rural scenery, the artist does not try to recreate nature or attempt storytelling but instead, wields color boldly, creating vibrant, contemporary landscapes that are both animated and peaceful. Early in his career, he was a student of Wolf Kahn, who inspired his work. Since 1988, Elliott’s work has been exhibited in numerous galleries nationwide. His work is collected in corporate art collections such as Hewlett Packard, Ritz Hotel, Mayo Clinic...
Canvas, Oil
Expressionistic landscape oil painting 'Found Colors at the Snows Edge II'
By Ken Elliott
Located in White Plains, NY
'Found Colors at the Snows Edge II' 2023 by American artist, Ken Elliott. Oil on canvas, 48 x 60 in. / Frame: 49.75 x 61.75 in.This painting of a forest and snowy ground comprises of colors in blue, green, brown and white. Framed in a gold painted frame. Colorado based artist Ken Elliott, focuses on the western landscape and its rich store of ideas and inspiration. Painting rural scenery, the artist does not try to recreate nature or attempt storytelling but instead, wields color boldly, creating vibrant, contemporary landscapes that are both animated and peaceful. Early in his career, he was a student of Wolf Kahn, who inspired his work. Since 1988, Elliott’s work has been exhibited in numerous galleries nationwide. His work is collected in corporate art...
Canvas, Oil
Expressionistic landscape oil painting 'Colors in the Breeze III'
By Ken Elliott
Located in White Plains, NY
'Colors in the Breeze III' 2021 by American artist, Ken Elliott. Oil on canvas, 30 x 30 in. / Frame: 31.5 x 31.5 in. This painting of a forest and a field comprises of colors in green, purple, yellow, pink, and blue. Framed in a gold painted frame. Colorado based artist Ken Elliott, focuses on the western landscape and its rich store of ideas and inspiration. Painting rural scenery, the artist does not try to recreate nature or attempt storytelling but instead, wields color boldly, creating vibrant, contemporary landscapes that are both animated and peaceful. Early in his career, he was a student of Wolf Kahn, who inspired his work. Since 1988, Elliott’s work has been exhibited in numerous galleries nationwide. His work is collected in corporate art...
Canvas, Oil
$5,500
H 15 in W 22 in D 1 in
"The Wild Rose Hip Bush 06.23.2020" contemporary oil painting - impressionism
By Nelson White
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Oil Painting of a rose bush, on a bright sunny day. Crisp blues make up the sky above, the horizon meets distant land across a body of water. bright greens and yellows make up a verd...
Linen, Oil
$4,500
H 9 in W 12 in D 0.5 in
"Trumans Beach, East Marion 06.06.2022" contemporary impressionist seascape, oil
By Nelson H. White
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Trumans Beach, East Marion 06.06.2022" is an almost-abstract palette knife landscape painting of a beach and beach shrubs. Off in the distance is a little white triangle of paint to emulate a sailboat...
Canvas, Oil, Panel
$329
H 13 in W 13 in D 1.19 in
Stinchcombe Hill, Rupert Aker, Original painting, Impressionist style Landscape
By Rupert Aker
Located in Deddington, GB
Stinchcombe Hill by Rupert Aker [2022] original Oil on board Image size: H:30 cm x W:30 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:30 cm x W:30 cm x D:2cm Frame Size: H:33 cm x W:33 cm x ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,642Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 35.44 in D 0.6 in
Original Triptych-Jardin d'Hiver and La vie Rose-British Awarded Artist-Impasto
Located in London, GB
Jardin d'Hiver Series is Shizico Yi's latest works for GSY Studio Gallery Summer Exhibition 2025, this set including 3 paintings. This series created in her winter studio while longi...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,072Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 35.44 in D 0.12 in
Originals-Magic Bell Triptych-British Awarded Artist--after Monet-impressionism
Located in London, GB
To Shizico, a triptych is a compilation of visual prayers; it embodies a meditative voyage akin to a form of meditation. For her, the repetition of motifs within the triptych serves ...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
$780Sale Price|20% Off
H 12 in W 16 in D 2 in
Vintage American Impressionist New York Cityscape Signed Modern Oil Painting
By Kamil Kubik
Located in Buffalo, NY
Nicely painted mid century impressionist cityscape oil painting by Kamil Kubik (1930 - 2011) . Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed. Nice view of the Empire State Building!
Canvas, Oil
$3,750
H 29.5 in W 23 in
American Impressionist scene of a sail boat on a river in New England
By Charles Bertie Hall
Located in Woodbury, CT
Charles Bertie Hall, Yacht sailing in a river. Owning an Impressionist marine landscape by Charles Bertie Hall, an English/American Impressionist painter, offers a unique opportuni...
Oil, Canvas
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
H 13 in W 17 in D 2 in
Arthur Best Impressionist Signed Flower Garden Landscape Rare Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American impressionist flower landscape painting by Arthur William Best (1859 - 1935). Oil on board. Signed. Framed. Image size, 14L x ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,368
H 15.75 in W 23.63 in D 0.2 in
Original Diptych-Sunset Song-British Awarded Artist-Abstract impression-oil
Located in London, GB
Sunset Song Series was created entirely en plein air, painted directly under the dimming light of late-summer and autumn sunsets. This body of work is a meditation on seeing without...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
$12,800
H 23 in W 35 in D 2 in
"Soft Yellow Sunset" contemporary impressionist oil painting, abstract seascape
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Soft Yellow Sunset" is a contemporary impressionist oil painting of the sun setting over Noyack Bay in Sag Harbor, New York. Fenske works in a loose-im...
Linen, Oil, Canvas
$760Sale Price|20% Off
H 18 in W 30 in D 2 in
Mid Century Wyoming Teton Mountain Range Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Expansive landscape painting of the Teton Range in Wyoming reflecting in a nearby lake by Alma McGovern (American, 20th century). Signed and dated "Alma '61...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$788Sale Price|20% Off
H 20.08 in W 15.95 in D 0.6 in
Original-Once in a Sturgeon Moon-Brit Awarded Artist-plein-air with gold-leaf
Located in London, GB
Painted en plein air beneath the final full moon of summer—the Sturgeon Moon—this work captures a rare moment when the florals in Shizico Yi’s garden glowed under brilliant moonlight...
Gold Leaf
"Light Revealed" Abstracted Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
This framed abstracted landscape painting by Ken Elliott features forest landscape composition and a colorful palette. Cool-toned tree trunks are contrasted by warm yellow tones. The...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 50 in W 40 in
Expressionistic landscape oil painting 'Soft Tones at the Creek'
By Ken Elliott
Located in White Plains, NY
'Soft Tones at the Creek' 2022 by American artist, Ken Elliott. Oil on canvas, 50 x 40 in. / Frame: 51.5 x 41.75 in. This painting of a forest and ground comprises of colors in light blue, green, pink, purple, and brown. Framed in a gold painted frame. Colorado based artist Ken Elliott, focuses on the western landscape and its rich store of ideas and inspiration. Painting rural scenery, the artist does not try to recreate nature or attempt storytelling but instead, wields color boldly, creating vibrant, contemporary landscapes that are both animated and peaceful. Early in his career, he was a student of Wolf Kahn, who inspired his work. Since 1988, Elliott’s work has been exhibited in numerous galleries nationwide. His work is collected in corporate art...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 24 in W 24 in
Expressionistic landscape oil painting 'Ultramarine Blue Forest'
By Ken Elliott
Located in White Plains, NY
'Ultramarine Blue Forest' 2023 by American artist, Ken Elliott. Oil on panel, 24 x 24 in. / Frame: 25.5 x 25.5 in. This painting of a forest and a field comprises of colors in green, purple, pink, and blue. Framed in a gold painted frame. Colorado based artist Ken Elliott, focuses on the western landscape and its rich store of ideas and inspiration. Painting rural scenery, the artist does not try to recreate nature or attempt storytelling but instead, wields color boldly, creating vibrant, contemporary landscapes that are both animated and peaceful. Early in his career, he was a student of Wolf Kahn, who inspired his work. Since 1988, Elliott’s work has been exhibited in numerous galleries nationwide. His work is collected in corporate art...
Oil, Panel
Sold
H 41.75 in W 51.75 in D 2.25 in
"Haze in the Forest, " Abstract Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
This contemporary abstract landscape painting by Ken Elliott is made with oil paint on canvas. It features a cool violet-blue palette, capturing an abstracted scene of a forest in th...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 37.5 in W 37.5 in D 2 in
"Warm Contrasts and Cool Blues, " Abstract Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
This contemporary abstract landscape painting by Ken Elliott is made with oil paint on canvas. It depicts an abstracted forest-scape, with cool blue and violet trees and a yellow-green forest floor. The cool blues...
Canvas, Oil
"Reluctant Sunset I, " Abstract Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
This abstract landscape painting by Ken Elliott is made with oil paint on canvas. It features a cool blue and violet palette, capturing hills underneath thick clouds, with contrastin...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 25.75 in W 25.75 in D 2 in
"Reluctant Sunset II, " Abstract Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
This contemporary abstract landscape painting by Ken Elliott is made with oil paint on canvas. It features a cool blue and violet palette, capturing rolling hills underneath thick, h...
Canvas, Oil
Expressionistic landscape oil painting, Weather Moving Across
By Ken Elliott
Located in White Plains, NY
'Weather Moving Across' 2022 by American artist, Ken Elliott. Oil on canvas, 36 x 60 in. This painting of clouds and sky comprises of colors in pink, blue, yellow, purple, and green. Moving from left to right, the sun is reflected through the clouds to the water below. Colorado based artist Ken Elliott, focuses on the western landscape and its rich store of ideas and inspiration. Painting rural scenery, the artist does not try to recreate nature or attempt storytelling but instead, wields color boldly, creating vibrant, contemporary landscapes that are both animated and peaceful. Early in his career, he was a student of Wolf Kahn, who inspired his work. Since 1988, Elliott’s work has been exhibited in numerous galleries nationwide. His work is collected in corporate art...
Canvas, Oil
"Green Influences, " Abstract Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
This abstract landscape by Ken Elliott features a bright, vibrant palette and an impressionistic style. The oil painting itself is 40" x 40", and is professionally framed in a gold f...
Oil, Canvas
Sold
H 31.5 in W 31.5 in D 1.75 in
"Light Moving Through II, " Abstract Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
This abstract landscape painting by Ken Elliott is made with oil paint on panel and is professionally framed in a gold floater frame. It measures 30" x 30", and 31.5" x 31.5" framed....
Oil, Panel
"Lake Haze - Yellow, " Abstract Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
This abstract landscape painting by Ken Elliott is made with oil paint on canvas. It measures 36" x 36" and is professionally framed in a gold floater frame, making the total dimensi...
Canvas, Oil
"Saccades XII, " Abstract Landscape Painting
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
This abstract landscape statement painting by Ken Elliott features a warm palette and impressionistic style. It pictures a forest-scape with thin, dark tree trunks, surrounded by bri...
Canvas, Oil