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
"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
$13,700
Yellow Lace Abstract Landscape Painting, Oil on Canvas, Framed, 61" x 49.75".
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
"Yellow Lace", by Ken Elliott is an atmospheric abstract landscape painting that captures the delicate rhythm of a wooded scene bathed in light. Slender tree forms rise through layer...
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
"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
"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
"At the Light's Edge", Abstract Landscape Painting, Oil on Canvas, Framed
By Ken Elliott
Located in Westport, CT
"At the Light’s Edge", by Ken Elliott is a luminous oil on canvas that captures the quiet beauty of trees glowing against a deep, atmospheric sky. Elliott’s expressive brushwork and ...
Oil, Board
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 '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 '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
$750Sale Price|50% Off
H 12.5 in W 14.5 in
‘Yellow and Red Umbrellas’ Beach Seascape Impressionist Oil Painting
Located in Toronto, ON
Impasto style brushwork creates a vibrant beach day with colourful umbrellas. Strong impressionist influence can be seen through the gestural brushstrokes, with figures dotting the s...
Canvas, Oil
$1,475
H 21 in W 23 in D 2 in
Antique American Impressionist Gloucester Harbor Signed Seascape Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique exhibited Gloucester harbor signed seascape painting. Oil on board. Signed. Label verso. Framed in a period giltwood impressionist frame. Measuring 14 by 16 inches image...
Canvas, Oil
$9,500
H 10.25 in W 24 in
"Sea and Sky, Bahamas" Seascape Impressionist Plein Air Oil Painting, 24x10.25in
By Nelson H. White
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting by American Impressionist painter, Nelson H. White (b. 1932, Connecticut) celebrating the colors of the the ocean and the sky above it, as seen in Nassau, The Bahamas...
Oil, Linen, Panel
$651Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 11.82 in D 0.16 in
Original-Rosarian-La Vie en Rose: Summer Bloom Serie-British Awarded Artist
Located in London, GB
Rosarian — La Vie en Rose is part of Shizico Yi’s ongoing Summer Bloom Series, a body of work in which she explores the magical qualities of roses and the complex challenge of painti...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$4,500
H 29 in W 35 in D 2 in
“Impressionist Landscape, c. 1915-1920” California Forest American Impressionist
By Francis Stillwell Dixon
Located in Yardley, PA
“Impressionist Landscape, c. 1915-1920” by Francis Stillwell Dixon (American, 1879-1967). One of Dixon’s finest canvases, depicting a tranquil forest scene bathed in soft, dappled l...
Canvas, Oil
$575
H 15 in W 18 in D 2 in
Nicely Framed American Impressionist Tropical Beach Scene Gold Giltwood Frame
Located in Buffalo, NY
Impressive early American impressionist landscape oil painting. Framed. Oil on board. Image size, 11H by 14L.
Canvas, Oil
Emile Albert Gruppe Bass Rocks 36x30
By Emile Albert Gruppe
Located in Dallas, TX
Emile Albert Gruppe (American, 1896-1978) Bass Rock, 1967 Oil on canvas 30 x 36 inches (76.2 x 91.4 cm) Signed lower right: Emile A. Gruppe Signed, dated, and titled on the stretcher...
Canvas, Oil
$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
$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
$1,076Sale Price|43% Off
H 25.6 in W 36.23 in
Mediterranean Village of Mallorca oil on canvas painting
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Artist: Bernat Sanjuan i Tarré (Barcelona, 1915 – Deià, Mallorca, 1979) Title: Mediterranean Village of Mallorca Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 65 × 92 cm (25.6 × 36.2 in) Framed:...
Canvas, Oil
"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