About the Artist

Indicates the paintings that contain a hidden butterfly.

  Brenda L.B. Kenney
              Fine Art ...  "Capturing the beauty of the New England experience."


When and where an artist sows, an inspired gift from God will grow.    


Artist's Biography:

Brenda grew up in Salisbury, NH  and has been an "artist at heart" all of her life.  She began drawing and painting as a child, attended art classes throughout high-school, and at Plymouth State College.  

She worked for several years as a part-time commission artist, specializing in oil and graphite pencil portraits and house portraits.  Her commissioned pieces are represented in dozens of homes in NH, and several other states across the country. During that time, she and her husband also (literally) built their own home in Boscawen, and ran their own propane business.  For a short time, she taught pre-school, and ran a small gift shop.   In 1996, they decided to sell the propane company, and in 1998, they moved their family to Pittsburg, NH, a town with a little slower pace, and an endless supply of subjects for  Brenda's work.   Brenda continued to accept commissions, while they again, built their own home, and settled into their new life in the north country.

Surrounded by the beautiful scenery and wildlife in northern NH and VT,  Brenda continually strives to develop her creative skills in painting, with a unique artistic style. Working primarily in oil, she encompasses many subjects, including images of the beautiful north woods, wildlife, still-life, architecture, florals, portraiture, sea-scapes, etc.

Over the past several years, Brenda has participated as a member of the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire,  NH Made, Inc.,  NH Pleinair, WREN, International Plein Air Painters, Manchester Artists Association, and the Mt. Washington Valley Arts Association.    She also authored an arts and history Blog, called ArtRECreation.

Brenda has exhibited her work at the Hopkins Center Gallery, Hanover, NH (1981), the Great North Woods Gallery, Stewartstown, NH (2004), the Ammonoosuc Artists Gallery, Littleton (2005-2007), the New London Inn, "My Favorite Things" Exhibition, New London, NH (2006), the Interpretive Center, Colebrook, NH (2006-2009), and the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital (2005, 2007/08, & 2008/09, 2013), and at Fiddleheads of Littleton (2013).  She exhibits her work at several regional art shows, and participates in or exhibits her plein air paintings at various NHPleinAir scheduled events.   Some of her paintings and a selection of her archival digital reproductions are currently on display and may be purchased at Fiddleheads, 110 Main Str., Colebrook, NH.

In 2009, she launched a series of paintings called The Blue Butterfly Series.  Each of the four initial paintings contained a tiny blue butterfly, hidden within the image.  In 2012, she began including the hidden blue butterfly in all of her paintings, and it is now symbolic to her work.  
To read about her various exhibitions and awards, please visit the News & Events page, or follow her on her facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/blbkenney  





 Artist's Statement:

"The Arts have always been my passion, and a defining factor in who I am.   Whether it's been through painting, music, theatre, or writing, my life has always been enhanced and influenced by my participation in the Arts.   My creativity sustains me."

"Painting is a wonderful means of expression, and I love the way it allows me to experience and interpret the world around me.   My home is in Northern NH.   It's a place where an artist can only hope to re-create "God's Country".    Beautiful scenery, interesting people, abundant wildlife....all truly created by the master artist Himself.  I consider it a gift, whenever I am given the opportunity to reflect the world in paint."

"Northern NH has a very short summer season, so much of my time is spent working in the studio.   But, I enjoy going out to paint "en plein aire", or to take photographs, whenever the weather permits.  It's my chance to experience this beautiful place first hand, and to capture images that will become detailed paintings in the studio."

"I'm always fascinated with the effects of light.  I study contrasts, and shadows, reflections, and mist, striving to re-create them in my paintings.   By applying thin layers of color, one over the other, light is magically transferred to the canvas.   Although I sometimes work in acrylic or watercolor, my medium of choice is definately oil.  The longer drying time and consistency of oils, allows me to blend soft color tones, creating a sense of peace in my paintings.   It is so satisfying when a viewer comments about the serenity of my work."

"Whether I'm painting a landscape, still-life, or portrait...... it is most important that my work succeed in telling the story behind the image.
Often the title of a piece is an integral part of the process, and has been determined long before I've even started working on the piece.  All aspects of a painting are meant to blend into one experience, with a deep inspirational meaning.  If I can cause the viewer to stop, question, and take the time to look deeper, I have been successful in preserving the mystery."



All Rights Reserved: Brenda L.B. Kenney © 2013