Let me introduce you to myself, Mr. Kevin Stock—a true renaissance soul hailing from the heart of Illinois. I kicked off my journey to see and soak up the world in 1986 when I decided to set sail with the United States Navy. Fast forward two decades, when I retired with a seabag full of tales and experiences that could fill a library...and may just have. More on that later.
Born in 1969, my life has been a vibrant canvas painted with a variety of strokes. While my early years were all about serving this great country, I recently stumbled upon a new passion–digital painting. Picture this: I started unleashing my creative genius using an Oculus Quest II VR headset and the Vermillion painting app. Talk about taking art to the next level! But my talents don’t stop there. I’m what I like to think of as a culinary whiz, constantly donning my apron and experimenting in the kitchen to master the art of gastronomy. And let’s not forget, getting back to filling libraries… I’ve been weaving words together as a seasoned writer and poet for over 35 years. My verses are like a snapshot of a life well-lived, reflecting the depth of my vast cultural experiences. Now, in the grand tapestry of my life, I’m not just an artist and wordsmith. Nope, I’m also a devoted husband, a loving father, a dutiful son, and forever a sailor at heart. I am living proof that life becomes a masterpiece when you blend creativity, service, and a pursuit of your passions. Oh, and here’s the latest scoop–I made the jump from digital painting on the Oculus to creating my masterpieces on an Apple iPad Pro tablet, using the ARTRAGE app. I wanted to upgrade my paintings and make them as traditional looking as possible. I wanted to create digital paintings that others couldn’t tell were digital. It’s like I upgraded my paintbrush for a digital stylus, taking my creativity and artwork to new heights. For those eager to check out my incredible, deceiving paintings, swing by my art page on Facebook. Trust me; you’re in for a visual treat! So, there you have it. Kevin Stock, a man of many talents, a true creative force, and an all-around awesome human. visit the month-long exhibit weekday afternoons or by appointment:
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Kent Broadbent, a long-time resident of the Annawan, Illinois area, grew up on the family farm his great grandfather purchased in 1865, and later built a house on. Kent, and his wife, Cheryl, still serve as caretakers to that homestead. Kent attended a small rural school and developed an interest in art when he was 12 years old. His mother believed that Kent and his siblings needed to develop their talents so she encouraged them to develop and enjoy their skills and interests.
The high school that Kent attended did not have art classes, so his mother helped him get into night art classes from a local teacher, and to his delight, she later joined him in the classes. Kent has fond memories of that time in his life. As time went on, Kent departed the family farm to attend Illinois State University. Although he graduated with a degree in Psychology, he took numerous painting and sculpture classes. He continued to take drawing classes at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, after his graduation. He returned to the family farm and took over the farming operation. Shortly after returning to the area, he married the love of his life, Cheryl. Kent dabbled in painting, for a short time after he returned to the farm, but life got in the way. He later worked in the financial industry as a loan officer for the bulk of his career. During that period of his life, the time spent on art diminished. He always had it in the back of his mind that when he retired, the brushes would once again be full of fresh paint. In 2010, he was diagnosed with cancer, and decided to again pursue his interest in art. He was painting again with new vigor and with a new found love and appreciation of life and art. His joy of painting is evident to this day with the vivid colors he uses and the energy of his personal style. Kent believes the cancer diagnosis was a blessing in disguise and serves as his inspiration to create art. His preferred medium is directed towards abstract expressionist lines, although he occasionally dabbles in abstract landscapes from the scenes he deems of interest. During the last five years, he has been working exclusively in cold wax and oil. He loves the unique depth and richness that this medium provides. He has won numerous awards for his expressed work, and his paintings are on permanent display in various regional locales. His first solo exhibit was in 2015, and he has been selling work to private collectors since that time. Broadbent continues to be very active in the art arena and does solo and duel exhibitions, along with juried shows. His website is: broadbentart.com and he welcomes inquiries at [email protected]. |
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