“Being a representational painter I am constantly striving to paint as I see things, the values, colors and textures I see before me. As easy as this may sound, I have found painting from life, especially landscapes, to be one of the most challenging and rewarding things I have ever tried. It’s a constant process of learning and experimenting and painting, painting, painting. — I am not sure I do this because of my love of art or of my love of the land.They have become indivisible for me. One in the same.” Kevin Menck was born and raised in Middle Tennessee. After graduating from art school, he worked briefly as a designer and then as a self-employed illustrator for 15 years. “Working as an illustrator helped me develop skills that are fundamental to what I do now, especially drawing. The ability to draw is the foundation to everything.” In 2002 Kevin met and befriended local painter Jason Saunders. “Jason was very instrumental to my development as an artist. He introduced me to the basics of landscape painting and also instilled in me the importance of painting from nature. Nature is the best teacher I’ve had.”Kevin is now committed to painting the landscape “en plein air.” Being an avid outdoorsman for years, Kevin has a deep love and respect for the outdoors. “I remember sitting in a duck blind or deer stand and trying to figure out how to capture what I was seeing on canvas. To get that atmosphere, to make a cold day look cold and hot days hot. I want the viewer to look at it and know what it actually was to be there.” Kevin lives and works in Nashville. Website: www.kevinmenck.com Education: Harris School of Art, Nashville, TN. — Middle TN State University, Murfreesboro, TNOrganizations:The Cumberland Society of Painters, The Chestnut Group, Oil Painters of America