In the years before Airbnb, when cheap, comfortable accommodation in Europe was hard to come by, a Kiama artist travelled Europe with his wife, using paintings as a form of currency.
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Ken Tucker left a painting at nearly every place he stayed to thank the host for opening their home to him.
His trip started at the Middle East, Jordan. Inspired by success at the exhibition in Jordan, where he sold 25 paintings in 10 days, Ken realised he could earn a living from his art.
“As I was putting them on the wall they were walking out the door,” Ken said.
“That was a catalyst for saying, ‘let’s get into it,’ it was a big confidence boost,” his wife, Lea said.
Ken now teaches four days a week, talks at corporate events, runs workshops, and exhibits his work everywhere from the old Kiama fire station to the Wollongong courthouse.
He won the major prize at the Shoalhaven Art Society Exhibition on Saturday.
Being business savvy is a must to survive in a competitive market, but art will always be a labour of love for Ken.
“I pick up a paintbrush and I’m gone in 10 minutes, I’m somewhere else,” he said.
“It doesn’t take much to get inspiration, bush walking at national parks, spending time at Jamberoo and on the South Coast.”
There are few local art exhibitions devoid of seascapes. What separates Ken’s work, that prominently features the ocean, from the work of others?
“My work’s a bit more contemporary, it’s concept-driven,” he said.
“Also, I quite often paint with a credit card rather than a brush, I find the cards real wristy, great to work with.”