Kent R. Wallis

Kent R. WallisA member of the Society of American Impressionists, the Plein Air Painters of America, and the Northern California Society of Plein Air Painters, Kent R. Wallis found his way to art after working for many years as a businessman. He was uninspired by the 9-to-5 life, though, and found a creative outlet when his wife surprised him with an oil painting kit. Reconnecting with his childhood love of art, Wallis decided to take the artistic plunge and leave the business world behind.

Color is the operative word for many of his paintings, which are filled with the dazzling hues found in nature. “Color creates an emotional response,” Wallis says. “If you want to receive an emotional reaction from the viewer there needs to be a color surprise in your painting.” His travels frequently take him across the country and to Europe in search of beautiful gardens, meadows, and landscapes, but his home state of Utah remains a major source of inspiration. “Whenever my work feels a little stale, all I have to do is paint around here and my work revives,” he says. “Utah is still my favorite place to paint, although I have to admit England and Italy have been fun.”

Featured in “Portfolio” January 2002