Ken Simmelink
Oil, Pastel & Watercolor

Although the artist is a thirty year resident of Elizabethton he grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin.  Sketching and painting have been a long time hobby of Ken’s.  In college he majored in Psychology but he also took a variety of art courses including oil painting and sculpturing.  A career in aviation and missions, however, left little time for artistic endeavors.  Only after retirement in 1996 did Ken take up painting seriously.  His favorite subjects are animals but he also enjoys painting landscapes.  Ken works in three media; oils, pastels and watercolor, but most of his current work is in oils.

His wife, Lee, is his critic and agent, and his primary source of encouragement.  Both Ken and Lee are members of the Watauga Valley Art League, the Depot Artists Association, and the artist co-op at 606 State Street Gallery.