A Life in Pictures
Along the Way
The full biography — art, athletics and a life spent chasing both, in Kevin's own words.
Like any child, playing with crayons introduced Kevin to colors, shapes and arrangement, but he quickly became fascinated with the world of art, particularly oil painting. By the age of seven, he was doing detailed paint-by-number scenes, and by twelve he was creating original oil paintings on canvas. At fifteen, he sold his first piece. That love for the arts has stayed with him since childhood, and it continues to grow.
Another passion Kevin has carried since childhood is sport, particularly ski racing and tennis. As a junior ski racer he ranked in the top fifteen in New York State and participated in the pre-qualifiers to the Junior Olympics. The highlight of his junior ski racing came at the "Celebrity Day" event on December 15, 1975, held at Greek Peak Ski Resort, where he reached the semi-finals of a dual slalom race against the legendary Billy Kidd — silver medalist at the 1964 Olympics and gold medalist at the 1970 FIS World Championship. Stein Eriksen, winner of Olympic gold in 1952, was on the other side of the draw. Kevin feels fortunate to have spent that day skiing with both of them.
Following college, Kevin dedicated himself to coaching and professional development, earning certification with the U.S. Ski Coaches Association and becoming a certified teaching professional with the United States Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR). This allowed him to mentor, coach and advance several racers to the Junior Olympics, and he served as a coach for Cornell University's ski team. In 1984–85, Kevin was ranked in the top five in the New England Tennis Association with his doubles partner, Jim Leahey. In tennis, he coached several juniors to high rankings in Massachusetts and took three separate ladies' USTA teams to the Nationals at the Indian Wells Tennis Facility. Kevin feels blessed to have also worked with adaptive programs in both sports, and continues to do so today.
While attending Saint Michael's College, Kevin was co-captain of both the varsity ski and tennis teams. He also continued his artwork under the guidance of Lance Richburg, known as America's foremost realistic painter of baseball and celebrated as the "Baseball Painter Laureate." Under Richburg's mentorship, Kevin developed his own sense of style and technique. At the end of their final review together, Richburg told him, "Kevin, you have the potential and talent to do something with your painting if you choose to" — words Kevin found deeply inspiring and has never forgotten.
Kevin had the unique experience of spending the summer of 1993 on Martha's Vineyard among other artists, a particularly inspiring time both personally and artistically. While on the Island, he displayed his work at the Granary Gallery, and spent time painting en plein air on the streets of Edgartown and the surrounding beaches, where passersby approached him and purchased several of his paintings on location.
Since then, Kevin has been represented in galleries from Newbury Street and the North End of Boston to the South Shore, Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. He has had four successful one-man shows and has taken part in many other art shows across the United States. While in Ireland, he sold a painting at the Birr Arts Festival, and another straight off the street to a passerby during a month-long stay.
In 2000, Kevin opened his own art gallery — the K.O. Gallery — on Main Street in Norwell, Massachusetts. There, he hosted several art shows where many other local artists joined him and his gallery.
Kevin is semi-retired and currently resides in West Dover, Vermont. He averages over one hundred days of skiing each season with his ski buddies at a variety of resorts, and also teaches skiing on weekends and holidays. Summers are spent in Massachusetts, teaching tennis part-time. Painting, however, remains his primary passion.
"The world of art is, always has been and will continue to be a special place for me for a variety of reasons. I find the process and emotions of painting can range from intimidating and daunting, to frustrating and disappointing. However, ninety-eight percent of my time painting is sheer joy and exhilaration. It takes me through a wide range of powerful feelings and passion. As an artist, I consider my work to be eclectic — I would grow bored quickly if I were to concentrate my efforts on one genre. I prefer a wide range of subject matter. Painting sometimes allows me to derive a sense of what it is like to live vicariously through others, such as the thrill and quest of climbing and conquering Mount Everest. Other times, it provides the feeling of being a reporter or journalist, simply reporting on what they see. Mostly for me, it is a form of storytelling, or recording a moment in time of an ever-changing landscape.
I find it an honor to think that people who have purchased my artwork choose to place it in their home to see every day. A painting is not like a song you can change the channel on — it is a thoughtful selection a person makes, and this brings me so much pride and satisfaction. Every time I stand or sit before the easel, whether it be plein air or in the studio, I learn something new. I know that I will never 'master' the art of painting, but will only continue to grow and learn from it."