COCOA — Ken Ellis, age 17, is a reformed graffiti artist who has turned his life around and begun drawing a straight line to a brighter future in the prestigious world of fine art.
And all with the help and support “behind the scenes’ from a Cocoa Village art gallery owner who saw the teen’s raw talent and decided to give it top billing throughout the summer.
“Ken walked into my place a few months ago and just started to ask questions about the world of art in general. Later, he brought in some sketches and paintings of his which I thought showed real promise,” said John Kalinowski, the owner of the Bad Birds Art Gallery, at 318 Delannoy Ave., across from the entrance to Taylor Park
“As it turned out, Ken is a natural-born artist who never a had an art lesson in school or anywhere else. He just needed a little help and encouragement finding his way because he was starting to go wrong out on the street. However, he has straightened out and his paintings are now selling well, with some not even lasting on display for one day before being bought up,”added Kalinowski.
Although young Ellis, who lives with his family in Rockledge, admits that he did mark up public spaces, he points out he was never a gang member and made it a point never to put graffiti on any school property. Nonetheless, he was stopped by local police on one occasion last year and detained for possession of graffiti paraphernalia, which turned out to be a marker pen, but eventually the charge was dropped.
After that he was also listed as a truant but now is attending classes to get his high school equivalence diploma and go onto college to become a graphic designer. Ellis tends to paint mainly local street scenes along with some modern-art works and floral arrangements, all of which are selling well.
“One woman, who said she painted flowers herself, came in and bought all of his floral scenes. I think he has a great future and will make his mark on the art world instead of just on public spaces. I intend to keep displaying his work through the summer, or for as long as he can keep up with the demand,” said Kalinowski.
“Many times artists don’t get their own first public art show till much later in life, I hope this early start helps. As for my part, I love to help but I don’t normally give art lessons, except to say that anyone who wants to become an artist should keep pushing the paint around until it looks like something.” quipped Kalinowski, himself an accomplished artist who specializes in drawing war planes, hence the gallery name of Bad Birds.
However, another professional artist Carolyn Seiler, who does give lessons at her Boatyard Art Gallery right up the street, stopped by at Kalinowski’s and bought one of the boy’s paintings for herself.
The Bad Birds Gallery, which has a constantly changing variety of art on display, is opened from noon to 6 p.m., except Sundays with extended evening hours on Saturdays.
