My Winsor & Newton Ultimate Colour Palette 

Ken Rasmussen - Oil Painting The Colour of Time - Abstract Blues and Greens

Last week I had a lovely visit from an Italian art dealer who recently moved to Perth. Raffaele told me that the colours I use are very comforting. I enjoyed hearing that. I loved the idea that my choice of colours could create good feelings for people. Sometimes people are curious about how many colours…

Read More

Blue Whales in Gage Roads

For a while we had some internal doubts that Blue Whales truly roamed in Gage Roads. Despite the paintings of happy whales. Then one of our studio visitors confirmed – Blue Whales do come through Gage Roads, and they’d seen the heli-photos to prove it. So until a Cetacean expert checks in to deflate this…

Read More

Colours That Revive Us

TW77 Rottnest Waits For You by Ken Rasmussen I heard a story today about two friends catching up for dinner. One was wearing a new teal coloured jumper. The other friend leaned forward and quietly said, “Thank you for wearing that jumper. I’ve had a terrible day, and that is my most favourite colour in…

Read More

The Christmas Cat

Soaring Magpies in Margaret River Forest by Ken Rasmussen

The kids were still quite small when my wife won the David T. K. Wong Creative Writing Fellowship. We packed up the whole family and relocated to the UK. The children desperately wanted a pet, but these thoughts were put on hold by our travel. They had to make do with a grumpy old cat…

Read More

How To Surprise A Fifteen Year Old

As a 15 year-old, I wondered what my life would be like in the year 2000. I concluded that as I’d be a lot older there wouldn’t be too much excitement. How surprised that young man would be if he could see me now, in 2019. Things are so much better than I thought they…

Read More

Perth College Buys Rottnest Painting Party Island

Party Island with Balloons, Cake and Presents by Ken Rasmussen Oil on Linen

Perth College has purchased a major painting, Party Island and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It was selected from works I exhibited at the school’s annual art show. The show was brilliantly curated. Frankly, I was impressed by everything to do with it. The art, the food and all the friendly well-dressed people. What struck…

Read More

The Day I Found Monet’s Easel on Gumtree

I didn’t even recognise it at first. I was just intrigued by the fact that the mechanism tilted forward rather than back. I knew that was the sign of an antique. This big old wooden cranking easel had been originally advertised on Gumtree for $250 and then finally $150. It was completely original, every single…

Read More

My Highlights From East Fremantle’s George Street Festival

Isn’t it delicious to do something you’re not usually allowed to do? Isn’t it just as wonderful to spend time with people you really admire? Most of the time I’m in my studio and it is the same for many artists I admire. Now and then our paths cross and that’s a real thrill for…

Read More

About My New Work – East Fremantle Sparkles

East Fremantle Sparkles by Ken Rasmussen

This painting – East Fremantle Sparkles – is a special effort on my part. The idea for the work came to me when East Fremantle Council asked about contributing a work for their George Street Festival. It has been launched out into the world as ‘East Fremantle Sparkles’. But I also considered calling it “Growing…

Read More

I Like Art That Speaks To Your Heart

Sydney Harbour by Ken Rasmussen - Oil Painting on Canvas

As a young man, I used to get angry about modern art. I think that was because I didn’t really understand it. I’d wonder, what does minimalist and monochromatic painting mean? Where does it come from and who wants it? There seemed so little in it and so little that one can say about its…

Read More