Ken Daggett

Focused, passionate, prolific, and determined are words that convey the spirit of Ken Daggett’s life as an artist. After years of embellishing architectural renderings that limited his artistic ability, he is now free to paint without bounds. The years spent in this structured environment have given Ken a special appreciation for personal expression in his art. Some of his favorite subjects are the pastoral scenes of Northern New Mexico, quaint village churches, and adobes tenderly perched on the mesas and in the valleys.

Ken is now a full-fledged Taoseno, thriving on waking up each day to the beauty of New Mexico. His mornings and evenings are spent painting watercolor plein air. In the afternoons, he continues his art in the studio. His paintings glow with the color and drama of sun-flooded scenes and shady mountain meadows. One feels the heart of the artist as well as the spirit of place in his works.

Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Ken explored his world through art. He received art awards through high school and continued his studies at Orange Coast College. He devoured the majority of the art curriculum and continued to be awarded for this talent.

Today he is at home with acrylic and oil; however, his real passion is transparent watercolor. “I love the unpredictable nature of watercolor and the challenge it presents,” states Ken. His adoration of the Southwest, the lush green fields of the lowlands, the softly rounded adobe structures, and the mountain landscapes pour forth from his brush.

“For me, painting is a never-ending challenge, and I will spend my life gratefully pursuing that challenge. I learn and grow with each new painting.”

Ken’s watercolor “Autumn Entrance” was honored with the People’s Choice Award at the 2004 Taos Open Art Competition, and he was commissioned to be the poster artist for the 2006 competition. Ken’s art was recently featured in Southwest Art Magazine in 2023.