Ken considers himself very fortunate to have had two successful careers which turned out to be compatible.
As an award winning TV Writer/Performer he worked with comedy legends Dave Allen (also a keen artist), Graham Kennedy, Paul Hogan, Norman Gunston and many other stars both Australian and International.
Ken's eight year radio and TV partnership with Doug Mulray included two Gold Record albums, the first "What a Rude Album" being the first Australian comedy LP to achieve gold status.
However, during this showbiz career he always painted and exhibited since his first one-man show at Sydney's Robin Hood Gallery in the 70's. Soon after he won the Hansen-Rubsenson award and was commissioned to paint a Sydney Harbour series for the Readers Digest International Collection.
Most recently he was a regular exhibitor at Balmains Henning International Gallery.
First visiting the Blue Mountains as a small child, Ken was in awe of the spectacular beauty of the landscape, and still is.
His most recent works are centered on the heat and atmosphere of summer midday.
Ken states: "Whenever I was stuck on a script problem I often came up with the solution while painting, so the two activities blended well together".
Now after retiring from showbiz, Ken is painting full time and hoping the love of this life, the Blue Mountains, shows in his work.
Ken adds: "I've never lost my passion for our Australian landscape. It's exhilarating!".
Inspirations.
Ken Sterling started painting after being inspired by the countryside around Gloucester, New South Wales.
Arriving in Sydney seeking fame and fortune in the 1960's, he was equally torn between a career in Show Biz and Art. "Fate seemed to decide for me" he says "because a series of lucky breaks led me comparatively easily into TV performing. However, (Joke Zone Ahead), I think my career as a stand up comedian was somewhat hindered initially because my parents had always told me not to talk to strangers! That, plus the fact that I couldn't always tell if the audience was laughing at me or with me. Turned out, frequently, it was neither!". Ken now lives in Leura. A brilliant classical pianist, Academy Award Winner and an asparagus farmer also live in the same street. (Joke Zone Ends).
"Although my TV career was busy, the paint brushes were never dry for long and many a script problem was somehow solved while painting" states Ken. "I dont have one particular favourite artist. There are hundreds, but Sir Arthur Streeton's painting "Fire's on Lapstone Tunnel" amazed me on my first visit to the NSW Art Gallery. I couldn't believe someone could create such light and atmosphere with just paint and canvas. It was things in light, not light on things. I could feel the heat and hear the cicadas in the picture and consequently I've loved the smell of oil painting ever since. I reckon it would make a top after-shave".
"As a painter I guess I'm a bit self-centered because I paint primarily to please myself. When someone else likes the work that's an exciting bonus. I've tried to say something, through paint, and someone else has made the connection - they've seen what I was aiming at".
"I paint outdoors, on location as often as possible, for a nature fix. Even my more abstract pictures are inspired by landscape and things in it. I love this country!".