Ken Steinnerd Fine Art

Denali Swans
Denali Swans
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Edition Size 250 - $100.00
Print Size - 10" x 15"

Mt. McKinley, or "Denali" an Athabaskan name for "The High One" is located in central Alaska, is the highest mountain peak in the United States and in North American, with a summit elevation of 20,320 above sea leve. Measured base-to-peak, it is the tallest mountain on land. In the late 1890s, a gold prospector named it McKinley as political support for then-president William McKinley. The first successful ascent to the main summit of Mt. McKinley came on June 7, 1913, by a party led by Hudson Stuckland and Harry Karstens. The first man to reach the summit was Walter Harper, an Alaskan Native. Robert Tatum also made the summit. Tatum later commented, "The view from the top of Mount McKinley is like looking out the windows of Heaven!" Large numbers of migrating birds visit interior Alaska and Denali National Park on their migration north to summer breeding grounds.

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Desert Racer
Desert Racer
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Edition Size 75 - $55.00
Print Size - 7½" x 10½"

In North American the “Desert Racer” is also known as pronghorn antelope. Pronghorn antelope are indigenous to western and central North America and are the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. In a half of a mile sprint the antelope can reach a speed of 55 mph and could outrun an Africa cheetah in a long distance race.
At one time in North America 70 million pronghorn antelope out numbered bison. Lewis and Clark once observed a herd of antelope that stretch sixty miles and were estimated at a million animals. By 1900 the pronghorn population was estimated at 15,000 animals but has recovered to a healthy sustainable population today.

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Dust to Dust
Dust to Dust
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Edition Size 75 - $130.00
Print Size - 12" x 16¾"

The old adobe ranch house is located in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico tucked away in a small valley. One can image the bustle of ranch and family activity taking place at the turn of the 20th century. The 1918 Oldsmobile was likely the first automobile this family would have owned to replace livestock still in use for transportation.

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Esaramuza (Mexican Cowgirls)
Esaramuza (Mexican Cowgirls)
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Edition Size 75 - $100.00
Print Size - 15½" x 9"½

I enjoy this painting very much but for reasons that are not so obvious but to parents in two different counties both with daughters who love horses and all that goes with showing themselves and horses in high equine fashion. I enjoyed two grade horses and trail riding when I became a father to two daughters. Wanting to share this experience with the girls and not having the patience and skill to instruct them in the finer points of the equestrian arts I found a knowledgeable and pleasant woman to do the teaching. In the blink of an eye my old trail horses, tack, horse trailer, truck and cloths were not suitable for the show ring. My daughter wanted to be outfitted like all the other princes and princesses mounted on silver emblazoned stead of finer heritage then their mother and father. The paternal weakness of a young father was strong…I gave them all of it. Wearing their royal attire and mounted on a horse outfitted for a princess I watched them perform around and around in a show ring until they were both covered in dirt but always with the biggest smile. At the end of the day both daughter and horse were wonderfully exhausted. Over 20 years have passed my daughters have daughters of their own and don’t have time to ride. The royal show horse is now too old to be ridden, the royal saddles and tack is in the corner of my garage along with the 92 Ford truck I still drive. All good memories in both Mexico and New Mexico.

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Fall Dreams
Fall Dreams
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Edition Size 50 - $105.00
Print Size - 10" x 16"

What a spectacular experience it is to travel through the northern Rockies on a brisk fall day to witness the changes in the landscape and nature as the seasons quickly change by evidence of "termination dust" on the mountain slopes. Just as you believe you can not be more blessed by the view nature has provided your attention is drawn to the slow purposeful movement of an adult bull moose displaying a 60" crown. As you conceal yourself beneath the bows of a tall spruce tree taking in all that is now before you know that nature has given you a very special gift allowing you to witness this moment...it is like a Fall Dream.

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Flying the Tanana River
Flying the Tanana River
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Edition Size - 75
Print Size 8" x 10"

Travel throughout Alaska has changed little since the trappers and gold seekers first arrived in the interior of Alaska in the early 1900’s. Alaska has more pilots per population than any other state. Alaskans still rely on flying to remote locations for business and recreation. The Tanana River is a 584-mile tributary of the Yukon River. The name is from the Athabaskan meaning “trail river” and is used today summer and winter to travel the river corridor. The Tanana River is a braided river, fed by glacier melt water as well as summer rains. The painting depicts a “bush pilot” following the course of the river home.

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Golden Opportunity
Golden Opportunity
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Edition Size - 75 - $110.00
Print Size 10½" x 16½"

Native Americans and Spaniards inhabited Golden, New Mexico long before the American settlers arrived from the east. Golden boomed when gold was discovered in 1825. Golden became the first gold rush west of the Mississippi River long before the California and Colorado gold rushes. Old homes and homesteads fascinate me and I enjoy thinking about the families and the history they witnessed as they lived in earlier times. This old home is no exception being located in the ghost town of Golden.

This painting was a commissioned piece for a book cover. The author was looking for an image of an old home in need of repair on every level. Certainly this home fit the requirement. The painting “Golden Opportunity” reveals a home that has long been neglected but still having a little life left to be experienced.

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Golden Past
Golden Past
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LTD Edition Size 50 - $50.00
Print size- 10⅛" x 7"

Golden, New Mexico was inhabited by Native Americans and Spaniards long before American settlers came to the area. However, it began to boom when gold was discovered in 1825. Years before the California and Colorado gold rushes, the site of Golden became the first gold rush west of the Mississippi River. Placer gold was first discovered on Tuerto Creek on the southwest side of the Ortiz Mountains and in the late 1820s two small mining camps developed as a result of the mineral finds—El Real de San Francisco and Placer del Tuerto. Golden was selected as the center of the new gold-mining district and soon grew to support several saloons, businesses, a school, and even a stock exchange. Most of what remains from Golden's glory past are the native rock walls of buildings that housed miners and businesses. Hopeful "pick and shovel prospectors" still mine for gold in the mountains.

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Golden Ruins
Golden Ruins
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Edition Size 50 - $105.00
Print Size - 10½" x 14½"

Golden, New Mexico was inhabited by Native Americans and Spaniards long before American settlers came to the area. However, it began to boom when gold was discovered in 1825. Years before the California and Colorado gold rushes, the site of Golden became the first gold rush west of the Mississippi River. Placer gold was first discovered on Tuerto Creek on the southwest side of the Ortiz Mountains and in the late 1820s two small mining camps developed as a result of the mineral finds—El Real de San Francisco and Placer del Tuerto. Golden was selected as the center of the new gold-mining district and soon grew to support several saloons, businesses, a school, and even a stock exchange. Most of what remains from Golden's glory past are the native rock walls of buildings that housed miners and businesses. Hopeful prospectors still mine for gold in the mountains.

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Iris on Horseshoe Lake
Iris on Horseshoe Lake
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Edition Size 250 - $85.00
Print Size - 14" x 9"

In the recent past I visited the Husky Drop Zone and Horseshoe Lake on Ft. Wainwright, south of Fairbanks Alaska, in late spring. Husky Drop Zone is used by the Army to practice paratrooper and equipment drops as well as ground training in the sub-arctic environment. I have visited this area many times throughout the year often seeing both large and small game.

On this spring visit it was not the usual observation of a cow moose with calves that amazed me. It was the largest bloom of wild iris I have ever seen covering the hundreds of acres of the drop zone and the entire wetland surrounding Horseshoe Lake. I had never seen the entire Husky DZ thickly covered with beautiful wild iris. I’ll admit I was also surprised to see a cow moose slowly moving through the flowers snacking along her way.

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Jana's Roses
Jana's Roses
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Edition Size 50 - $105.00
Print Size - 11" x 14"

I painted the two roses for my wife, Jana for a Valentine’s gift. The two roses symbolize our two daughters Susan and Sarah. Sarah’s favorite color is yellow and Susan’s is pink. Our girls are now grown and starting beautiful boutiques of flowers of their own.

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La Cosecha
La Cosecha
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Edition Size 75 - $125.00
Print Size - 11¾" x 16¾"

El Rancho de las Golondrinas (The Ranch of the Swallows) was a paraje (official rest stop) on El Camino Real from Mexico City to Old Santa Fe. Dating from the early 1700's, the property is one of the most historic Spanish ranches in the southwest. The ranch is still in use today as an example of early New Mexico living history. La Cosecha (The Harvest) is one of many examples of historical ranch activity as sugar cane is processed by a burro driven mill.

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Doc D.V.M

Doc D.V.M
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Edition Size 75 - $100.00
Print Size - 13¾" x 9½"

Once again I painted this piece in the “Chiaroscuro style” reflecting deep contrasts between light and dark. I especially like the effects this creates for both the painting and the viewer. The subject of the painting reminds me of a veterinarian working here in New Mexico. An excellent Vet with a passion for horses he is highly thought of by the equine community.

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Sheltering from the Storm

Sheltering from the Storm
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Edition Size 75 - $100.00
Print Size - 16¼" x10¼"

I believe this painting is one of my best and I really enjoyed painting this cowboy and horse sheltering from the storm. More than one time I have been caught outside by a storm while riding and would have loved be be safe and dry in the barn.

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United States Marshal, New Mexico Territory 1889
United States Marshal, New Mexico Territory 1889
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Edition Size 150 - $135.00
Print Size - 11¾" x17"

I love history and especially history of the Southwest and New Mexico. The stories and events of the past create the richness found in New Mexico to this day. It was fun to read and visit museums dedicated to New Mexico history prior to creating this painting. I researched the badges worn by members of the US Marshals Service in the 1880s, the clothing worn, hair and beard styles, the holster and Colt Peacemaker revolver. The Colt Peacemaker Revolver I borrowed from a friend was period and has 7 notches in its handle! I would love to know the story behind the notches! New Mexico was still a Territory in the late 19th century was a wild and very often lawless place. I discovered lawman and outlaws were at times of the same fabric bouncing back and forth in these two “professions.” The United States Marshal in New Mexico and the loosely connected subject of this painting was a New Mexican fellow named Trinidad Romero. According to my research he was highly regarded citizen and Marshal and one of the “good guys” during this exciting period in New Mexico history.

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