My History
K. Kendall
Born and raised in Texas, as a young child, I would make jeweler from the colored telephone wire that I found to be so fascinating. I came to explore my creativity as a child when drawing basic pictures and putting together models.
At around 10, I found the family camera and started photos. My first real experience was at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. I continued with drawing and started doing wood burning art for family members as a teenager.
At 12 I joined 4-H and got into the photography club. There I used a borrowed 35mm camera and learned Black and White Photography and started developing my own film and printing my photos. When I was 15 I bought my own Pentax K-1000 camera and started exploring different techniques. I was able to use the school darkroom since my dad was the principal of the school and I could go to work with him during the summer.
After High School, I moved to Dallas to work for my grandfather. I kept expanding my photography skills and purchasing cameras and darkroom equipment. I had a small darkroom set up in my apartment bathroom and started cranking out B&W photographic artwork. I was encouraged to enroll in Eastfield College by a coworker and found that they offered basic photography and creative photographic arts classes. Their darkroom was awesome for the basic class and smaller but equally respectable in the arts classroom. As a seasoned photographic artist, I found that I really enjoyed teaching the other students things when I has the opportunities. I entered each school photography exhibition and contest and enjoyed winning some first place trophies.
I started working as a freelancer through Fame Magazine for a while. I was successful at providing the other freelance models with the highest quality portraits. I was also able to use my press credentials to gain unprecedented access to major events. I loved going to drag races and enjoying the thrill of the fastest cars in the world; an unbelievable experience standing by the guardrail when 8,000 horsepower cars blast past around 15 feet away, high pressure sound waves taking my breath away.
I continued enjoying photography, and at the same time, joining the pottery class at Eastfield. They had state-of-the-art equipment and I remembered my time in art class in high school where I created my first stoneware pot. While I started at “beginner” level, I was immediately drawn to the advanced area because they
"My passion is art and motorcycles..."
were using the wheels! That's what I wanted. I started sitting in on the advanced sessions. After a few days the instructor finally allowed me to try the wheel. After observing the techniques of other students I was able to throw my first small pot easily.
I learned fast and started producing many pots and going into production. I love pottery about as much as photography. In more recent year I explored woodworking, making small items like boxes and then turning wood on the lathe, making custom pens and pencils, bowls, canister sets and other utilitarian items. I really enjoy the more creative and artistic pieces. I rediscovered wood burning and started doing pyrographic portraits.
Leather working is another category that I love. It's probably the most useful artwork that I can think of. People can enjoy pieces such as wrist cuffs, wallets and koozies. I continue to enjoy creating various imaginative and usable artwork.