The Artist- Ken Jarvela

"The first time Ken Jarvela picked up a sketchpad in the backcountry in the 1980’s, he decided he wanted to become a landscape painter. In his early 20’s, he packed three months of food, a tarp, and a set of watercolors into the Trinity Wilderness and, over the next 54 days, taught himself how to paint. This trip would mark the first in many that would define his career as a landscape painter."

-Dirtbag Diaries, Backcountry Brushes

The Klamath Mountains: A Natural History Hardcover – September 6, 2022

by Michael Kauffmann (Author), Justin Garwood (Author)

Painting Cover by Ken Jarvela

This monumental book describes and documents one of the most biodiverse temperate mountain ranges on Earth: The Klamath Mountains Geomorphic Province of northwest CA and southwest OR.

The first comprehensive Natural History written for this region
34 contributing authors―all experts in their fields
Chapters including Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Plant Communities, First Peoples, Geology, Climate, Fire Ecology, and much more
Full color, rich illustrations, and well curated photos bring 496 pages to life

To Purchase Order from your local Bookstore or Amazon

Published Writings

Backcountry Press, Humboldt County, CA. September 19, 2021

The Dirtbag Diaries, Apple Podcast presented by Patagonia, Outdoor writer Fitz Cahall and the Duct Tape Then Beer team present stories about the dreamers, athletes and wanderers. “Backcountry Brushes” September 10, 2021 NCJ North Coast Journal of Politics, People and Art: Sequoia Park Sky Walk Grand Opening, June 9, 2021 Times Standard “Through Humboldt Fog” December 20, 2019 American Watercolor Society, “Against the Odds” by Paul Rickard “Against the Odds”, January 29, 2019. Authority Press Wire “The Front Porch Inn: Boutique Lodging on the Lost Coast” February 25, 2019. FlapJack Chronicles, Humboldt County By Casey Barton & FlapJack Staff April, 2017 MadRiver Union, “One Barn, Two Artists, 26 Years And A Re-imagined Mural”, April, 2014 Lost Coast OutPost “Us and Them” Matt Beard Gallery Times Standard. “The Spice of Life.” September 16, 2011 Times Standard. “Mount Shasta: An artist’s inspiration.” September 12, 2008 NCJ North Coast Journal “Second Friday Arts! Arcata. December 11, 2008 Authority Press Wire The Steelhead Special “The Jarvela Mountain Journals” Issue #30, Spring Run, 1998

Ken Jarvela

Ken Jarvela is a landscape painter working in the wildlands of Northern California. A plein air and studio painter, he captures the ever-changing elusiveness of light with vivid brush strokes and a subtle color palette. Unafraid of challenging grandious subjects such as Yosemite Valley, CA and Crater Lake, OR his paintings range from the well known to the unexplored intimate sea cliffs, valleys and golden hills of the Pacific Northwest. Jarvela's enthusiasm, subject matter and style is reminiscent of early 20th century painters known for capturing the wild west frontier; Edgar Paine, Maynard Dixon and Gottardo Piazzoni.