Banner Elk, NC Art Gallery

Kent Paulette Art Gallery

Kent Paulette Art Gallery is located in Banner Elk, NC. Shop for paintings online or in person at various exhibit spaces in downtown Banner Elk. Sorrento’s Italian Bistro features bear paintings and an abstract portrait of Frank Sinatra. Studio 140 at The Village of Banner Elk features large mountain landscapes and pop art portraits. Chef’s Table at Sorrento’s features paintings of horses and female figures. Banner Elk Winery features large wildlife paintings and The Winery Elk over their fireplace. Barra Sports Bar features paintings of musicians by artist K. Paulette.

Live Painting

Live Painting by artist Kent Paulette in downtown Banner Elk, North Carolina. Prior to 2020, in the summer and warmer months, he set up his easel and painted outside in front of diners at the Sorrento’s outdoor patio. He discussed his work with onlookers and took them on tours of Kent Paulette Art Gallery’s exhibit spaces in downtown Banner Elk, NC. He often gave little impromptu art lessons to kids who were watching him paint. At night, he set up his easel and painted by firelight near Barra’s outdoor fire pits. In the winter and colder months, he set up his easel inside of Sorrento’s Banner Elk Italian restaurant in their reception area. Paulette now paints exclusively at his home studio surrounded by nature and beautiful mountain views.

During Shane Chalke’s BE Jazz Night at Chef’s Table, Paulette set up his easel next to the jazz band and painted music and dance related subjects. He loved painting to live music. It got him to start dancing and that gave the style of the painting more movement. He painted live at the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Paulette painted live at Linville Ridge during their event featuring local art galleries. He has painted at Elk River Club during their charity auction and golf events. He painted at Linville Falls Mountain Club during their opening event featuring Bob Timberlake. He painted during Avery County Wine & Beer Festival next to the live band. He painted the large winery bear and many others at Banner Elk Winery inside their tasting room and outside by their fire pit next to the live musician.

There are a large number of people collecting Kent Paulette’s work in the North Carolina High Country. His large bear paintings hang over many fireplaces in homes throughout the region. His paintings of mountain landscapes and horses are also particularity popular. His portrait of Frank Sinatra has been a favorite at Sorrentos Italian restaurant.

Nature plays an important role in Paulette’s artwork even when he painted in the “big city” of Banner Elk. He brought creek water with him from home to add to the paint when he stained the canvas on the first layers. When it snowed, he stuck his face in the snow before he painted just like he does in the creek when he’s painting at his home studio. When he came to town, he slept in an apartment above the Banner Elk Art Gallery. He sometimes woke up and before getting dressed, went outside to lay down in the cold snow. It woke up his spirit and got him ready for a day of making art!

Kettell Beerworks features landscape paintings and a blue bear portrait with thick palette knife texture by artist Kent Paulette. He has also exhibited in the past at The Great Train Robbery, Banner Elk Olive Oil & Balsamics, and Flat Top Mountain Brewery in Banner Elk, NC.

Video of Banner Elk Art Gallery

Tar Heel Traveler on WRAL filmed this video at Kent Paulette Art Gallery in Banner Elk, NC. It features interviews and live painting.

Kent Paulette on Google Maps

Visit Kent Paulette Art Gallery located in Banner Elk, NC featuring exhibit spaces throughout the downtown area.