Art as large as life Story by Ken Schroeder Photos by Kath Clark Editor’s note: In the spring issue of Illinois Living Magazine, we included a smattering of photos and biographies of artists throughout the Illinois Valley. But that list was far from complete, and we heard from many who enjoyed learning about artists from the Illinois Valley. Illinois Valley Living will continue to feature artists from the area. If you would like to be featured or you know someone who you think is a great artist, give us a call at 815-875-4461, ext. 229.
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ohn Kettman of LaSalle has been an artist for years, starting at the ripe old age of 3. Doodling his way through school, mostly pictures of friends and teachers, he started to get serious about it in high school. Dominating a wall in his basement showroom is a painting he did at the age of 18 of the famous “Nastassja Kinski and her snake” photo. “I saw it, and I said, ‘Wow! That would be great to paint,” Kettman said. He hasn’t looked back since. Kettman’s work is exclusively portraits, mostly of famous figures from whom he has drawn inspiration. Facing you as you walk down the stairs to his showroom is a life-size cut-out of Al Pacino as “Scarface.” He cannibalized a keychain that played quotes from the movie and hooked it up to a speaker, and it gives you a look into the quirkiness he enjoys. Kettman has painted portraits of several people, mostly actors and musicians. Around the room are paintings of singer Alice Cooper, the band The Cars, Pat Benatar and several others, many of which are signed. Signed by the subjects. He’s taken his portraits to concerts and occasions where the star appears and managed to get them signed. “I’ve been told by security ‘They don’t do signings,’ but I’ve taken the painting in anyway,” Kettman said. “This painting of Styx took me three tries before I finally got them all to sign it, but they were all great about it.” Kettman has painted group paintings of all of the “American Idol” seasons’ contestants since 2006, with the exception of 2007. “I hate what Sangina did to that season,” he said. With the exception of the most recent painting, all of the portraits have been signed by each of the cast members. Recently, Kettman has branched out to stand-up cut-outs. So far, he has done fullsize stand-ups of Jackie Gleason, Tippy
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Hedron, the band Kiss and Barack Obama. His current project is probably his favorite so far. “It’s the Beatles from the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ album. I blew up the cover and worked from that,” he said. “There is no projector or tracing involved in any of these. It’s all freehand. Attention to detail is the key.” To give his stand-up paintings depth, many of them are adorned with objects attached. This is especially true with the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ display. “Those braids are the English braids from British military. My fiancee hand-
braided them for me.” Currently, Kettman is in negotiations to sell a cut-out of Judy Garland as Dorothy to the Garland Museum. The cut-out is currently there on display, and he’s hoping that will lead to more attention to his work. But he’s not finished. “I’m thinking about sculpture next. I’d like to do a huge 75-foot-tall statue of Abe Lincoln and have it down on Water Street. Wouldn’t that be great? That would bring in people from all over the country!” Kettman said. “I can do it. Just think outside the box. Break out of the comfort zone.”
Illinois Valley Living