The 2027 Festival’s Official Art!

Introducing our 2027 Visual Artist

Scott Clendaniel has always loved to draw. He can’t remember a time when he didn’t, so when he was age 7 his grandmother gave him an oil painting kit and told him to “paint Alaska, because it is such a beautiful place,” perhaps his fate was decided. His other loves…his wife, Maria, and home- or craft-brewed beer…had to wait until he was older!

In his early professional career, Scott worked in graphic design as a production artist creating Alaska paraphernalia of the sort that tourists buy. T-shirt designs, coffee mugs, stickers, key rings…you name it, and he probably designed it. He had to work quickly in that job, but it built his confidence. Scott decided that he wanted to be a full time independent artist. He quit the job, finished a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from UAA in Painting, and began his career.

Scott has been successful in his passion with an established online presence through his website, a blog, and an art business called Real Art is Better.

So, why is he doing the Anchorage Folk Festival’s annual poster and merchandise artwork? Scott says there is no doubt that he is not a musician! He played and enjoyed the cello in high school inspired by Linda Ottum, the first-chair cellist with the Anchorage Symphony, until someone told him to his face that he was very out of tune and suggested he air-bow. He stopped playing immediately. Words hurt!

Still, Scott has always enjoyed music, but it really became a bigger part of his life about 10–15 years ago. His wife Maria’s love of music was his gateway to concerts, including the symphony and opera, as well as the Anchorage Folk Festival. As for personal listening? He preferred audio books to pass the time while painting. Then, a transformation!

Scott credits two people and a musician for causing him to become an avid fan. His wife, Maria, obviously, but also Richard Todd, a past president of the Anchorage Ski Club at Arctic Valley. Richard hosts house concerts, and that was where Scott first heard singer/songwriter Michael Kilpatrick and was blown away. They became friends, and during COVID Scott watched and listened to Michael’s live streams. Since COVID, Michael has performed in a house concert at Scott and Maria’s summer home in McCarthy and one at Colleen McElhenny’s home here in Anchorage. Colleen is an Anchorage Folk Festival Board member and nominated Scott to be our 2027 artist.

Now, Scott likens painting to driving a car. After the painting design is complete, or after you know your intended destination, it doesn’t take all your faculties to drive the car to that destination or to finish the painting. In fact, without auditory distraction, it can be quite boring. Listening to music helps the drive pass. It is the same with painting, and Scott listens to a variety of folk music: it is the best music, in his opinion, for working on a painting. It isn’t too intrusive, and yet it is never boring.

If you visit Scott’s website, you’ll see his gallery along with links to his Beer Paintings series and to his online shop where a wide variety of works are represented. He still paints Alaska as once instructed by his grandmother, but there are also abstract art pieces that are often inspired by listening to music. He also takes commissions…and is thrilled by one of his latest, an album cover for Michael Kilpatrick’s album Away-O.

Scott continues to do the occasional beer painting, and he is a longtime home brewer. He is presently making his special brew, a ginger and honey beer, called the Drippy Hippy. He’s also an avid motorcycle tourer. Recently, he rode north as close as they would let him get to the Arctic Ocean, and then he had to ride a tour bus in order dip his toes in Prudhoe Bay. He and Maria also visited Ireland—and the best part? Great music in every pub, every night from 7–10pm, plus great beer!