Kearns was born in 1952 in Rochester, Minnesota. Even as a child, art came naturally to him and he recalls perusing his mother’s antiques magazines at an early age to gain inspiration.
In school, Kearns drew behind his books, creating thousands of drawings. After several years of art school, Kearns moved to Boston and was taught at the Fenway studios by R.H. Ives Gammell. Gammell was an elderly painter who studied under the famous American impressionist William Paxton. He taught in the classical manner of the nineteenth century, which suited Kearns. For months, Kearns learned by drawing plaster casts in charcoal before finally moving on to study the figure. Kearns recalls the pressure of Gammell standing next to him, correcting him as he drew.
Kearns is an elected member of the Guild of Boston Artists. For five years, he served as president of the Rockport Art Association. His paintings have twice been included in the Biannual Show at the National Academy of Design in New York City. He is a member of the New England Plein Air Painters.
Kearns’ paintings are dynamic and imbued with rich, poetic emotion. In their dramatic beauty, we see a reflection of his training, character and the depth of his artistic creativity. A master craftsman, Kearns is a firmly established contemporary American artist. He keeps high standards of professional integrity and will not sacrifice detail in his work. He currently resides in New England.