Watercolor art, Illustration & Events by Ken Stanek
I paint the people, pets, places and things that make our communities special
12”×16” Poster - Downtown Maplewood, NJ Signed, Numbered and authenticated with the Studionumbernine embossed seal.
Only 50 available!
FREE Local pickup from the Studio, TAG Gallery, or upcoming events available. Ships to anywhere in the US.
1/4” border for framing Printed on Fine art Luxe 80# paper by a local, Maplewood printer. Sealed in protective vinyl sleeve with sturdy backboard.
Prints will be available late summer 2026.
View of downtown Maplewood NJ from the corner of Baker St. & Maplewood Ave.
This is a compilation of the of illustrations I've made while observing the day to day hustle & bustle at coffeeshops, cafes, flower shops, toy stores, art stores, pools, community band performances, dive bars, gazebos, and everything local to Maplewood & South Orange New Jersey.
These places are the threads that weave the fabric of our towns and form the identity that we love about living here.
There will be over 100 pages of my artwork captured here together for the first time with more than four dozen individual places! One of these has got to be your favorite spot. I know I've got a couple of mine:
The Able Baker, True Salvage, A Paper Hat, Honey & Hive, The Snug, Parkwood Diner, The Order, NJ Transit, Baker Street Market, Sabatinos, Artie's, Arturo's, The Breadstand, Porta Rossa, Jackie and Sons, General Store, Coffee Box Rahway, Elitist Coffee, Rock n Joe, Village Coffee, Osteria Del Corso, Fox & Crow, St James Gate, Valley St Eatery, Village Barber, Bagel Chateau, Brave Floral, Coda, Coffee Mill Roasters, Cannaboss Lady, Liberty Tavern, Maplewood Community Orchestra, Peet's Coffee, Perch Home, Mplwd Community Pool, Village Hall, Sandwicheria, Toy Division, Yellow Rose, South Orange Pool, Bunny's, Three Daughters, Wildly Floral, St. Joseph's Church, Woolley Fuel, Botanica Boutique, N&K Prime Market, Elks Lodge Initiation, Lum's Cellars, The Player Agency, Kimaya Kama, [words]
18”×24” Poster - The birds of South Mountain Reservation
45 of the birds in Essex County’s South Mountain Reservation - home to 88 bird species, and the world famous Fairy Trail. How many birds can you spot on your hike?
About Town SOMA:
Illustrations of New Jersey shops
In 2024 I self-published this book of illustrations of coffeeshops, cafes, florists, toy stores, art stores, pools, community bands, dive bars, gazebos - everything local to
Maplewood & South Orange New Jersey.
These places are the threads that weave the fabric of our towns. Whether you’re a lifetime resident or you just moved here, this book is full of memories of favorite places.
Murals
From small & watercolor to huge and housepaint…the difference is mostly the size of the brushes.
“Your Newsletters are the best! 🤣🤣”
Malia Herman, Town Councilperson
“It’s so damn good”
Pete White, local guy who’s a marketer
“Your newsletters crack me up!”
Jamie Meier, @livelovelens
“Fun and witty and highlights so much good in this world”
Ellen De Havilland, Development Director - Grace Summit