The name John Keeling is not known to many, but behind it is in fact a talented and even award-winning watercolor painter. John Keeling's specialty is animal drawings, and he has a particular fondness for dog portraits. This does not come from somewhere, he grew up with beagles in the family and was already as a child very fond of animals and a regular dog whisperer.
But his career as an artist had to wait, because first John Keeling took a completely different path: He enrolled at the University of Kansas and studied illustration and graphic design. He then used the bachelor's degree he had earned there to enter the world of marketing. John Keeling worked for the American company "Hallmark" for a total of 29 years, where he applied his creative vein to product development. Most of us have probably held the artistic greeting and gift cards of this brand in our hands, without suspecting that behind them was none other than John Keeling himself.
Split between his talent for marketing and his love of art, Keeling didn't strike a new direction in his life until 2019. Triggered by the loss of several family members, he sought solace in painting, reaching for watercolors purely on instinct. It was only later that he realized that the roots of this material preference lay in his childhood, where other aids such as oil or turpentine were never an option due to his mother's migraines. It was only after a period of mourning in Keeling's life that a simple hobby became a profession and he developed into the artist we know and love today. After his initial experiences, the American artist now appreciates above all the transparency of watercolor and its sophisticated yet elusive nature. It allows him to capture the essence of his subjects and gives Keeling's works the necessary depth. He sketches each motif in pencil or ink first, and only uses watercolor in a second step to add color to the sketches as the mood takes him. In this way, Keeling finds the appropriate balance between clear basic contours and the spontaneity and vagueness of his watercolors.
Thanks to this approach, John Keeling became a master watercolor painter in just a few short years, breathing life into the animals on his sheet of paper. His art is so popular that he not only gets his necessary income from selling works, but additionally teaches others his technique. Whether beginner or advanced, John Keeling teaches everyone his signature blend of blurred and clear edges. Thanks to his latest project, which is not yet fully developed, we may also soon admire his illustrations in a book series by author Annie Presely.
The name John Keeling is not known to many, but behind it is in fact a talented and even award-winning watercolor painter. John Keeling's specialty is animal drawings, and he has a particular fondness for dog portraits. This does not come from somewhere, he grew up with beagles in the family and was already as a child very fond of animals and a regular dog whisperer.
But his career as an artist had to wait, because first John Keeling took a completely different path: He enrolled at the University of Kansas and studied illustration and graphic design. He then used the bachelor's degree he had earned there to enter the world of marketing. John Keeling worked for the American company "Hallmark" for a total of 29 years, where he applied his creative vein to product development. Most of us have probably held the artistic greeting and gift cards of this brand in our hands, without suspecting that behind them was none other than John Keeling himself.
Split between his talent for marketing and his love of art, Keeling didn't strike a new direction in his life until 2019. Triggered by the loss of several family members, he sought solace in painting, reaching for watercolors purely on instinct. It was only later that he realized that the roots of this material preference lay in his childhood, where other aids such as oil or turpentine were never an option due to his mother's migraines. It was only after a period of mourning in Keeling's life that a simple hobby became a profession and he developed into the artist we know and love today. After his initial experiences, the American artist now appreciates above all the transparency of watercolor and its sophisticated yet elusive nature. It allows him to capture the essence of his subjects and gives Keeling's works the necessary depth. He sketches each motif in pencil or ink first, and only uses watercolor in a second step to add color to the sketches as the mood takes him. In this way, Keeling finds the appropriate balance between clear basic contours and the spontaneity and vagueness of his watercolors.
Thanks to this approach, John Keeling became a master watercolor painter in just a few short years, breathing life into the animals on his sheet of paper. His art is so popular that he not only gets his necessary income from selling works, but additionally teaches others his technique. Whether beginner or advanced, John Keeling teaches everyone his signature blend of blurred and clear edges. Thanks to his latest project, which is not yet fully developed, we may also soon admire his illustrations in a book series by author Annie Presely.
Page 1 / 1