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Hello,
My name is John O'Keefe Jr. I was born and raised in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA, where I raised my family with my wife, Jennifer. While I am comfortable working in most mediums, I specialize in landscape oil painting, similar to the famous Hudson River School and Victorian-era artists.
ART IN MY EARLY LIFE
Like every other artist, I have loved viewing and creating art for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I always drew with pencils, colored pencils, watercolors, and just about every medium I could get my hands on. I received formal art training during my primary school years. When attending elementary school, I received specialized training at the Paier College of Art in New Haven, Connecticut. The first formal recognition of my artistic ability happened in elementary school when I won an award, placing me in the top five of a statewide student art competition. During my middle school years, I was invited to attend college-level art classes one day a week at the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Also, during this time, I studied watercolor painting with Connecticut artist Kathy Singer. However, my most beloved art teacher was my Aunt Ann Fucich, who instilled in me a love of art when I was a small child.
John O'Keefe posing with a drawing outside of the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, New York, when he was seven years old
Outside the Museum of Natural History (NYC) at 7 Years Old.
(My Aunt Ann Fucich took pictures)
My love for art led me to seek a career in mechanical drafting. As new technologies emerged, I advanced to more sophisticated 3D CAD modeling systems, new product development, and, eventually, project management. Throughout the years, I completed many university courses and job-specific training to advance my mechanical design/engineering career. Even though my work was very technical, an artistic element was involved in designing new products and the associated documentation processes.
My love for creating art did not stop at drawing and painting. As a teenager, I started pursuing musical skills. My first love is the guitar, and I ran a small recording studio out of my home for a time while also playing guitar in a few bands.
The computer soon became another outlet for creating art. With my computer skills and 3D modeling experience, I began to develop a sophisticated DC-9-41 add-on cockpit package for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The project focused on the Scandinavian Airline Service (SAS) DC-9 airplane OY-KGR. There was extensive programming and many computer-generated renderings and image files assembled in real-time when the game was running, giving the person playing the experience of sitting in a real DC-9 cockpit.
A RENEWED LOVE OF ART
In 2007 my wife, Jennifer, rekindled my zeal for drawing and painting. Her encouragement and support motivated me to create O'Keefe Arts and take up oil painting as a professional artist. Jennifer also enjoys creating art, and we are working together to promote the business and my paintings because of our shared love of art.
I sell original works, accept commission work to create custom landscape paintings, and offer a variety of high-quality pigment prints, i.e., Giclee, reproductions of my artwork. (Websites: www.okeefe-arts.com and www.johnokeefe.net)
John and Jennifer O'Keefe outside of the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, New York, when he was thirty-seven years old
Outside the Museum of Natural History (NYC) at 37 Years Old.
My paintings have been well received in the art community, allowing my works to be displayed in prestigious exhibitions and art shows. In my home state of Connecticut, the Lyme Art Gallery, Mystic Arts Center, Cate Charles Gallery, and the Mill House Gallery have exhibited my artwork. My paintings have won awards, and I have been a featured artist in a group exhibition at the Lyme Art Association's "17th Annual Associate Artists Exhibit". In April of 2009, I was elected onto the board of directors of the Cheshire Art League in Cheshire, Connecticut, and I created and managed the league's website until the fall of 2011. Organizations that I belong to are Oil Painters of America, Lyme Art Association, The Salmagundi Club of New York City, Mystic Arts Association, Cheshire Art League (until 2011), and Landscape Artists International.
In 2012, Jennifer and I created Painting Frames Plus, where people can purchase high-quality reproduction painting frames. (Website: www.paintingframesplus.com)
The 2009 Annual Visual Arts Exhibition by Cheshire Art League presented an opportunity for me to fulfill a new role I had with the organization. I was accepted onto the Board of Directors at the Cheshire Art League with the assignment to improve the league’s online presence. This included a complete redesign of the league’s website. I attended most functions and recorded the events to collect material for web page entries. 17 league events were documented between 2009 and 2011, starting with this 2009 annual exhibition.
(Note: I resigned from this assignment in 2011 to pursue my online frame business Painting Frames Plus; unfortunately, the new web designer for the Cheshire Art League did not upload the events I recorded. I will try to re-post them on this site as time permits. The below pictures are just a sampling from this exhibit.)
Event Literature – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition
Event Literature
Receiving and Hanging – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition
Joan Shackford, Angela Orsene, and Ann Hearn
Paul Miller and Tom Mayer
Opening Reception and Award Ceremony – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition
Ellie Bender and Christine Ivers
I didn’t know it then, but Christine Ivers would become my sponsor for membership in the Salmagundi Club in New York City. Christine’s specialty is working with pastels, and is an excellent artist. I first met Christine at this Annual Visual Arts Exhibition by Cheshire Art League.
About the Judge – Annual Visual Arts Exhibition
Power Boothe
Power Boothe, Dean of the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, is a recognized abstract painter. He has had twenty solo exhibitions in New York. His work is represented in many public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art. Boothe has designed sets for Obie Award-winning productions, collaborated as a visual artist with choreographers and musicians, and has received numerous NEA Inter-Arts grants. In 1975 he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Artist Fellowship for painting, and in 1985, a Guggenheim Fellowship for painting.1, 2
Footnotes:
Image of Power Boothe from hartford.edu ~ 2014
Bio. information for Power Boothe from the exhibition brochure
The jury accepted three of my paintings into the Spring Painting and Sculpture Exhibit by Lyme Art Association.
Opening Reception (3-6-2009) – Spring Painting and Sculpture Exhibit
The opening reception was held on March 6, 2009, between 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This time, my wife, Jennifer, my two children, Joshua and Danielle, and my mother, Lynn Ambrosini, attended the reception with me. Thus it was a family night out.
Later, I took some pictures from the reception, and as expected, there was quite a crowd at a Lyme Art Gallery event. In addition to talking with several other artists participating in the exhibition, I introduced myself to Diane Aeschliman. Diane is one of the elected Lyme Gallery artists. Jennifer and I liked one of the landscape paintings by Diane that was in the exhibit.
Cole Gallery
Goodman Gallery
Jennifer O’Keefe and Lynn Ambrosini in the Cooper-Ferry Gallery
John O’Keefe Jr., Jennifer O’Keefe, and Lynn Ambrosini in the Cooper-Ferry Gallery
Lynn Ambrosini and Joshua O’Keefe in the Cooper-Ferry Gallery
Concluding Thoughts
The Spring Painting and Sculpture Exhibit by Lyme Art Association was another excellent exhibition. Also, I am thankful my family enjoys attending these art exhibitions with me; they become excellent family outings.
About the Judges – Spring Painting and Sculpture Exhibit
Del-Bourree Bach
Del [-Bourree Bach] is a signature member of many professional arts organizations, including the American Society of Marine Artists, Artists for Conservation, Society of Animal Artists, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic, American Artists Professional League (Fellow), Allied Artists of America, Audubon Artists, The Copley Society of Boston, Providence Art Club and the Salmagundi Club of New York… He is one of nine artists nationwide to be named to the PaintAmerica Masters Circle… 1, 2
Terry Oakes Bourret
[Terry Oakes Bourret] is an elected member of various art associations, including the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club (NYC), New Haven Paint & Clay Club, Lyme Art Association, Connecticut Women Artists, Clinton Art Society, and Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society. This Fall, she will be featured in the anthology “100 Artists Of New England” compiled by prominent author E. Ashley Rooney… 3
Catherine Elliott
Catherine M. Elliott is a contemporary artist whose work evocates the American Impressionism painting style. “My paintings are primarily of atmospheric and light conditions portraying the subject’s quality. I try to capture the true grace and elegance of the remaining countryside of New England… 4, 5
Kim Muller-Thym
An impressionist oil painter living and painting along the New England coast, Kim Muller-Thym is drawn to shoreline scenes significantly as they are affected by weather, time of day, and seasons. Being a farm girl, she also loves the countryside, sheep, and barns… 6
Footnotes:
Image of Del Del-Bourree Bach from the Salmagundian Blog ~ April 2013
Bio “snippet” for Del Del-Bourree Bach from www.natureartists.com ~ April 2014
Image and Bio “snippet” for Terry Oakes Bourret from www.artmajeur.com ~ 2014
Image of Catherine Elliott from www.ct.com ~ 2014
Bio “snippet” for Catherine Elliott from www.catherinemelliott.com ~ 2014
Image and Bio “snippet” for Kim Muller-Thym from www.kimmuller-thym.com ~ 2014
Things keep getting better for me with my art. For example, I was selected to be a featured artist for the 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit by Lyme Art Association. WOW!!! (You can read the press release.)
The 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit was held on January 16, 2009, at the Lyme Art Gallery from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. I was privileged to have four of my paintings accepted into the exhibition, which will run from January 16 through February 28.
Event Literature – 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit
Front View of Event Brochure
Back View of Event Brochure
Opening Reception (1-16-2008) – 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit
A lovely group of patrons attended the reception, in addition to plenty of food and drinks on the serving table. Also, my father, John O’Keefe Sr, and youngest brother Joe O’Keefe, attended the reception along with my wife, Jennifer, and our two children. Overall, we had a good time meeting people and viewing the exhibit. Additionally, I introduced myself to one of the elected artists, Richard Nazzaro. I had seen Mr. Nazzaro at other Lyme Gallery events, but I never had the opportunity to meet and introduce myself to him.
Cooper-Ferry Gallery
I had a chance to meet the Lyme Gallery Sales Manager Joy Hanes. She gave me some wonderful compliments about my paintings and said she is particularly fond of my latest work titled “Big Cork Tree.”
John O’Keefe Jr. & Joy Hanes (Gallery Sales Manager)
“Big Cork Tree” and “Summer in the Valley” by John O’Keefe Jr.
Cole Gallery
Joe O’Keefe, John O’Keefe Jr., and John O’Keefe Sr.
“Prairie Storm”by John O’Keefe Jr.
“Moment of Reflection”by John O’Keefe Jr.
Reconnecting with Dianne Gorrick – Opening Reception
Before the evening ended, I was pleasantly surprised to meet Dianne Gorrick and her husband at the opening. Dianne was the juror for the first art competition I entered as an emerging artist. (2008 Annual Visual Arts Exhibit by The Cheshire Art League.) Dianne remembered me and my two paintings from that competition. Dianne and I are both associate artists with the Lyme Art Association, and we each had several pieces accepted into the exhibit. We walked around showing our paintings to each other while discussing various painting techniques. Dianne shared some tips for achieving smooth lines on tree branches, which I’m working to improve in my newer paintings. Dianne had high compliments on my color pallet. It was very encouraging to talk with Dianne again and participate in the 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibit by Lyme Art Association.
Dianne Gorrick, John O’Keefe Jr. and Oddvar Breiland (Dianne’s husband)
Event Literature – About the Judge
Phil Cutting
Associate Artist at the Lyme Art Gallery 1
Bob Gregg
Associate Artist at the Lyme Art Gallery 2
Maryanne Rupp
Maryanne Rupp is a Killingworth pastel and oil artist who has won numerous art awards and has displayed her work throughout New England. She is a member of the Connecticut Pastel Society, the Lyme Art Association, the Madison Art Society, and the Clinton Art Society. Her work is in private collections throughout the Northeast, and she has studied pastel with Joanne Ballinger at the Lyme Art Association for the past seven years. She has taken numerous workshops with renowned local artists such as Karen Winslow, Diane Aeschliman, Jack Broderick, Hollis Dunlap, and Lou Bonamarte. She believes that producing art is the artist’s ability to find beauty in ordinary objects. 3, 4
Bev Schirmeir
Associate Artist at the Lyme Art Gallery
Footnotes:
Image of Phil Cutting from www.thetimesgroup.com ~ Community section ~ July 17, 2009.
Image of Bob Gregg from the fall 2008 newsletter the Lyme Art Association printed.
Bio information on Maryanne Rubb taken from Clinton Art Society website: Artist of the Month article ~ June 2008.
Image of Maryanne Rupp from Madison Art Society ~ March 2008.
Things keep getting better for me with my art. The following press release about me was released before the Lyme Art Association 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibition: “John O’Keefe Jr. is Featured Artist at Lyme Art Gallery.” WOW!!!
Featured Artist at Lyme Art Gallery – Press Release
LYME ART ASSOCIATION, 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, 06371
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Publicity Contact: Susan Cornell Phone: [removed] Email: [removed]
Image Attached: John O’Keefe, Big Cork Tree, Oil, 8″ x 10″
LAA’s Feature Artist, John O’Keefe
Landscape oil painting specialist John O’Keefe is Lyme Art Association’s feature artist. O’Keefe is showing at LAA’s current exhibition, the 17th Annual Associate Artist Exhibition, on view through February 28.
Early LIfe
O’Keefe has loved viewing and creating art for as long as he can remember. “Growing up, I was always drawing with pencils, colored pencils, watercolors, and I tried just about everything I could get my hands on,” he said. He received formal art training during his primary school years and placed within the top five at a state-level student art competition. He studied watercolor painting privately with Connecticut artist Cathy Singer and received training at the Paier College of Art in New Haven, Connecticut, all before graduating high school.
O’Keefe’s love for art led him to seek a career in mechanical drafting. As new technologies emerged, he advanced from manual drafting to more sophisticated 3D CAD modeling systems, project management, and new product development. The work was very technical, but an artistic element was also involved in the design and documentation.
He pursued musical arts and ran a small recording studio out of his home while playing guitar in a few bands.
Currently, O’Keefe is leading a video game project to develop a sophisticated DC-9-41 cockpit add-on package for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This project focused on the Scandinavian Airline Service (SAS) DC-9 airplane OY-KGR.
Currently
More recently, his wife Jennifer rekindled his zeal for drawing and painting. “It was her encouragement and support that motivated me to take up oil painting as a full-time artist in 2007, and now we are working together to promote my paintings,” he said.
Their daughter’s health problems were also significant in his becoming a full-time artist. Danielle O’Keefe suffers from a rare genetic disorder known as Epidermolysis Bullosa, which affects the skin and surface areas of the body. Like her father, Danielle has loved painting, drawing, and creating art since she was a little child.
O’Keefe specializes in Landscape Oil Painting in style similar to the famous Hudson River School and Victorian-era artists. He sells original works and a variety of high-quality pigment print reproductions.
“I love the early American painters from the Hudson River School and Victorian era. Most of my landscape oil paintings are directed toward the styles of those early artists. I hope to one day produce comparable works to such masters of landscape as Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, and John Kennsett,” said the artist. “My paintings have been displayed at prestigious exhibitions at the Lyme Art Gallery and Mystic Arts Center in Connecticut. I have won awards, and the future only seems brighter as I work to promote my art,” he added.
Big Cork Tree Painting
O’Keefe’s Big Cork Tree is on view at the Lyme Art Association’s current show, the 17th Annual Artist Exhibition. The painting started as a tree study as he has been working to improve his skills in painting trees in preparation for some larger paintings in the works. “The sky, as with most of my skies, is painted from photographs my wife Jennifer takes. We may drive to look for beautiful skies and local landscape scenery to photograph. An old Victorian engraving of a cork tree inspired the tree itself. The land and distant hills are done to capture an African landscape,” he explains.
“Some other details on the painting are that it’s mounted on medium textured canvas and I used Winsor & Newton ‘Artist Oil Colors.’ Also, as with most of my paintings, they are only complete once I get the ok from Jennifer. She has an excellent eye for spotting something that looks off or is missing,” he says, adding, “We hang my works that are in process in our living room. Sometimes after a few days or weeks, we decide a particular painting needs something more added, so it goes back on the easel for some touch-up work. I like being surrounded by reproductions of my previous works to gauge my progress as a landscape painter. Most original works are for sale.”
LAA is located at 90 Lyme Street in Old Lyme. Admission is free, with contributions greatly appreciated. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, 1 to 5 pm. For more information on exhibitions, purchase of art, art classes, or becoming a member, call 860-434-7802.
Founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists, the Lyme Art Association continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork by its members, inviting artists, and offering art instruction and lectures to the community. The Lyme Art Association is located at 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, in a building designed by Charles Adams Platt and located within a historic district. Admission is free, with contributions appreciated. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, 1 to 5 pm. For more information on the exhibition
New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, Connecticut
I made this trip with my family to the Hudson River School by New Britain Museum of American Art. I wanted to study some Hudson River School paintings in the museum’s permanent collection. Below are a series of photographs I captured showing various closeup details for several oil paintings. The closeup details are very informative, and by studying them, a person can start to appreciate and understand how the painting layers were constructed. The colors in these photographs are not modified from my digital camera, they may not represent the colors of the paintings hanging in the museum, but they are relatively close.
Jennifer, Joshua, Danielle, Joe, and Kate
Hudson River School – “The Boating Party” by George Wellington Waters
George Wellington Waters ( 1832-1912) The Boating Party ca. 1870s Oil on Canvas Harriet Russel Stanley Fund 2005.04
Hudson River School – “Sunday Morning” by Asher Brown Durand
Asher Brown Durand ( 1796-1886) Sunday Morning, 1860 Oil on Canvas Charles F. Smith Fund 1963.04
(Note: The gallery lighting creates the illusion that the sun is located in the center of the painting, the real location of the sun is about 2 o’clock (far right side) and off the canvas.)
Hudson River School – “Scene Near Fishkill Hudson River” by Paul Weber
Paul Weber (B. Darmstadt, Germany 1823-1916) Scene Near Fishkill Hudson River, 1855 Oil on Canvas Promised gift of Harriet and Walter Huber 2007.40
Hudson River School – “Ipwich Marshes” by Martin Johnson Heade
Martin Johnson Heade (1819-1904) Ipwich Marshes, 1867 Oil on Canvas Stephen B Lawrence Fund 1961.16
Hudson River School – “West Rock, New Haven” by Frederic Edwin Church
Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900) West Rock, New Haven, 1849 John Butler Talcott Fund Oil on Canvas
Hudson River School – “The Wilds of Lake Superior” by Thomas Moran
Thomas Moran (B. England 1837-1926) The Wilds of Lake Superior, 1864 Oil on Canvas Charles F. Smith Fund 1944.04
Hudson River School – “Midwinter Moonlight” by Francois Gignoux
Francois Gignoux (B. France, 1816-1882) Midwinter Moonlight, before 1869 Oil on Board Charles F. Smith Fund
Concluding Thoughts – Hudson River School by New Britain Museum of American Art
What a great exhibit of the Hudson River School by New Britain Museum of American Art. Seeing close-up of how master painters from history did their work is invaluable. In person, you can see each brush stroke, tell what the artist deliberately intended in one area, and see where some overpainting happened in another. Overpainting indicates the artists changed something they didn’t feel was right the first time they put down the paint. This visit was an education.
