Richard Keyes
Encyclopedia
Richard D. Keyes (born October 19, 1930) is an American painter associated
with abstract expressionism
, impressionist landscapes and the California Plein-Air Painting
revival. Keyes is now a Professor Emeritis at Long Beach City College
, where he
taught Life drawing and painting for 30 years, between 1961 and 1991. He continues to teach,
lecture and demonstrate through groups like the Huntington Beach Art League
.
encouraged his interest in art early on, and enrolled him in an art school at the age of
16. This propelled him to attend Highland Park Community College
and Wayne State University
in Detroit.
Keyes then served in the United States Air Force
, during the Korean War
. Upon his discharge from the Air Force and after returning to the United States, he attended the University of Michigan
, earning his BA in Design in 1957. After marrying, he and his wife Carol moved to California, where he enrolled in the higher education program in Art at the University of California, Berkeley
. While at Berkeley, he studied under artists David Park
, Glenn Wessels and Erle Loran, and in 1958, he received his Masters in Painting. His style of painting at this time was Abstract Expressionist,and the Berkeley experience was very important, as it solidified his awareness and control of the abstract in visual art.
Within several years, Keyes' work shifted to abstracted landscapes. After a period of making
welded steel sculptures, he returned to painting, in a more realistic yet impressionistic
style. His most frequent subjects have been the great rolling landscapes and seascapes typical
of California's Central and South Coasts, but has also painted in much of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of eastern California.
After his retirement, Keyes studied with California Art Club
member Ken Auster, and also with Roger Armstrong,
Jeff Horn and Mario Meagovitch. He continues to be a member of several painters groups, such as the
California Plein-Air Painters Association and Laguna Beach Plein-Air Painters Association. He continues to show his work every summer at the Art-A-Fair Festival, in Laguna Beach, CA.
with abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism was an American post–World War II art movement. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve worldwide influence and put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris...
, impressionist landscapes and the California Plein-Air Painting
California Plein-Air Painting
The term California Plein-Air Painting describes the large movement of 20th century California artists who worked out of doors, directly from nature in California, United States. Their work became popular in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California in the first three decades after the...
revival. Keyes is now a Professor Emeritis at Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College, established in 1927, is a community college located in Long Beach, California. It is divided into two campuses. The Liberal Arts Campus, known as LAC, is located in the residential community of the Lakewood Village section of Long Beach, on Carson Street west of Clark Avenue...
, where he
taught Life drawing and painting for 30 years, between 1961 and 1991. He continues to teach,
lecture and demonstrate through groups like the Huntington Beach Art League
.
Biography
Richard Keyes was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1930. His parents, Richard and Estella,encouraged his interest in art early on, and enrolled him in an art school at the age of
16. This propelled him to attend Highland Park Community College
Highland Park Community College
Highland Park Community College was a Community college located in Highland Park, Michigan. The Community college was founded in 1918. Highland Park Community College was an urban campus and the focus of many efforts to benefit urban populations...
and Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
in Detroit.
Keyes then served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Upon his discharge from the Air Force and after returning to the United States, he attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, earning his BA in Design in 1957. After marrying, he and his wife Carol moved to California, where he enrolled in the higher education program in Art at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. While at Berkeley, he studied under artists David Park
David Park
David Park was a painter and a pioneer of the Bay Area Figurative School of painting during the 1950s.-Biography:...
, Glenn Wessels and Erle Loran, and in 1958, he received his Masters in Painting. His style of painting at this time was Abstract Expressionist,and the Berkeley experience was very important, as it solidified his awareness and control of the abstract in visual art.
Within several years, Keyes' work shifted to abstracted landscapes. After a period of making
welded steel sculptures, he returned to painting, in a more realistic yet impressionistic
style. His most frequent subjects have been the great rolling landscapes and seascapes typical
of California's Central and South Coasts, but has also painted in much of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of eastern California.
After his retirement, Keyes studied with California Art Club
California Art Club
The California Art Club , founded in 1909, is one of the oldest and most active arts organizations in California. It celebrated its centennial in the spring of 2010. The California Art Club originally evolved from the Painters Club of Los Angeles...
member Ken Auster, and also with Roger Armstrong,
Jeff Horn and Mario Meagovitch. He continues to be a member of several painters groups, such as the
California Plein-Air Painters Association and Laguna Beach Plein-Air Painters Association. He continues to show his work every summer at the Art-A-Fair Festival, in Laguna Beach, CA.
Exhibitions
- San Francisco Museum of Art, 77th Annual SF Art Association Show - 1958
- Oakland Art Museum, California Painters' Annual Exhibitions - 1958, 1960
- Jack London Square Annual - 1958, 1959, 1960
- Tulare County Art League Annual - 1959 1st & 2nd Prize
- Downey Museum 7th Annual - 1964 Honorable Mention
- CSU Long Beach / Long Beach City College Faculty Int'l - 1965
- All California Art Show, San Diego - 1965
- 1st Annual So. California Teachers Show, Los Angeles - 1966
- lntroductions '69, 4 person show, Downey Art Museum - 1969
- Prospectives / Art '70, Huntington Beach - 1970
- Long Beach City College Faculty Exhibitions - 1963 to 1991
- Silver Discovery Award - Art of California Magazine 1991
- Bronze Discovery Award - Art of California Magazine 1991
- Los Alamitos Art League Annual - 1991
- Long Beach City College: 30 Year Retrospective Show - 1991
- Crystal Court Art Walk Exhibit, South Coast Plaza - 1992
- Huntington Beach Art League Art Associates Open Show - 1992 to 2000 (1995 Best of Show)
- Affair in the Garden, Beverly Hills - 1992
- Yosemite National Park, Guest Artist / Instructor - 1993, 1995, 1999
- Newport Beach Public Library, Solo Show - 1993
- Descanso Gardens, La Canada - 1994
- Wilshire Landmark & Northrop Plaza Show - 1995
- Morro Bay Harbor Festival - 1995
- All Southern California Open - 1997
- Artists Corner Gallery, Solo Show - 1997
- Newport Beach Spring Juried Show - 1997
- Orange County Fair - 1997 Honorable Mention
- Surf City Festival Art Show - 1998 2nd Prize, 1999 I st Prize
- Cypress Juried Show - 1999
- Bolsa Chica Open - 2000
- Morro Bay Art in the Park - 2002
- Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc. Juried Show - 2001-2006
- So. Cal. Plein Air Painters Assoc. Juried Show - 2002-2004
- Anaheim Art Assoc. Show - 2006
- Art-A-Fair, Laguna Beach - 1991 to 2010