Like every other artist I have loved viewing and creating art for as long as I can remember. Growing up I was always drawing with pencils, colored pencils, watercolors, and just about every other medium I could get my hands on. I received formal art training during my primary school years. In elementary school I received training at the Paier College of Art in New Haven, Connecticut, and in middle school I was invited to attend art classes one day a week at Connecticut's University of Bridgeport. Also during this time I had studied watercolor painting with Connecticut artist Kathy Singer. However, my most beloved art teacher is my Aunt Annie who instilled in me a love of art when I was a child. The first recognition of my artistic ability happened in elementary school when I won an award, placing in the top five of a state wide student art competition. [early years 1] [early years 2] [early years 3]

It was my love for art that led me to seek a career in mechanical drafting. As new technologies emerged I advanced from manual drafting to more sophisticated 3D CAD modeling systems, project management, and new product development. Over the course of 18 years I completed many university courses and job specific training to advance my mechanical design/engineering career. Even though my work is very technical in nature, there is an artistic element involved in the designing of new products and the associated documentation processes. [secular resume]

My love of creating art did not stop at drawing and painting. As a teenager I started pursuing musical arts, my primary focus being the guitar. For a time I ran a small recording studio out of my home, while also playing guitar in a few bands. Today my children use the studio as they pursue their own musical interests. [music studio]

The computer soon became another outlet for creating art. With my computer skills and 3D modeling experience I began to develope a sophisticated DC-9-41 cockpit add-on package for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This project is focused on the Scandinavian Airline Service (SAS) DC-9 airplane OY-KGR. This project requires extensive programming and a large number of computer generated renderings and image files that are assembled in real-time when the game is running giving the person that is playing the experience of sitting in a real DC-9 cockpit. [flight simulator project]

More recently my wife, Jennifer, has rekindled my zeal for drawing and painting. It was her encouragement and support that motivated me to create O'Keefe Arts and take up oil painting as a full time artist. Jennifer enjoys creating art as well and its because of our shared love of art that we are working together to promote the business and my paintings.

My love of the early American painters from the Hudson River School and Victorian era has inspired most of my landscape oil paintings, which are directed toward the styles of those 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 among others.

My paintings have been well received in the art community, which has allowed my works to be displayed in prestigious exhibitions and juried art shows. In my home state of Connecticut, the Lyme Art Gallery, Mystic Arts Center, and Cate Charles Gallery, located along the shoreline, have exhibited my artwork. My paintings have won awards and I have also had the honor of being a featured artist in a group exhibition at the Lyme Art Associations '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. Other organizations that I belong to are the Oil Painters of America, Lyme Art Association, Mystic Arts Association, and Landadscape Artists International. Most recently I have been accepted as a member of the Salmagundi Club located in Manhattan, New York. The future only seems brighter as I work to create and promote my art. [art resume]

In closing, I have created this site to share my love of art with others, which is why in addition to being able to buy my originals and high quality Giclee reproductions you will find detailed explanations of my painting process and the materials and techniques used for many of my paintings. I hope the information that I provide through this website will benefit you as you explore the world of creating your own art.

Please enjoy!

John