Chad Keel

My father demonstrated drawing to me as a preschooler. I could only draw circles at the time, but when I made circles which I saw as a face, I was shocked. I was hooked on drawing from then on. I was raised on a farm and I believe my interest in plants, animals, people and water are related to my agricultural upbringing. 

 

Regardless of subject matter, each painting is an abstract puzzle. I constantly repaint paintings until they look logical and the puzzle is solved. I may even be tempted to repaint works in a show after seeing them in a new space or, some would say, in a new light. Color has always been a strong fascination; it is my favorite element and sometimes it is my subject matter. I believe art defines us all and includes many activities. Sign language, acting dancing, music, drawing, painting, writing etc. are all art forms. All art is about awareness and communication. 

 

Without awareness and communication through the arts we could not remember our ideas from one day to the next. We would not even be able to conceive of being human. Very technical skills such as chemistry, math and physics are used by all living creatures with a nervous system. We have made these phenomena a part of our conscious mind through the use of communication and awareness that developed over thousands of years through art. Today humans still require the arts to help develop a mind that is capable of very complex tasks. Art is essential to all of us and for me it’s my way of connecting to the world beyond my own animal instinct and impulses.