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 Mark Keathley (born 1963) grew up on
the family cattle farm in East Texas
and loved romping through the woods
and across open fields. He spent
most of his spare time outside
chasing lizards, and trying to catch
that illusive grand-daddy large
mouth bass. It was here in this
environment, where he first spied
his mother's oil painting box in the
attic of his country home.
He had drawn pictures voraciously
since age five, but the paints
offered a new challenge that he
thought he was up for at age eleven.
After a very disappointing start, he
didn't give up, and continued
trying, often painting well into the
night as a teen. He later attended a
small one man show put on for a
friend in his college art class and
saw, for the first time, someone
selling artwork.
This was all it took. His renewed
interest in painting and
determination to learn more, kept
him busy twelve to fourteen hours a
day, six days a week, and within a
year found that many folks were
beginning to collect his work.
"You're so young!" they would say,
for he was twenty or so, and his
career had begun.
In the early 1990's, he entered a
couple of paintings in the Cheyenne,
Wyoming "Old West Museum Show" and
won a couple of awards for his work.
He also attended the "Texas Ranger
Hall of Fame Art Show" in Waco Texas
and twice won the "Popular Vote
Award" for a couple of his pieces
two years in a row. Everywhere he
has gone, he has found great
acceptance for his work, and his
paintings hang in many homes around
the world.  In April 2010, "Quiet Encounter" was selected for the National Wild Turkey Federation's (NWTF) 2011 core art program. The art program helps to further NWTF's mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve the heritage of hunting. Keathley's prints will raise funds via auctions held at more than 2200 banquets throughout North America in 2011. Read More
 Mark's favorite collectors are those
who see his work, and want to take
it home because it causes them to
rest. "We are too busy these days,"
he says, speaking about our need to
slow down, and to sit and think
about life. "Our kids are growing up
alone, our schedules are jammed
full, and there is no time to
contemplate what life should be
about. I want my paintings to
inspire people to be still, to
listen to that quiet voice, and then
rise up assured that they are a part
of something bigger than their
schedule."
Mark's paintings do just that. He is
able to capture that
 perfect moment
that you might experience on a hike
through the mountains when a
majestic elk came out for an
unforgettable experience. Or a
moment in time when the light, the
water, and the gentle involvement of
a man and his horse all came
together in a masterful composition.
He is able to blend bold strokes of
color and fine detail to bring your
focus in to the most important
areas, and give you the feeling that
you are there. And that is where he
wants you to stay - not admiring his
ability, but rather inspired to
live.
The painting, Faithful Friend,
says a lot about Mark Keathley and where he
gets his inspiration. From his desire
to depict the "Faithful Friend"
he knows, Mark painted this portrait of
Jesus with a kind look in his eye and a
smile on his face -- the loving look one
would see if someone really cared for you.
In a day when we rarely slow down enough to
gaze in each others eyes with a connection
of souls that cannot be "said", this
timeless work captures the "look" that we
are all waiting for. The one that says, "I
delight and approve of you". "The look I captured in Faithful
Friend, is the look I want to see on Jesus'
face when I meet him one day. My faith in
all He is in me and through me gives me
confidence that I will indeed, meet him with
the delight of a best friend."
--Mark Keathley
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