Renée Keel Photo Artistry

I began learning Photoshop in 2014 while living in the Las Vegas area. I purchased lifetime access to an online instructional site and got started. Anyone who is familiar with PS understands the sharp degree of the learning curve. It is a MASSIVE program that is continually updating and evolving.

I spent several hours each weekend on the video courses and was a few modules into the learning when we had a life changing opportunity that relocated us to South Dakota. My ensuing job kept me working a lot, 6-7 days a week at least 12 hours a day. There was simply to time or energy to keep up with the learning, so it got set aside. 

Fast forward a bit to fall of 2016 and I found myself no longer working at the job that consumed so much of my time and decided to start over with the PS course. As fate would have it, I was about as far into the course as I had been on my first attempt when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My artistic education and personal expansion was set aside once more. 

Christmastime in 2019 found me in a place where I was once again healthy and able to begin taking a few hours on the weekend to dive back into the learning, so I did. One more time into the fray, so to speak. Then COVID exploded, and 2020 allowed me to move from working in an office to working from home. That freed up a lot of time daily, no more commute, not as much time spent picking out clothes and doing my hair and makeup, etc., and I was able to really get into the learning of PS. Since then, I have been getting up early in the mornings and averaging 20 or so hours a week with the tutorials and in Photoshop creating. 

After 12 months I finished the first course (which can be found at www.myphotoartisticlife.com) and in January 2021 I began taking courses #2 and #3 from the same instructor - simultaneously. It is a LOT to keep up with but has allowed me to really sink my teeth into developing my artistic self and finally learning a skill I have waited years to possess. I remember finishing the first piece that I really felt looked good. It reminded me of something that would have made me wish I had the same abilities if I had seen it a few years prior. I named the piece Juno and decided to submit her for publication. Much to my surprise and amazement, she was selected! On February 15, 2021, I became a published artist!

I am honored and greatly humbled to say that in 2021 I had 13 pieces published in 9 editions of Living The Photo Artistic Life magazine. The level of artistry contained within the pages of this monthly publication is incredible, and I would never have believed my work would have been included amongst so many talented artists. The issues of the magazine are available for viewing online at: Living the Photo Artistic Life (myphotoartisticlife.com) It is definitely worth the time to look through them. Some of the pieces will amaze you and take your breath away. 

I am continuing with getting up early - almost daily - and am still learning new techniques and methods to make something appear on the blank canvas the way I want it to look. The toughest part of this, for me, is the creativity. I am a very linear and analytical thinker, so the imaginative and artistic randomness does not come easy to me. I plan to keep working on improving and strengthening that half of my brain and will continue sharing some of my artwork here. 

Some of my images can be found on my online portfolio linked to the button at the top of this page, as well as on my Patreon site (which also contains some back story and insight into some of the creative process) here:  Renee Keel is creating Digital artwork and philosophical thoughts. | Patreon 

Some folks say that repeating an action and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity, but that is incorrect. It is the definition of perseveration. Stick to it and you will eventually get the results you work for.

I hope you take some joy out of my artwork. 

Choose happy!

Renée