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The Most-Asked Questions About My Work
1) How do
you do these portraits?
Simple. First I spend my whole life learning and practicing my art. Then I spend several days putting tiny lines and dots of ink on paper to recreate the exact look, personality, spirit and soul of each individual animal. Nothing to it.
Oh, you want more specifics? Well...
I work from photographs; your photos will work just fine **IF** you follow some simple guidelines including:
Take sharp CLOSE-UPS, make sure they are well FOCUSED, taken in GOOD OUTDOOR LIGHT, and
that they show plenty of **DETAIL** and accurate color.
Although my art is complex, its tools are very simple. First I do the drawing with a special, very fine-pointed, artist's pen and permanent India ink. When the drawing is completed, I scan it into my Macintosh computer to save it for later application on other items for my clients. Then I color the portrait with repeated layers of watercolor washes to give a rich, warm color to the portrait, adding a lifelike 3-D quality to the original drawing.
2) How long does it take?
I usually tell people that the only true reply to that question is: "Fifty years, so
far." By this I mean that it has taken me that long to learn to do what I do, to
develop the skills and techniques that enable me to produce quality artwork. A more
straightforward answer would probably be "three or four days." Of course it's
not possible to work constantly at something like this -- my eyes or my hand would
certainly rebel! I can work for several hours at a time, then take a break to do other
types of work such as packaging portraits to ship, answering correspondence, handling
record keeping, and so on. I can do approximately three finished portraits per week and
still have A Life As We Know It. Turnaround time varies, depending on how many orders I
have on my waiting list; call or e-mail for an
estimate of how long it will take to get your portrait to you.
3) Don't
you get bored with it?
No.
4) You DON'T??
Not so far. Do you get bored with the things you love to do? Is it boring to visit with
your friends, or watch the beauty of the world around you, or practice any skill or talent
you've been blessed with? People who don't know horses well think they all look alike, and
drawing them would be repetitious. My answer to that is: get to know them. Once you do,
you'll realize that no two of them are truly alike. Even if their coloring and
markings are similar, their personalities make each horse unique, and my portraits reflect
that. That's what I mean when I say I draw "not just 'a' horse -- YOUR
horse"!
5) How long have you been doing this?
All my life so far. I've been drawing since I was old enough to hold a crayon and have
been a full-time professional artist specializing in animal portraits for about
20 years.
6) My horse isn't famous or especially gorgeous; would you do
his portrait anyway?
Of course! -- if you love your horse, he or she is gorgeous to you! I do all breeds of
horse,
as well as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds.......
7) How much does it cost?
The smallest size I do is approximately 8" x 10" for $225. Larger sizes cost a
little more; check the "Sizes and Prices" page for specifics. I can also do
composites - several animals in one portrait. That information is also on the Sizes and Prices page.
8) Where can I get in touch with you?
Write to Raven OKeefe, 39562 Highway 226, Scio, OR 97374; call (503) 394-2021; or e-mail raven@ravenokeefe.com. Hope to hear from you
soon! If you are having trouble getting in touch with me I am probably on the road at a show. I do
try to check my e-mail while traveling.
