I’m a Florida native who grew up in and around Jacksonville. My love for art began at an early age, tracing comic book superheroes like Superman and Batman with sheets of tracing paper. Like many young artists, I was fascinated by the idea of bringing images to life.
When I was about eight years old, my father took me to Daytona Beach, where I watched legendary custom artist Ed "Big Daddy" Roth airbrushing cars and monster-themed designs onto T-shirts. That experience left a lasting impression and sparked a passion for creating art. That Christmas, I received my first airbrush setup—a small Binks airbrush kit—and immediately began experimenting. After sacrificing more than a few white T-shirts and testing my mother's patience, I started developing my skills and discovered the joy of creating something from a blank canvas.
Recognizing my artistic interests, my mother enrolled me in oil painting lessons with a wonderful English artist named Marjorie Edwards. Her classes were held in a charming garden studio near Jacksonville's Riverside area. I was the youngest student by far, surrounded by a group of talented senior adults. While oil painting wasn't a perfect fit for me at the time, the experience introduced me to the discipline of fine art and helped shape my creative foundation.
As I grew older, my interests expanded beyond painting. I spent my free time surfing, riding dirt bikes, and enjoying the outdoors, while continuing to explore different artistic mediums. During high school, I discovered pen and ink drawing and quickly found my creative niche. I was drawn to the precision, detail, and craftsmanship the medium required. Around the same time, I also developed a passion for photography, purchasing my first Nikon camera and learning to see the world through a different artistic lens.
After high school, I attended Florida School of the Arts, earning a degree in Graphic Design. That education launched a long and rewarding career in marketing, branding, and creative communications. Over the years, I worked with organizations ranging from the Florida Times-Union and NAS Cecil Field to Universal Studios, the military and leadership development organizations, and eventually my own branding and marketing firm, Keene Ideas Creative.
While creativity remained at the center of my professional life, fine art gradually took a back seat.
A few years ago, however, I felt a persistent question in my heart: "What have you done with the talent I gave you?" The answer challenged me. For years, I had devoted my creative energy to helping businesses and organizations tell their stories, but I had largely set aside the artistic gift that first inspired me as a child.
That realization led me back to drawing, painting, and creating. Through prayer, reflection, and practice, I rediscovered a passion for fine art that had been waiting patiently for its return.
Today, my work is inspired by the natural world, the ocean, wildlife, and the spirit of the American West. Whether working in graphite, colored pencil, pen and ink, acrylics, or mixed media, I strive to create pieces that capture both the beauty of the subject and the emotion behind it.
As my artistic journey continues to evolve, so does my body of work. While many of my current pieces feature wildlife, western themes, marine life, and rural Americana, I remain open to exploring new subjects and techniques. Art, after all, is a lifelong journey of growth and discovery.
Thank you for visiting my website and taking the time to view my work. If a piece speaks to you—or if you have a vision for a custom commission—I would be honored to create something meaningful for you.
Doni Keene