Artist Bio
An extraordinary appreciation for light and atmosphere exemplifies the
art of Keith Padgett. A native Floridian, Keith is best known for his signature
paintings of Florida’s Gulf Coast wilderness. His practiced attention to detail
and expressive use of color captures ethereal beauty hidden within wild forests,
springs, swamps and waterways of the South. In Keith’s words, “I began painting
to preserve the natural and cultural history of my home state. I want to share
the moods and feelings of ‘old Florida’ with future generations”.
Keith began his artistic pursuits at an early age as a teenager in Perry, Florida. Unique among his family and friends in his love of art and music, he began his formal art training under the direction of Jules de Romand Bacot, a continued source of inspiration and friendship for thirty years until his death. He earned an art scholarship to North Florida College studying design and composition. He then continued his studies at the prestigious Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, where he experienced the original works of the great Baroque Masters first hand. Keith continues his quest for art education, knowledge and individual training, as well as networking with other artist throughout the world.
After working for Busch Entertainment, Keith formed his own company offering creative design and artistic services. Twenty six years later, after a successful career as a commercial artist and muralist, he has returned to his fine art roots, returning not only to his artistic roots but also the roots of his birthplace.
Keith is best known for his landscape paintings, depicting the land of his birthplace. He began painting these pristine places deep in the swamps and woodlands of Coastal Northern Florida fearing they would not always remain preserved for his grandchildren’s grandchildren. Keith’s paintings evoke a sense of fascination and tranquility reflecting his personal experiences. Keith captures the infinite beauty he sees in these mysterious places through his unwavering attention to detail and use of unusual color to establish a unique sense of light and atmosphere. His knowledge of the land of his painting is based on his family’s rich North Florida heritage. Once asked about the setting for a painting, Keith smiled and said, “The Steinhatchee River flows through what was once a sleepy fishing village of the same name, rumored to have a history of what some would call rum-runners and other scaly-wags. I simply call them my relatives.”
Many of Keith’s oil on canvass paintings embody an exquisite mix of tranquility and vitality. The initial response is a feeling of serenity, but as the viewer spends more time with the painting, an intangible life force emanates from the canvas. Even though he is best known for his signature landscapes, Keith is rapidly obtaining recognition for his sensual figure paintings and expressive portraits.
Keith routinely returns to the backwoods of ‘Florida’s Big Bend’ to experience places he paints. Many of his works are created in the environment in which they exist. Here, in his own words, Keith shares his thoughts about a painting he calls Twisted Sisters. “Natural cycles of dry seasons and floods can create river currents strong enough to bend and entangle palm trees among themselves, such as the fate of these three ‘twisted sisters’. I find a canoe ideal for easing up and down this part of the Steinhatchee River. Their trick is to maneuver and anchor in just the right spot so that I can set up my easel, paints, and brushes in a manner that allows me to paint and remain upright without becoming part of the food chain.”
Keith’s paintings and murals can be found worldwide in the collections of Museums, Casinos, Restaurants, State buildings and offices, Universities; businesses in Alberta Canada; Egypt, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Australia; and many private residences throughout the world.
