Artists profile
Keith Spencer now lives on a small horse farm in
the upstate of South
Carolina. His education includes a BA in Fine Art and a BS in Biology,
both from Berry College in Rome, GA. His paintings can be found in the
permanent collections of the Downtown Committee of Greenville, SC, the
Gibbons-Peck Agency, Artescape of Tryon, NC and numerous private
collections. He is currently represented by galleries in South
Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Washington.
About the Work
"An exceptional use of color and direct brushwork combine in the
artwork of Keith Spencer. His paintings are most often done in the alla
prima tradition (one sitting) where he works quickly, but very focused,
applying oils directly and intuitively. 'If realism is about subject
matter and abstracts are about paint Keith Spencer's work bridges the
gap', says one gallery owner. His landscapes will often include the
mountainous upstate where he now lives, as well as the lowcountry
surrounding Charleston. Likewise, much of his figurative work is done
directly from life, and ranges from abstract nudes to the painterly
realism of his work from the Artist Ride in South Dakota. Having
managed a cattle and horse farm in Kentucky for the first 12 years of
his career, Keith's own horses are frequently found in his paintings".
Professional Experience
1980-1992 Farm Manager for Sundown Farm in Bardstown, Ky.
1992-1996 Creative Graphic Artist for Umbro USA, Greenville, SC.
1996-2000 Freelance Commercial Artist - Formed Keith Spencer Studio and
created artwork for a wide range of local, national and international
clients. KSS illustration, fine art and design can be found around the
world in advertisements, books, package designs, posters, catalogs, web
designs, logos, promotions and surface prints and embroideries for
active, team, leisure and licensed apparel.
Partial client list includes: Reebok Int'l, Champion Apparel, Umbro
USA, Kappa Intl, And-1 Inc., K.P.N.G. Inc., Immaculate Baking Company,
Gibbons Peck Sofield Ltd., Precaryous Apparel, NV-THS, Chambers
Containers, Greg and Greg Advertising, Erdas Inc., GT Bikes, and
Harley-Davidson among others.
Licensed work on behalf of clients: Chicago Bulls, LA Lakers, Boston
Celtics, NJ Nets, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York
Knicks, WNBA LA Sparks, University of Michigan, Ohio State, Harvard,
UCLA, Notre Dame, New England Revolution. Colorado Rapids, Manchester
United, Miami Fusion, Ajax Amsterdam, Futbol Association of Ireland,
Chelsea Futbol Club, England Futbol Club and the Major League Soccer
Association.
2000 January - began fine art painting full time.
One Review
"Energy, especially that of color, is the most important element in
Keith [Spencer's] landscape and figurative paintings, that come to life
with no formal studies other than a rudimentary midnight sketch, using
more notes than lines. Painting directly on canvas, with broad strokes
of oil, produces softly realistic and semi-abstracted works. Spencer's
beloved horses, the human figure and rural scenes of South Carolina's
upstate and lowcountry vibrate with life and invite the viewer into a
world of glowing color and gentle shapes. Spencer paints the radiant
energy of his subjects rather than the details of line and form.
Horses, cattle, groves of trees, rolling hills, salt marshes, and nudes
all emit a life force that combines with that of Spencer himself to
appear on the canvas in cool, vivid hues of purples, greens, yellows,
and the myriad colors of nature."
-Libby Fleming from "The Intuitive Painter", Bold Life Magazine, August
2003
Artist Statement
"What makes something unique has always interested me. I think at some
level, I am trying to reveal that uniqueness through my paintings,
whether it is a landscape, a figure, a still life or a feeling."
- Keith Spencer 2007