Exploring a character from mythology- Brian Keeler Yes, Silenus is not a household name and this mythic character, a God of sorts from ancient mythology is not really on the tip of our tongues or on the radar of most. Still he has an outsize influence and a corpulent physique to go with his status in art of the ages. Above- A painting by the author reinterpreting the myth of Silenus. This oil on linen titled, "The Merry Company." He has been a source of interest to me for

Contemplating the lofty passages of Emerson while considering the environment- Brian Keeler Above- A landscape of Spring- by the author. Spring and renewal are part of this essay. This oil painting depicts a vineyard near Hammondsport, NY Relation to the universe- A context with cultural independence A confluence of occurrences around Earth Day 2026 seemed to all align with aspects of landscape, spirituality, the 250th anniversary of the USA, the moon mission, and the

Mythology for our Times - Landscapes of the Lakes- Brian Keeler The New Show At the West End Gallery in Corning, NY- March 20th- April 23, 2026 For this new exhibit of paintings at the West End Gallery I will present several traditional landscapes with a group of mythology-inspired works. I regard mythology, specifically in the Greco- Roman tradition, as an inspiring point of departure. These myths offer a starting point as they provide a basic theme to elaborate upon or to

History and community- the travails of iconic architecture- Brian Keeler Imagine my surprise when I drove up North Main Street in Wilkes-Barre last fall to take a look at one of my favorite locales (for the motif potential), when all I could see was a completely barren lot. I thought that I must be on the wrong block. But no, I was at the intended location of a really unique church that I had painted several times as part of cityscapes in this neighborhood. It was gone. Abo

Notes toward an appreciation of Beauty - Changes in Platitudes, Changes in Attitudes- Brian Keeler Beauty, it is a vast subject, quite overwhelming in fact, with spiritual, practical, artistic and mundane aspects. So the contemplation of beauty is certainly not restricted to artists but is essential and far reaching to all. So with that caveat, I will consider some of the aspects of beauty that I have been thinking about recently and for a long time. Above- a painting by t

Exploring the ancient method of egg tempera painting- Brian Keeler Egg tempera painting is new to me but the medium is as time-honored as ancient Egypt. Panel paintings in egg tempera from the time that the pyramids were built still survive to attest to its durability- with the color looking as vibrant as the day they were painted. In respect to archival durability, egg tempera might only be second to buon fresco, or true fresco. There are wonderful examples of fresco fro

An essay on a cultural divide expressed in the portraits of two 16th century Englishmen- Brian Keeler Two portraits in the Frick Museum in New York City are perpetually presented to us to enjoy for their remarkablly virtuous and painterly performances. Underneath and between the portraits lie a great cultural, religious and ethical divide. This schism is nothing short of the Protestant Reformation and all that implies and included on world events. I am speaking of the two p

. An esssay on Dante's Relevance- Brian Keeler Above- Brian Keeler, "Autumn Still Life with Dante," oil on linen, 30" x 36". For anyone who has read The Divine Comedy , considering which of Dante's forms of justice would be appropriate for our era is understandable. There is a long list of transgressions that we observe coming from the White House. In fact, there are so many truly horrendous violations of every stripe that we are never short of material. As many have observ

An essay on how the human form inspires and corresponds to art, life, architecture and more. Brian Keeler The relation of the parts to the whole and their successful interaction could sum up the ideal of visual virtue as expressed in the work of the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius and the authors of the Renaissance who rediscovered his work. I found these ideas intriguing and useful in how they applied to painting today as well as to many other areas of life. The human

Thoughts on Ancient Rome and America- Brian Keeler Ok, this is a title concerning ancient history but the relevance of Cicero to political occurrences today is striking and poignant. The convictions of the Roman orator, philosopher and senator, Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BC) could be applied to how this eloquent citizen of the Eternal City would regard current events. I like to recall the travails of ancient Rome as they seem so uncanily relevant and spot-on to our

Impression of the one-man show at The Roberson Museum in Binghamton, NY- Brian Keeler "Uncovering the Surface" is a perfectly apt title to this wonderful show at the Roberson Museum in Binghamton, NY of the work of Orazio Salati. The exhibit presents dozens of works (77 to be exact) from the past 50 years with nearly three years required in preparation. Salati has been a mover, shaker, inspirer and supporter of the arts in the Southern Tier of New York, Northeastern Penns

An Exhibit, a book and the poetics of Light- the work of Norman Rockwell- essay- Brian Keeler To say that the current exhibit at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA represents a turning point in history is certainly true (the onset of electric lights) but it is also a sublime presentation from which the viewer can muse about light. In short, this collection is a wonderfully conceived theme, on light at the intersection of science and art- at the dawning of a new

An essay on the island off the coast of Maine- Brian Keeler- Above - A small (12" x 12") oil painting by the author- created en plein air on Monhegan Island. See the links at the bottom of this essay to view a video of the work being created on site. Seeking the Muse on an Atlantic Island- Two jutting rocky protuberances of land make their stand against the Atlantic off the coast of Maine and they are brave redoubts for us artists to clamber over while we search for t

An ode to the telephone poles in our landscape- Brian Keeler When we regard telephone poles, telegraph poles (if there are any left) and various other vertical infrastructures (if we even think much about them at all) they are merely necessary aspects of the towns, cities and countryside where we live and travel. They do have a visual component that we sometimes appreciate and sometimes disdain as intrusive. In this essay I will enterain how these vertical sturctures are

It all comes out in the wash- An essay on life, death and soul.- Rhythms and rhymes of nature- Brian Keeler "I do not fear death, I had...

Exploring the Memory Stones and History in the Jewish Quarter of Rome- Brian Keeler Imagine your front door smashed, being manacled,...

Seeking and finding the muse in the eternal city. An essay by Brian Keeler on taking a workshop in egg tempera, and painting the motif of...

An essay on gracious support of the Arts- Pat Atkins and her Career Above- Pat Atkins after a recent purchase of one of the author's...

The passion and polemics of Ben Shahn's Art- Reflections on the art of Ben Shahn and the show at Jewish Museum in NYC. And further...

An essay on ancient antecedents to American transgressions- Brian Keeler There was a principle in ancient Greece that informed the...