Studying The Artist Pt. 3 : Margaret Keane

Who is Margaret Keane ?

Margaret Keane, born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1927, had a passion for painting and drawing from a young age. Her work gained recognition in San Francisco’s North Beach during the 1950s. While art critics didn’t always praise her work, Margaret’s paintings resonated with audiences worldwide. Andy Warhol even declared, “I believe Keane’s work is exceptional! If it weren’t, so many people wouldn’t appreciate it.” Today, Margaret is celebrated as one of the most successful artists of our time.

Margaret’s art became super popular in the early 60s and started a whole movement of artists with big, expressive eyes. Artists like Lee, Gig, Maio, Ozz Franca, Igor Pantuhoff, and Eve were all inspired by Margaret’s work. Margaret’s big eyes have even made their way into toy designs and cartoons, like the Little Miss No Name Dolls and the Powerpuff Girls dolls created by Craig McCracken. And guess what? More and more illustrators, including Yoshitomo Nara, Mark Ryden, and Tim Burton, are still inspired by Margaret’s style today.

Margaret, a devoted Jehovah’s Witness, made significant changes in her life after dedicating herself to the faith. She quit her bad habits and transformed her personality. Check out the article “My Life as a Famous Artist” in the July 8, 1975, Awake Magazine of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Despite her success, Margaret was humble and didn’t let fame or wealth get to her head. She valued good relationships and useful habits. She loved life, people, and expressing her feelings through painting. Above all, she learned to love Jehovah and shared her faith with others whenever she could. Margaret lived a life of simplicity and devotion, doing just so until her very last breath.

The Margaret Keane Technique

Margaret Keane’s unique style is all about her big, doe-like eyes. She uses oil or mixed media, blending brushstrokes and glazing to create smooth textures and detailed images. Her paintings are usually symmetrical and centered around her subjects, which often include cute kids and their furry friends.

• Oversized Eyes: Keane’s signature feature is her subjects’ big, expressive eyes. She uses them to show emotion and capture the “real” person inside.

• Symmetrical and Centrally Focused Compositions: Her paintings are like little puzzles, with a central focus and a symmetrical arrangement of elements.

• Use of Oil and Mixed Media: Keane’s art is a mix of oil paints and other materials like acrylics and watercolors.

• Fine Brushstrokes and Glazing: Her techniques create smooth, detailed textures in her artwork that are like magic!

• Emphasis on Childlike Figures and Pets: Keane loves to show children and their furry friends. They’re so innocent and cute!

• Emotional Expression: Her “Big Eyes” style is often seen as expressing a range of emotions, from sadness to joy and innocence, through the eyes of her subjects.

The Keane Palette

Margaret Keane’s colors are soft pastels and muted tones, making them feel like a dream. Keane uses fine brushstrokes and glazing to make the artwork look smooth and detailed. It’s like pop surrealism and lowbrow art, with a touch of 1960s Americana.

How To Draw Like Margaret Keane / Use her Style ?

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If you’re inspired by Margaret Keane’s style, think about creating portraits with big, eye-catching eyes and a dreamy, surreal vibe. Use soft pastels or muted colors, and mix in some pop surrealism and lowbrow art. You can also try glazes and fine brushstrokes to make the artwork smooth and detailed.

1. 1. Large, Captivating Eyes: Keane’s eyes are legendary! They’re huge and expressive, just like her personality. So, let’s get drawing some big, detailed eyes that’ll make your viewers feel like they’re right there in the moment, wondering or sad.
2. 2. Dreamy and Surreal Atmosphere: Embrace the dreamy and surreal: Let your work blend pop surrealism and lowbrow art. Think unexpected mix-ups, dreamlike visuals, and a touch of whimsy.
3. 3. Soft and Muted Color Palette: Soft and Muted Color Palette: Paint your world with soft pastels or muted tones to create a dreamy and nostalgic vibe.
4. 4. Smooth Textures and Detail: Smooth Textures and Detail: Experiment with glazes and fine brushstrokes to create a smooth, detailed masterpiece!
5. 5. 1960s Americana References: Keane often drew inspiration from the 1960s Americana scene. You can do the same by adding some cool symbols or styles from that era to your work.
6. 6. Eyebrows: Keane’s style is all about subtle and nondescript brows, so they don’t need to be super detailed.

Additional Tips:

• Study Keane's Work: Analyze her paintings to understand her techniques and style.
• Practice: The more you practice, the better you'll become at replicating her style.
• Experiment: Don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques and mediums to find what works best for you.

Sources :

https://www.keane-eyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MargaretKeaneMcGuireObituary-.jpg

https://www.keane-eyes.com/category/paintings/