FECHIN STUDIO EXHIBITIONS
Keevan Donahue, Light and Shadow: A Study in Paint
On View: March 15 - May 4, 2025, in the Fechin Studio
On View: March 15 - May 4, 2025, in the Fechin Studio
Keevan Donahue, "Still Life of a Horse and Rider II"
One might call Donahue a virtuoso with oil paint. He began to develop his masterful skills at the age of twenty-one, teaching himself to paint. Donahue found himself drawn to the techniques of the old masters, such as Rembrandt, who is noted for his strong contrasts between dark and light, and found comparable inspiration in the work of contemporary artists David Leffel and Sherrie McGraw, who also employ the use of chiaroscuro. Donahue, following his passion, moved to Taos to be under the tutelage of the talented McGraw.
While many who employ the use of chiaroscuro use extreme contrasts of light and dark, as if the subject is lit up by a strong, direct light source, Donahue paints his subjects bathed in directional natural light. The effect creates a sense of the fleeting qualities of light and shadow, resulting in a vibrant aliveness emerging from his canvases. Donahue says that the essence of his work is “focusing on the interplay between luminosity and obscurity, the physicality of the paint medium, and the expressive, live quality of the brushwork. Each work represents a new challenge—an opportunity to capture the ephemeral, to bring to life the interplay of air and dimension through the alchemy of oil paint.”
Donahue’s masterly work is a remarkable fit for exhibition in the Fechin Studio, as Nicolai Fechin was considered a modern ‘old master’ according to newspaper articles and reviews written during his time. Carrying on the disciplines of masters such as Fechin and Rembrandt, while developing his own voice and expression through the evolution of his technique, Donahue is quickly on his way to being recognized as a modern ‘old master’ himself.
While many who employ the use of chiaroscuro use extreme contrasts of light and dark, as if the subject is lit up by a strong, direct light source, Donahue paints his subjects bathed in directional natural light. The effect creates a sense of the fleeting qualities of light and shadow, resulting in a vibrant aliveness emerging from his canvases. Donahue says that the essence of his work is “focusing on the interplay between luminosity and obscurity, the physicality of the paint medium, and the expressive, live quality of the brushwork. Each work represents a new challenge—an opportunity to capture the ephemeral, to bring to life the interplay of air and dimension through the alchemy of oil paint.”
Donahue’s masterly work is a remarkable fit for exhibition in the Fechin Studio, as Nicolai Fechin was considered a modern ‘old master’ according to newspaper articles and reviews written during his time. Carrying on the disciplines of masters such as Fechin and Rembrandt, while developing his own voice and expression through the evolution of his technique, Donahue is quickly on his way to being recognized as a modern ‘old master’ himself.
UP NEXT:
Izumi Yokoyama, Between Dreams
On View: May 17 - July 6, 2025
Exhibition Reception: Saturday, May 17, 1-3 p.m. RSVP
Izumi Yokoyama, Between Dreams
On View: May 17 - July 6, 2025
Exhibition Reception: Saturday, May 17, 1-3 p.m. RSVP
Interested in submitting a proposal to exhibit in the Fechin Studio? Learn more here!