Danielle O’Keefe’s Year of Experiments (2014)

Posted on December 31, 2014 by John O'Keefe Jr.

Danielle tried oil painting for the first time in 2014. Oils were a different feel for her, and she realized very quickly that it was not as easy to control the medium as others that she had already mastered. It was around this time that Danielle expressed an interest on body art, i.e. tattoo design. Starting this year her drawings started going in that direction. We have dubbed 2014 as Danielle O’Keefe’s year of experiments.

Danielle O’Keefe’s Year of Experiments – Trying New things

Danielle O'Keefe's Year of Experiments, Self Portrait 1, Oil on Board (1st Oil Painting), Danielle O'Keefe, 2014 — ***“Self Portrait 1”***
Oil on Board (1st Oil Painting)
Danielle O’Keefe
2014 ;(18 years old)

Danielle O'Keefe's Year of Experiments, Patterned Flowers, Oil on Board (2nd Oil Painting), Danielle O'Keefe, 2014 — ***“Patterned Flowers”***
Oil on Board (2nd Oil Painting)
Danielle O’Keefe
2014 (18 years old)

Danielle O'Keefe's Year of Experiments, Chinese Butterfly, Sharpie on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2014 — ***“Chinese Butterfly”***
Sharpie on Paper
Danielle O’Keefe
2014 (18 years old)

Danielle O'Keefe's Year of Experiments, Tattoo Study, Pen & Ink & Graphite on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2014 — ***“Tattoo Study”***
Pen & Ink & Graphite on Paper
Danielle O’Keefe
2014 (18 years old)

“Tattoo Study” did not come out as Danielle hoped for, and she wanted to toss the artwork before it was done. I had her finish it despite her early disappointment, and told her to look at the experience as an opportunity to 1) finish what she started, and 2) practice ways to overcome mistakes. She could not correct the eyes and mouth area, but she did complete the rest of the piece to her credit.

Danielle O'Keefe's Year of Experiments, 11th Doctor Portrait (Matt Smith), Sharpie on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2014 — ***“11th Doctor Portrait (Matt Smith)”***
Sharpie on Paper
Danielle O’Keefe
2014 (18 years old)

Danielle O’Keefe’s Year of Portraits (2013)

Posted on December 31, 2013 by John O'Keefe Jr.

This year was Danielle O’Keefe’s year of portraits. 2013 was a more productive year for Danielle. Her drawing seemed more enjoyable again, probably due to an overall improvement in her health over the previous year. Her subjects were also more fun and relaxed, but focused mainly on characters and portraits.

Danielle O’Keefe’s Year of Portraits – Having Fun with Characters.

Danielle O'Keefe's Year of Portraits, Mickey Mouse, Colored Pencil on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2013 — ***“Mickey Mouse”***
Colored Pencil on Paper
Danielle O’Keefe
2013 (17 years old)

Danielle O'Keefe's Year of Portraits, 10th Doctor Portrait (David Tennant), Sharpie on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2013 — ***“10th Doctor Portrait (David Tennant)”***
Sharpie on Paper
Danielle O’Keefe
2013 (17 years old)

Danielle O'Keefe's Year of Portraits, Watercolor Study, Watercolor on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2013 — ***“Watercolor Study”***
Watercolor on Paper
Danielle O’Keefe
2013 (17 years old)

Danielle O’Keefe’s Year of Artistic Expression (2012)

Posted on December 31, 2012 by John O'Keefe Jr.

2012 Was pretty laid back for Danielle with respect to drawing. Some years were harder than others because of health complications with Danielle’s Epidermolysis Bullosa. When she did draw many times it was to relieve stress and anxiety from not feeling well. Her artwork was very expressive in design and pattern motifs, and not the focused and highly detailed drawings from her previous year. Please enjoy these drawings during Danielle O’Keefe’s year of artistic expression.

Danielle O’Keefe’s Year of Artistic Expression – Pattern Drawings

Year of Artistic Expression, Pattern 1, Pen & Ink on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2012 — ***“Pattern 1”***
Pen & Ink on Paper,
Danielle O’Keefe,
2012 (16 years old)

Year of Artistic Expression, Pattern 2, Pen & Ink on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2012 — ***“Pattern 2”***
Pen & Ink on Paper,
Danielle O’Keefe,
2012 (16 years old)

Danielle O’Keefe’s Year of Artistic Growth (2011)

Posted on December 31, 2011 by John O'Keefe Jr.

2011 was by far Danielle O’Keefe’s year of artistic growth. Her drawings are much more realistic, with greater depth and perspective. Her portraits “Avril Lavigne” and “Study in Pointillism” really demonstrate her improved understanding of the human face and form. It was with the aid of school art lessons, as seen in her drawings “Colored Pencil Study 1” and “Perspective Study 1“, that she took her skills to the next level.

Danielle O’Keefe’s Year of Artistic Growth – Realistic Drawings

Year of Artistic Growth, Avril Lavigne, Graphite on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2011 — ***“Avril Lavigne”***
Graphite on Paper
Danielle O’Keefe
2011 (15 years old)

Year of Artistic Growth, Study of Pointillism, Pen & Ink on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2011 — ***“Study of Pointillism”***
Pen & Ink on Paper
Danielle O’Keefe
2011 (15 years old)

Year of Artistic Growth, Colored Pencil Study 1, Colored Pencil on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2011 — ***“Colored Pencil Study 1”***
Colored Pencil on Paper
Danielle O’Keefe,
2011 (15 years old)

Year of Artistic Growth, Perspective Study 1, Graphite on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, 2011 — ***“Perspective Study 1”***
Graphite on Paper
Danielle O’Keefe,
2011 (15 years old)

Danielle O’Keefe’s Year of Graphite and Ink (2010)

Posted on December 31, 2010 by John O'Keefe Jr.

2010 was a year of branching out into new mediums and techniques for Danielle. Graphite and Ink became a new focus. Mixing mediums, such as in her painting “Bony Fish”, that used watercolors and ink. School art classes also exposed her to important techniques such as shading and vanishing points. One of the largest pieces of the year was “Skull and the Hidden Images”, wherein she really let herself experiment with pen and ink. Overall this was Danielle O’Keefe’s year of graphite and ink.

Danielle O’Keefe’s 2010 Graphite and Ink Drawings and other Artworks

Bony Fish, Watercolor and Ink on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, February, 2010 — ***“Bony Fish”***
Watercolor and Ink on Paper,
Danielle O’Keefe,
February, 2010 (14 years old)

Still Life, Acrylic on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, March, 2010 — ***“Still Life”***
Acrylic on Paper,
Danielle O’Keefe,
March, 2010 (14 years old)

Study for 'Skull and the Hidden Images', Graphite on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, September, 2010 — Study for *“Skull and the Hidden Images”*
Graphite on Paper,
Danielle O’Keefe,
September, 2010 (14 years old)

Skull and the Hidden Images, Pen & Ink on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, September, 2010 — ***“Skull and the Hidden Images”***
Pen & Ink on Paper,
Danielle O’Keefe,
September, 2010 (14 years old)

Vanishing Point Study, Acrylic on Canvas, Danielle O'Keefe, November, 2010 — **[Vanishing Point Study]**
Acrylic on Canvas,
Danielle O’Keefe,
November, 2010 (14 years old)

Shading Study, Graphite on Paper, Danielle O'Keefe, December, 2010 — **[Shading Study]**
Graphite on Paper,
Danielle O’Keefe,
December, 2010 (14 years old)

Also during the year it became noticeable that Danielle was experimenting more with her own designs and compositions. She still used real life reference materials and practiced her lessons from school art classes, but as the year progress you could see her own flare and artistic expression coming out in her drawings and paintings.