"Tuba Man"

"Benton House"

STEVEN KELLER 'SKOALAR'"

Steven Keller (Skoalar) first started painting in oils in the mid 1970s.

Skoalar is a resident of Indianapolis Indiana and a graduate of Indiana University where in 1971 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in mathematics and astronomy.

For a period of 7 years in the late 70s he painted as a part time occupation, selling his work at art fairs in the Indianapolis area.

In 1980 he enrolled at a local community college in a two-year drafting program and began a twenty-year career as an industrial draftsman. During this period he did not paint.

In early 1999 at the age of 50, Skoalar left his career in drafting and took up oil painting once again.

Since then he has shown his work in galleries and coffeehouse venues in Indianapolis and in southern Maine where he frequently visits.

Skoalar's unique style of painting begins with a pencil sketch that he works out in detail using the traditional tools of the draftsman; compass, straight edge and French curve.

Oil paint is then applied in a two-coat process with the first coat brushed in flat one area at a time.

The second coat is applied over the still wet first coat with a very small round brush.

The paint is mixed down to consistency of thick cream so that it is as much sculpted onto the canvas as it is painted.

The resultant mixing of the first and second layers of paint creates subtle color qualities, and the characteristic textured surface.

Skoalar began experimenting with this style of painting during the late 1970s but has perfected it only since he started painting again in the last few years.

Since returning to painting in 2000 Mr. Keller now signs his work Skoalar, a childhood nickname.

To visit Skoalar's web site, click HERE

Photographs of paintings by, and courtesy of, Steven Keller