About The Artist

     Keith Burgess is a north Georgia artist who has painted the Appalachian landscape from Pennsylvania down to Georgia as well as numerous commissioned portraits. His formal art education began in college, where he received a B.A. Degree from Georgia Southwestern State University. After college he began a long career as a graphic artist/illustrator for a major publishing corporation in Atlanta. Though he set aside painting during the early part of his corporate tenure, his interest in fine art was always present. He visited galleries, museums and continued to keep abreast of the fine art world. In the early 1990's he began pursuing painting on a more serious level, studying with some of the Country's top artists and attending classes and workshops in his spare time. In 2003 he left the corporate world to become a full time painter. His work is found in numerous private and corporate collections.

Statement:
     " I place myself in a long tradition of representational painters who have been inspired by the natural world around us. My painting style is grounded in late 19th century methodology, mainly from the early French and New England Impressionists, such as Claude Monet and Willard Metcalf.
     As a traditional realist, I am concerned always with the formal elements of art; composition, drawing, color, tone, and paint handling while trying to convey a sense of emotion through the rendering of light, form, atmosphere and time. I have always found a spirituality and comfort in the landscape. I find the act of painting in itself to be an expression of the sacred. I have long believed that my paintings on the surface are about light and color but beyond that, they are about optimism, beauty and peace which is often overlooked in a world filled with ugliness and conflict."

Education:
A.A. Degree (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Theta Kappa), Norman College; Norman Park, GA
B.A. Degree, Georgia Southwestern State University; Americus, GA
Valdosta State University; Valdosta, GA
Two Year Certificate/Graphic Design, Southeastern Center For The Arts (now The Creative Circus); Atlanta, GA
Atlanta College Of Art; Atlanta, GA
Short Term Study:
David Leffel, Gregg Kreutz, Jerry Weiss, Burton Silverman, Albert Handell, Anita Louise West and L. Diane Johnson
Long Term Study With Atlanta Artists:
Nancy Blanchard Honea (5yrs)
Marc Chatov (5yrs)
Joan Tysinger (1yr)

Exhibitions and Awards:
2009
Group Exhibition, Fannin County Chamber Of Commerce Welcome Center, Blue Ridge, GA
"New Work", 4 Person Exhibition, Burton Gallery, Clarkesville, GA
"Local Colour", National Group Juried Exhibition, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Gainesville, GA
2008
"Tiny Treasures", Group Exhibition, Burton Gallery, Clarkesville, GA
"Kaleidoscope", Group Exhibition,  Gallery 4463,  Acworth,  GA
"Works On Paper", Group Exhibition, Gallery 4463, Acworth, GA
"Landscapes", Group Exhibition, Gallery 4463, Acworth, GA
"Fireworks", Group Exhibition, Gallery 4463, Acworth, GA
2007
Two Person Exhibition, Burton Gallery & Emporium, Clarkesville, GA
2006
Two Person Exhibition (with painting demo), The Little Gallery, Moneta, VA
Featured Artist (with painting demo), Burton Gallery & Emporium, Clarkesville, GA
2005
"First Small Works Invitational", Group Exhibition; Mill Stone Gallery, Fincastle, VA
Virginia Highlands Festival Juried Fine Art Show, Group Exhibition; The Arts Depot, Abingdon, VA
Solo Exhibition, Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre, Wytheville, VA
"Invisible Places", Solo Exhibition; Mill Stone Gallery, Fincastle, VA
2004
"Holiday Show", Group Exhibition; The Little Gallery, Moneta, VA
"Grand Reopening Gala", Group Exhibition; Carriage House Framing & Gallery, Blairsville, GA
Chautauqua Festival, "Art In The Park" Group Exhibition; Wytheville, VA (Second Place Award)
Solo Exhibition, Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre, Wytheville, VA
2003
Solo Exhibition (with painting demo), Burton Gallery & Emporium, Clarkesville, GA
"Paintings From The Chatov Atelier: Works From Artists Who Have Studied With The Chatovs", Group Exhibition; Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Gainesville, GA
2002
Finalist: Portrait Society Of Atlanta Spring National Juried Exhibition; Marietta/Cobb Museum Of Art, Marietta, GA
2001
"Findings", 2 Person Exhibition (with painting demo); The Center Gallery, Sautee, GA
2000
"4th Anniversary Show", 3 Person Exhibition; Oounkshaw Art Gallery, Young Harris, GA
1999
"Into The Mellinium With Light", Group Juried Exhibition; Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Gainesville, GA
"Expressions 99", Group Juried Exhibition; Spruill Center For The Arts, Atlanta, GA
1998
"Expressions 98", Group Juried Exhibition; Spruill Center For The Arts, Atlanta, GA (Judge's Choice Award)

Memberships:
Juried Online Arts Festival
Landscape Artists International
Southern Appalachian Artist Guild
Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association