Meet the Artist & Children's Author

A resident of Shelbyville, Kentucky, Rae Keefe is building a growing reputation as a premier portrait artist.

Rae has been creating art since first drawing the shoes of everyone around her during church services as a young girl. These became 'treasured drawings' each week by the congregation as it was a pleasure to have your shoes drawn so realistically by the seven year old artist.

Through the years she moved from pencil/charcoal [and shoes] to several different mediums up to and including watercolor, oil, and finally finding that special niche in painting portraits in pastel.

She has received great reviews on her landscapes in oil with comments like: "My grandmother bawled when she received the gift of the painting of her childhood home. It must have been that realistic! Thank you so much for the great memories." --Nola R., Indiana

Virtually self-taught in portraiture, people cannot say enough about her portraits in pastel. They catch that special spark in the eye of each pet and that wonderful personality of each person rendered in a portrait. Many artists shy away from creating posthumous portraits, but much of her work has been creating just that. Rae will tell you there is nothing quite like witnessing the tears of joy and seeing that sparkle in the eye when a client first views the finished portrait of that special loved one or family pet who has been deceased.

Having a love for greyhounds, "retired racers" have been among her favorite animals to capture in pastel. "That's my boy!" said one gentlemen upon receiving the commissioned portrait of his retired racer. "Yep, that's my boy!"-- Robert, Louisville

Over the years, Rae has received many honors and awards for her work. But nothing has been as special or meaningful as the delight on the faces of those receiving the portraits. "For that I am truly blessed!"-- Rae

As a home educator, Rae recently completed several massive projects for children including Cait's Curriculum : A preschool Adventure - a new Christian-Based children's curriculum for the preschool age and Jayne's Journey through Preschool - a positive values curriculum for the preschool age.  In these curricula, she incorporates original drawings and paintings which enhance the educational experience. To visit the artists website click here.

Learn more about:

Curriculum Overview The Concept Meet the Author/Artist Preschool Curriculum Activity