HipDogCoolCat about us

Artist Bio

Since 1988, Keith Grace has exhibited and sold his paintings across the country in galleries, museums and universities, through one-man and group shows. He has participated in over 90 art festivals and invitational exhibitions and has won may awards for his work. His paintings have appeared in magazines, newspapers, books, posters, annual reports, brochures, websites, restaurant walls, and stage sets –as well as numerous corporate and private collections internationally.

In addition to his paintings, Keith has an extensive background in graphic design and illustration work. He worked as an illustrator, designer and graphics editor for The Rockford Register Star newspaper for over 12 years. He also shares a graphic design business with his wife Shari. He has always had a love for typography so that is why you will see it layered throughout his paintings and illustrations.

Hip Dog Cool Cat is the more illustrative side of Keith’s work. To see more of his complex figurative and abstract mixed media paintings please visit www.grace-design.com

Artist Process

The process for each painting begins with sketches, often inspired by photographs that Keith has taken of friends and objects. The sketches evolve into the final composition which is enlarged and drawn onto canvas.

Keith then collages individual pieces of typography and photography securely onto the canvas surface with many layers of an adhesive, transparent medium to ensure a flat, seamless application. The typographic images are chosen randomly by type font, size, boldness and color. Next, color is blocked in with layers of acrylics, painting and rubbing out areas where the type apperars, to create various levels of transparency.

Further collaging work is added at this stage. Detail painting is then applied with oil colors, using a drybush technique. This process is performed by using unmixed paint directly from the tube and rubbing it into the surface with a flat, hard brush, almost like sketching with paint. Also, using a cloth, small amounts of the oils are rubbed into the painting to enhance and intensify
the color.




				Artist Bio Since 1988, Keith Grace has exhibited and sold his paintings across the country in galleries, museums and universities, through one-man and group shows. He has participated in over 90 art festivals and invitational exhibitions and has won may awards for his work. His paintings have appeared in magazines, newspapers, books, posters, annual reports, brochures, websites, restaurant walls, and stage sets –as well as numerous corporate and private collections internationally. In addition to his paintings, Keith has an extensive background in graphic design and illustration work. He worked as an illustrator, designer and graphics editor for The Rockford Register Star newspaper for over 12 years. He also shares a graphic design business with his wife Shari. He has always had a love for typography so that is why you will see it layered throughout his paintings and illustrations. Hip Dog Cool Cat is the more illustrative side of Keith’s work. To see more of his complex figurative and abstract mixed media paintings please visit www.grace-design.com Artist Process The process for each painting begins with sketches, often inspired by photographs that Keith has taken of friends and objects. The sketches evolve into the final composition which is enlarged and drawn onto canvas. Keith then collages individual pieces of typography and photography securely onto the canvas surface with many layers of an adhesive, transparent medium to ensure a flat, seamless application. The typographic images are chosen randomly by type font, size, boldness and color. Next, color is blocked in with layers of acrylics, painting and rubbing out areas where the type apperars, to create various levels of transparency. Further collaging work is added at this stage. Detail painting is then applied with oil colors, using a drybush technique. This process is performed by using unmixed paint directly from the tube and rubbing it into the surface with a flat, hard brush, almost like sketching with paint. Also, using a cloth, small amounts of the oils are rubbed into the painting to enhance and intensify the color.


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