Meet Keith Wing: 1st Place Winner of the “Animal Kingdom” Online Art Competition
Location: SAUGERTIES, New York
Meet Keith Wing: 1st Place Winner of the Animal Kingdom Online Competition and Juried Exhibition
CEV Art Gallery is pleased to spotlight artist Keith Wing, an award recipient in our Animal Kingdom exhibition. With an artistic journey that began at just ten years old, Keith has spent decades exploring a diverse range of creative disciplines, including oil painting, watercolor, leatherwork, knife making, scrimshaw, and airbrush. Throughout his artistic evolution, one subject has remained a consistent source of inspiration: wildlife.
Keith’s work reflects a deep appreciation for the beauty, strength, and spirit of animals, particularly those found in challenging and isolated environments. In this interview, Keith shares the inspiration behind his Animal Kingdom submission, his approach to building a painting from a strong underpainting, and what recognition from the CEV Art Gallery jury means for his continued artistic journey.
Congratulations on being selected as an award recipient in CEV Art Gallery’s Animal Kingdom exhibition. To begin, could you introduce yourself to our audience and tell us a little about your artistic background and the type of work you create?
I started painting in oil at 10 years old, branched out into watercolor, leather work, knife making , scrimshaw & airbrush, always gravitating towards wildlife.
What inspired the artwork you submitted for Animal Kingdom, and what drew you to the animal or subject portrayed in the piece?
The beauty & grace in such a harsh & isolated environment.
Animals can represent many things—strength, freedom, vulnerability, companionship, spirituality, or even aspects of our own identity. What does the animal or subject in your artwork represent to you personally?
Spiritual strength & freedom.
“Snow Leopard on the Prowl” Oil on canvas. 40 × 16 in by 1st Place winner, Keith Wing in the “Animal Kingdom” Online Exhibit
Snow Leopard in its natural environment.
“1st Place Winner” Award
Website: https://keithwing.reach.gallery/
Can you walk us through your creative process for this particular piece? What techniques, materials, or artistic decisions were especially important in bringing your vision to life?
I always start with a strong underpainting and keep building on it until I feel I can't add any more to improve what I was first trying to achieve.
As an online art contest, your work is being viewed on screens all over the world. How does it feel to share your art in a digital space compared to a physical gallery, and how do you think that accessibility impacts the way people connect with your message?
I always felt that seeing a painting in person helps the viewer connect in some way to the animal that they are looking at. I hope that the online experience can achieve the same.
Your work was selected for an award in this exhibition. What does being recognized by the jury and CEV Art Gallery mean to you as an artist, and how does this recognition influence where you see your artistic journey going next?
It means a lot to me. It has given me a boost and incentive to spend more time and energy working on all the ideas for paintings that I have been thinking about.
Looking ahead, what is next for you as an artist? Are there any upcoming projects, creative goals, new directions, or ideas you are excited to explore—and where can our audience follow your work and continue supporting your artistic journey?
I am excited to work on a few larger paintings and incorporate more landscape, adding it to the background.
Anything else you want our audience to know about you?
No.
Keith Wing’s artistic journey is a testament to the lasting connection between an artist and the subjects that inspire them. From starting to paint at age ten to exploring multiple artistic disciplines, his dedication to wildlife continues to shape his creative voice.
His Animal Kingdom award is not only recognition of his work, but also encouragement to keep developing the ideas that have grown throughout his artistic journey. As Keith looks ahead to creating larger paintings and incorporating more expansive landscapes into his compositions, we look forward to seeing how these new elements further enrich his portrayal of the natural world.
CEV Art Gallery congratulates Keith Wing on his recognition in Animal Kingdom and thanks him for sharing his artistic perspective with our audience. We invite you to continue following Keith’s work and supporting his ongoing creative journey.
Interested in being featured on the CEV Art Gallery blog? Keep an eye out for our next juried exhibition call for artists.
