Art by Barbara Keel

About Barbara

 

For over six decades, Barbara has painted and created works of art on canvas. Besides being the first woman to paint a Duck Stamp, she was at the same time the first woman ever to paint a First of State (Alabama) Duck Stamp painting with her wood ducks. Since then she has won numerous awards in duck stamp contests as well as a waiting list for her dog, cat, (and just general) pet paintings.

 

With her first art show, she won two first-place awards with her foxes and tiger paintings, and her future was determined. Numerous one-person shows put her art all over the country and wins at the Atlanta Wildlife Art Exhibition three years in a row was instrumental in establishing her as a premier wildlife artist. Her art hangs in Disney and corporations across the US as well as abroad. Her painting of UGA was displayed in the first five minutes in the movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

 

During her years of painting, raising a family, and traveling with her art, she also devoted her time and sales to rescuing and saving hundreds of dogs and cats that were abandoned or scheduled for euthanization. Her private cat rescue, Cat Haven, served as a lifesaver for cats for over a decade, funded by selling her art and books.

 

 

In more recent years, although she no longer rescues, she and her husband have established a safe house for dogs that need fostering to prevent death at the hands of high-kill shelters. Working with one animal rescue organization, they have opened their home and hearts to saving these desperate animals from sure death.

 

 

Please have your pets neutered and spayed as each surgery done ensures that six to twelve new lives won’t be born to fill the already overflowing shelters. Adopt instead of buying from a breeder and foster if at all possible. Fostering is a great way to save lives and not be overwhelmed by the medical needs costs as most rescue organizations take care of that for you if you foster for them.