Gary Keeler
Born in Urbana and raised in Champaign I was influenced in woodworking by my uncle Don Keeler at an early age. He had a woodshop that I would visit with my father who was also a big influence in how my thought process developed. I started out doing typical home construction until I decided I wanted my feet planted firmly on the ground. As I grew in the field of woodworking I soon discovered that I had to be more than just the typical woodworker. I had to go a step further. I had to think outside the box. I just couldn’t help myself from doing what was the norm. I continually push myself to do more. Push the envelope. I eventually became aware that needed to produce more of an artistic value to my woodworking skills therefore leading to what I have been producing for the last few years. I have a hard time accepting the fact that I am an artist simply because working with wood I believe that Mother Nature is the artist. I only display in another form what she has given to me. l only hope to grow even more and to pass along my knowledge to younger fresher minds.
I have also being creating artworks produced using a high voltage transformer. Each burned image is totally unique in which no two will ever be alike. After the image has been produced, I then study them to determine how I want the final artwork to look.
