I met Sonya at a show at The Gallery at Round Top.  After seeing her work, she was the one artist I wanted to meet.  It was a pleasant meeting in a noisy gallery abuzz with the excitement of the evening.  A few minutes later, Sonya was awarded Best in Show.   Welcome aboard, Sonya.

Sonja Keever


“Growing up in rural Iowa, I watched my mom enjoy so many forms of the creative arts.  Looking back now, it is no wonder that I wanted to become an artist. So, I started college as a fine arts major at the University of Kansas and finished with a B.S. in fashion merchandising from the University of Missouri. Surprising careers as a child welfare supervisor and paralegal followed a not-so-surprising time in fashion.
“My dreams of becoming an artist were mostly forgotten in the whirlwind of career, marriage and raising our two wonderful daughters.

“In 2003 our church hosted a pastel exhibit showing the works of some remarkable local artists, and I was bitten by the artist bug again! I was awed by the luminous colors. I had never had any experience with pastels and thought of it as a “pale” medium. I was so wrong!  I saw colors as rich as any oil painting I had admired in the museums we visited on our family trips.

“After seeing that exhibit, I began to study with some very special and generous artists. Their excitement about this medium reinforced---and continues to reinforce---my own. I love exploring the rich palettes that emerge as the colors are layered to bring an image to life. I love the challenge of capturing the spark of inspiration that made me want to paint a particular image.

“The last ten years have been a wonderful journey of discovery and experimentation. There have been some fun surprises-like discovering I like competition! I have always heard that artists paint for themselves. Certainly there is some truth in that; but, it is also enormously satisfying when someone else is moved by my painting.

“I hope you will be!”

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sonjaakever@gmail.com

http://sonjaakever.com/SAK_Pastels/Welcome.html

http://streetstories.info/

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Sonja’s Galleries


Sonja’s Awards

2nd Place Portrait APS Annual Juried Exhibition 2014

2nd 2-D art Round Rock Imagine 2014

2nd in Show, CTPS Annual Juried Show 2013

Peoples’ Choice, CTPS Annual Juried Show 2013

2nd Place Portrait, APS Annual Juried Exhibition 2013

1st Place Show, CTPS Annual Juried Show 2012

2nd Place Show Gallery at Round Top 2012

Honorable Mention, Pastel 100, Pastel Journal, 2012

1st Place Portrait, APS Annual Juried Exhibit 2012

1st Place Show, CTPS Annual juried Exhibit 2011 ( portrait)

Best of Show, CTPS Challenge Exhibition 2011

2nd Place Portrait APS Annual Juried Exhibition 2011

2 paintings accepted APS Annual Juried Exhibition

Best of Show North Hills Gallery Exhibition 2010 (portrait)

Best of Show  Austin Pastel Society  at North Hills Gallery 2010

1st Place Show CTPS Annual Juried Exhibition 2010 (still life)

Merit Award PSSW 2010 (figure study)

Honorable Mention Art Hop 2010 ( still life)

4 paintings accepted Art Hop 2010, Georgetown, Texas

Juror’s Commendation North Hills Gallery Exhibition 2010 (portrait)

2 portraits accepted into Texas Pastel Society National Exhibition 2010

Portrait accepted into APS Annual Juried Exhibition 2010

3rd Place Still Life APS Annual Juried Exhibition 2010

Portrait accepted into PSSW Annual Juried National Exhibition 2009

3rd Place Show 2nd Annual APS North Hills Gallery Show 2009 (portrait)

Merit Award, Landscape, CTPS Annual Juried Exhibition 2009

Honorable Mention, Still Life, APS Scarbrough Miniatures Show 2009

Honorable Mention, Still Life, Texas Pastel Society Annual Juried Show 2009

Portrait accepted into APS Annual Juried Exhibition 2009

Best of Show Central Texas Pastel Society 2008

Juror’s Award, Portrait, APS North Hills Gallery Members’ Show 2008

Honorable Mention, Portrait ,PSSW Annual Juried National Exhibition 2008

Best of Show, CTPS Annual Juried Exhibition 2008 (portrait)

2nd Place Show, CTPS Annual Juried Exhibition 2007 (portrait)

Best of Show, APS Annual Juried Exhibition 2007 (portrait)

Portrait accepted into PSSW Annual Juried National Exhibition 2007

1st Place Show, CTPS Annual Juried Exhibition2006 (portrait)

3rd Place Portrait, APS Annual Juried Exhibition 2006

1st Place Portrait, CTPS Annual Juried Exhibition 2005

Portrait accepted into PSSW Annual Juried National Exhibition 2005

1st Place Portrait, CTPS Annual Juried Exhibition 2004


Sonja’s Updates

On February 21 Sonja’s “Dave” won Best in Show at The Gallery at Round Top’s Salon 2015 International Competition & Exhibition.

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Ronnie

20 x 16 Oil on Linen Panel


Donald


Melissa



John the Blacksmith II
20 x 16


Peonies in Pink
9 x 12


Signs of Spring
11 x 14


Pomegranate

7x6

enough


 










 

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