VISIONS OF SANTA
November 24 - December 30, 2009
What a one of a kind exhibit containing 36 unique images of Santa Claus
Who painted by native Texas artist Billy L. Keen
When: Christmas at the Mansion, Museum of the Southwest- November 24 - December 30, 2009
Where seen all over Texas and on TV’s Texas Country Reporter; coming in 2009 to the Museum of the Southwest, Midland
How what began as an explanation about an art method has become an annual Texas Christmas tradition. In 1974 Billy L. Keen was demonstrating to a coworker how the Old Master painters used
a method called "under painting" to achieve flesh tones.
Why because the season was Christmas, Keen decided to use Santa as subject of the demonstration. Keen hung the painting in the room of his oneyear old son. The following year he painted a new Santa for his second son. By the third year, it seemed like a "neat thing to do." After that, it became a tradition.
www.billykeenart.com
