Don Keenan
Painting a subject without their knowing it, a surprise portrait, is always fraught with danger… and in the case of Don Keenan, doubly so. A larger than life character, electrifying, the trial lawyer community with his “Reptile Theory” of practice, a TV personality, renowned children’s advocate, often to be found unshaved wearing shorts, T-shirt, and always those sunglasses. An ex-marine of Irish blood and creator of the Kids Foundation and Bono aficionado. All this and more went into this painting. It was with relief that I saw it was warmly and enthusiastically received at its unveiling in Houston. Kudos to the courage of the man brave enough to commission this painting!
Painting a subject without their knowing it, a surprise portrait, is always fraught with danger… and in the case of Don Keenan, doubly so. A larger than life character, electrifying, the trial lawyer community with his “Reptile Theory” of practice, a TV personality, renowned children’s advocate, often to be found unshaved wearing shorts, T-shirt, and always those sunglasses. An ex-marine of Irish blood and creator of the Kids Foundation and Bono aficionado. All this and more went into this painting. It was with relief that I saw it was warmly and enthusiastically received at its unveiling in Houston. Kudos to the courage of the man brave enough to commission this painting!
Don Keenan
Keenan, Don. 16" x 20". 2015. Collection of Keenan Law Firm. Atlanta, GA. Portrait on canvas. Commissioned by HMR Funding, Dean Chase.
Keenan, Don. 16" x 20". 2015. Collection of Keenan Law Firm. Atlanta, GA. Portrait on canvas. Commissioned by HMR Funding, Dean Chase.
Amistad. 16" x 30". 2013. Collection of the artist. Montreal, Canada.
Amistad
In 1839, Portuguese slavers abducted a large group of Africans from Sierra Leone and shipped them to Havana, Cuba, in violation of all treaties then in existence. Fifty-three Africans were sold to two Spanish planters and put aboard the schooner Amistad for shipment to a Caribbean plantation. The slaves seized the ship, killed the captain, and demanded they sail back to Africa. On August 24, the Amistad was seized off Long Island, NY, and the Africans imprisoned on charges of murder.In 1840, a federal district court found that the captives acted as free men when they fought to escape their illegal confinement. U.S. President Martin Van Buren appealed the case to the Supreme Court, which affirmed the release of the Africans.