PAC-12 Championship: Game of Thrones edition In the unforgiving crucible of collegiate warfare, UW Football stands as an indomitable force, their undefeated banner billowing ominously over twelve fallen rivals who dared to challenge their throne. Whispers of impending glory echo throughout the purple and gold-clad kingdom as the Huskies prepared to face their […]
Artists are invaluable. Their work tells stories. Fosters creativity. Challenges the status quo. Evokes emotions. And so much more. As a society, we need art. There are so many talented artists out there. Some have already achieved success, others who are yet to be discovered, and many who should be getting much more attention […]
There are many ingredients in the recipe of success. Some are obvious, and some are less so. Without a doubt, Kalen DeBoer has been incredibly successful on the field but, in my opinion, it’s what he does off the field that enables that success. Specifically, an element of success that is often overlooked and […]
A few days ago Julio Rodriguez told me he’d never been to a college football game… of course I said you MUST attend the UW Football game this weekend!! It’s the biggest game of the year… two of the best teams in the nation… College Gameday on campus… sold out game… 72k screaming fans… […]
From some hyper-realistic drawings to his huge heart, Seattle-based artist Keegan Hall is recognized all over the world. He teams up with celebrities to create pencil drawings and then donate those proceeds to organizations in need.
Not too long ago I was contacted by the government of Puerto Rico because they wanted to feature my artwork in a documentary they were making about Roberto Clemente called “3000 Raszones”. Fast forward to today, the documentary is complete as was nominated for an Emmy!! Do I get one of those cool […]
Thanks for having me, Good Day Sacramento!! John does a pretty good impression of Eddie Vedder!! And, yes, I’m striving to make Seattle’s Mt. Rushmore alongside Ken Griffey Jr and Sir Mix-a-Lot!! ⚾️
I’ve always been fascinated by human achievement. When people push the limits of what’s possible, and onlookers are left in disbelief at what they just witnessed. It feels like magic. A feat so impressive that it seemingly invokes the supernatural. But it’s not magic. At least, not *that* kind of magic. Instead, it’s the […]
In this episode of ‘The UpNUp Podcast’, world renowned Artist, Creative and Philanthropist himself, Keegan Hall, takes us along a journey of truly listening to your passion and then following it. From an early upbringing filled with a passion for the arts, along the journey there’s been many pivots and obstacles to overcome. […]
I shouldn’t be here. And I’m not referring to the success of my art. Both of my parents were great athletes, and I have many fond childhood memories of attending their countless sporting events. But those memories were literally seconds away from never happening. When I was 9-months old, my dad was holding […]
I used to hate running. A lot. Then a friend talked me into training for a marathon, which made me hate running even more. Well, at least in the beginning. However, as each training run went by, running got a little easier and a bit more enjoyable. Since then I’ve run 13 […]
I texted my wife to send me a picture of her and this is what I received. She’s a full-time student (one more year until she becomes a doctor), and also works as a nurse. There are so many medical professionals working RIGHT NOW despite putting themselves at risk of catching the coronavirus. Why? […]
I love speaking at schools and sharing my story and my art with students. As soon as see the drawings – and then the time-lapse videos of the drawings – their eyes light up! It’s truly special to connect with them through art, sports and the desire to make our community better for everyone. […]
Soooo proud of these Tacoma students! We set out to raise $10k to build a new classroom in Kenya… and they raised $20k!! Amazing!! Now we’ll work with WE to build TWO classrooms!!
I’m so excited to announce a new project with Russell Wilson and Ciara! I designed the new, limited-edition library cards, which are part of the “DREAM BIG: Anything is Possible” campaign, a partnership between Why Not You Foundation and the King County Library and its Foundation, made possible by JPMorgan Chase, to inspire […]
I’ve been fortunate to speak at a lot of schools over the past few years. There just something special about connecting with kids and delivering a message of inspiration that, with hard work, determination, and perseverance, there’s truly no limit to what they can achieve. Each visit starts roughly the same way: a […]
Never be ashamed! There’s some who will hold it against you, but they are not worth bothering with.” — J. K. Rowling I’d estimate that 95% of my art has never been seen… and never will be. For most of my life I struggled with sharing my art with others for fear […]
Compassion is the fabric that connects us all. But when compassion for our fellow man ceases to exist, where are we heading as people? Not long ago, my wife was driving home and called me. “I’ll be home soon, and I’m bringing Frank with me,” she said. “Who?! Who is Frank?” I confusingly […]
Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail and, eventually, you find yourself at the top. I often set goals that others would deem ridiculous and outlandish. But the thought of failing never enters my mind. It just doesn’t. Once I set a goal, I wholeheartedly believe the goal will be […]
What is “good” art? To me, good art It pulls you in, and dares you to looks away. And while you’re viewing, it makes you feel: happy, sad, hopeful, angry or a plethora of other emotions – sometimes simultaneously – but it makes you feel *something*. Good art can illustrate a thought or […]
The true character of a person is often revealed in the face of adversity. When the odds are against you, how do you respond? Do you make excuses to justify the seemingly inevitable outcome? Or do you fight against all odds? My wife, Ioana, just finished her 1st quarter of grad school. She was […]
“Magic is something you make.” A statement that has had a profound effect on me. In fact, I believe in this statement so much that I had it tattooed on my chest (it’s written in Leonardo da Vinci’s handwriting, who was also left-handed and would often write backwards so you’d need mirror to read the […]
When I first started drawing, I was terrible. I practiced every day, and drew terrible drawing after terrible drawing. I mean, these drawings were embarrassingly terrible. However, each day my drawings got a little less terrible. So many people dream of being great at something, but they’re afraid of being terrible. So, they quickly […]
For me, success in’t just about what I accomplish in my life, but how I can inspire others to achieve also. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but it’s a goal that I’ve set for myself. I just received 100+ hand-written thank you cards from Sumner High School students. Many of these students […]
Don’t let the desire to be accepted by other people drive your happiness. Not everyone will be happy for your success. Many feel as though we’re all in a constant competition with each other and, if you’re doing well then that means they’re losing. That’s the biggest fallacy. We can ALL win, and I […]
This is my wife, Ioana. She’s pretty amazing. You’ll soon know one of the many reasons why. But first: It’s so easy to make excuses why we don’t achieve our goals. We often justify our failures by placing the blame on other people and/or the circumstances. This “victim” mentality will forever hold you back from […]
I’m still amazed at the power of art, and the impact it can have on others. My seemingly innocent idea of creating a drawing and then signing and numbering 200 prints for charity has turned into something bigger than I could have imagined. In the past year my art has raised nearly $150k for […]
Many details regarding my “journey back to art” have been told over the past year, but there is still so much more to my story. When I speak with students I go deeper into my background, highlight other personal challenges that I overcame, my outlook on life and success, and much more. if I […]
This is Noah. He’s a pretty special kid. You’ll soon know why. Last night I attended my first ever Boston Celtics game. Noah happened to sit next to me. I didn’t know him before this moment. As it turns out, Noah is a SUPER fan. He knows every player, their stats, and much more. […]
Last night I was reminded (again) how amazing my wife is. We were invited by Russell Wilson and his Why Not You Foundation to attend their first inaugural fundraising event. It was an intimate event with ~150 people including many former athletes. We sat and had dinner w/ HOFer Steve Largent, his wife, Terry, and […]
Last year, as my artwork began to gain attention, a friend of mine connected me with a prominent person in the national art community. We discussed my work, the many challenges that artists face to “make it” in the industry, and he outlined the business side of art. Long story short: he told me […]
Today my wife found this note in our daughter’s backpack. At first glance, I was confused. However, once I realized what it was, I couldn’t help but smile. Big. Like most parents, we want our child to have an amazing childhood while also preparing them to be successful in the real world. So how do […]
“What’s your story?” Asked Pete Winemiller, SVP of Guest Relations for the Seattle Sonics, on my first day with the team. I wasn’t sure how to answer. “My story? As in… my life story?” I thought to myself. I later learned that Pete asks everyone this question, and he waits in silence until you […]
I used to be really good spelling. Yes, as is… spelling words. In fact, in 4th grade, I breezed through my elementary school’s spelling bee competition and went on to participate in the District competition. I was pretty sure I was going to win. I could spell really difficult words – words I could […]
Helping others, no matter how small the gesture, can have a positive ripple effect far greater than the deed itself. When Marty gave my sister his prized Ichiro bat, he expected nothing in return. After all, the sheer joy of giving was reward enough for him, which made this surprise even sweeter. I was […]
This is Marty. He’s a pretty amazing person. You’ll soon know why. We’re holding one of Ichiro’s bats that Marty purchased at an auction many years ago while Ichiro was still playing for the Mariners. Such a cool piece of sports memorabilia! Prior to taking this picture, Marty and I had never met. However, […]
Last week I had the opportunity to speak to the students at Truman High School (pics courtesy of Jennifer Moody). For those not familiar, Truman HS is an “alternative” high school, and each student attends Truman for their own unique reasons (bullying, attendance issues, social challenges, etc). I was invited to tell the students […]
Thanks to social media, I’ve had the opportunity share my work with a lot of people over the past several month. Each time I post a drawing, at least one person makes a comment similar to “How did you learn to draw like that? I can only draw stick figures.” My reply is always […]
I still cannot believe I turned my back on art for so many years. But it feels great to be back in the game. The crazy thing is I feel like I’m learning to draw all over again. Like I hit the reset button. Everything is new and, in some regards, I have no […]
A lot has changed since I picked up my pencil and started drawing again just a few short months ago. What started a single drawing that was inspired by my mother, has begun growing into something much larger. So many people have embraced my art and, thanks to the power of social media, the […]
A lot has changed since I picked up my pencil and started drawing again just a few short months ago. What started a single drawing that was inspired by my mother, has begun growing into something much larger. So many people have embraced my art and, thanks to the power of social media, the audience […]
Today I woke up not feeling well. On any other day that wouldn’t really be a big deal. But today is race day. No excuses. I’ve been training hard for the past five months to complete the Seattle Rock n’ Roll Marathon, and I’m in the best shape of my life. Although I’ve done […]
Today I was invited back to my elementary school (Maple Lawn in Sumner, WA) to give the kids an art lesson (this pic is just a few of the kids). I showed them step-by-step how to draw Olaf from Frozen. Apparently he’s a really popular character! It was such a rewarding experience for me […]
The term minimalism is also used to describe a trend in design and architecture where in the subject is reduced to its necessary elements. Minimalist design has been highly influenced by Japanese traditional design and architecture. In addition, the work of De Stijl artists is a major source of reference for this kind of work.
The term minimalism is also used to describe a trend in design and architecture where in the subject is reduced to its necessary elements. Minimalist design has been highly influenced by Japanese traditional design and architecture. In addition, the work of De Stijl artists is a major source of reference for this kind of work.
The term minimalism is also used to describe a trend in design and architecture where in the subject is reduced to its necessary elements. Minimalist design has been highly influenced by Japanese traditional design and architecture. In addition, the work of De Stijl artists is a major source of reference for this kind of work.
