Keiko was born and grew up in Japan. Though she always enjoyed drawing and painting as a child, it was not the focus of her first career. A Master of Arts in international education at the University of California, Los Angeles led to work in international relations on both sides of the Pacific.
Through all these years, Keiko knew there was in her heart the growing desire to someday devote her time to painting. That, fueled by her love of travel and strong interest in other cultures, eventually found its way out in 2003 when a book, authored by her father and illustrated by Keiko, was published in Japan. After learning basic drawing and watercolor painting skills from local art instructors in San Diego, she intensely taught herself to be fluent in watercolor painting, just as one would do to master a foreign language.
Keiko embarked on a professional art career in 2005, now a full-time painter and a busy workshop instructor. Her paintings were in numerous exhibitions, both juried and invitational, and received over 50 awards. Her work has been collected internationally and is also in permanent collection at fine art museums in China and Brazil.
She sells her work directly from her blog and website as well as at galleries. Please contact her at ktanabe@san.rr.com for more information on available work at dailypaintworks.com.
