The American artist Margaret Keane glorified unusual paintings. They depict children, women or animals with large expressive eyes. But the path to success was not easy.
Big-eyed, like alien, heroes of Peggy Doris Hawkins paintings are familiar to many and loved in America. The painter works in mixed media and paints in oil. Recognition for the artist who has already stepped over the nineteen dozen came in the sixties.
Way to Vocation
The biography of the future celebrity began in 1927. The girl was born in Nashville on September 15. The child grew quiet, overly shy and painful. The grandmother had a huge impact on the formation of the granddaughter’s worldview.
At an early age, the baby showed drawing abilities. Painting classes began. At the age of ten, Peggy first portrayed in her work two little girls in oil, one of whom laughed and the other cried.
Ms. Hawkins was educated at the Hawkins Art Institute in her hometown. She then completed her studies at the New York School of Design. Margaret admitted that the work of Amedeo Modigliani influenced her work. The girl got married early, a child appeared in the family, daughter Susan. However, the marriage broke up.
Margaret completely went to work to provide a daughter and herself. At an art exhibition in New York, a woman met the charming Walter Keane. Like her, he was an artist. In addition, a little-known painter showed an extraordinary gift from a marketer.
Walter quickly realized that Margaret's work deserved close attention. He offered a timid colleague the realization of her paintings on his behalf. The young man explained such a move to his reputation in the art world. Sales were successful, and demand was constantly increasing. Soon, Keen and Hawkins became husband and wife.
Recognition and frustration
Having informed her husband that she plans to sell her paintings at the entrance to one of the clubs in New York, Walter stocked up with portraits of children with exaggeratedly large naive eyes and prepared to sell at least a couple of paintings. However, Kean could not count on the overwhelming success. Almost all the paintings were of interest to people. Many wanted to buy them.
In the first half of the sixties, the artist gained fame. The cost of her work was constantly increasing. They were bought for fabulous money. Those who could not afford to have originals could not, Walter offered less costly acquisitions. On his idea, the sale of posters, calendars and greeting cards with reproductions from the paintings of his wife began in kiosks. They dispersed in gigantic print runs. An enterprising man organized production with images of charming kids, even on kitchen aprons and utensils.
Relations between spouses gradually worsened. The imperious Keen wanted to completely subjugate a talented wife. She threw out her feelings in creativity. The heroes of her work became increasingly sad.
Completely passionate about the work, Mrs. Keene did not know that all her creations, as before, were sold under her husband's signature. The news discouraged the artist. However, her husband managed to convince her that she was doing everything for the good of their family.
In the early sixties, an order was received for the huge canvas "Tomorrow Forever." The canvas depicts hundreds of children of various nationalities in an endless column. The artist worked on the new work for days. The work adorned the pavilion of the international exhibition "Expo" in New York in 1964. Reviews about it appeared ambiguous. As a result, the pictures were removed. Outraged Kin accused his wife of interfering with his creative realization.
New Horizons
The woman had to work more and more, her husband openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the quality of her paintings. A final breakup followed. Margaret moved with her daughter to Hawaii. But even after the divorce, the ex-spouse continued to create and send her works to her husband, so as not to violate the prevailing legend.
A similar situation persisted until 1986. Keen met with sports writer Dan McGuire. An affair began between them. The future husband did a lot so that the chosen one gained confidence in herself. As a result, Margaret told the local radio who actually painted the famous paintings.
The artist decided to challenge her authorship in court. The meetings lasted a very long time. However, the judge decided to conduct an experiment. Right in the hall, he invited both sides to draw such familiar characters. Walter instantly refused work, citing an injury.
Margaret created a new canvas in less than an hour. The court ruled in her favor. After the proceedings, the fans split into two parties. One reproached the artist for excessive timidity, the other admired her courage.
