I was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation, where I was taught the Navajo way of life. Most Navajo people are brought up to be shy, quiet and respectful of others. I too am shy and I have a hard time expressing my feelings and emotions. Because I am shy, people do not realize I am a fun-loving, happy person. I love life and have a good sense of humor. Some would call it a dry wit since I will say something funny with a straight face. It is easier for me to show how much I care for others rather than tell them. I try to live a clean life now and some would even call me boring because I don't go out and drink with them. I am a very private person and enjoy being home.

I love the outdoors, camping, fishing, horses and other animals. For almost 30 years I worked as a welder, workings at various construction and mine sites across the western U.S. When I decided to quit welding and paint full time, I had to sell my horse, which was one of the hardest things for me to do. My wife, Coleen, and I have two dogs and a cat. I hope to someday be able to afford one or two horses again.

My family is very important to me. I raised and financially supported four boys plus I have a son in Montana. I also have two stepsons, David, who teaches school in Alaska, and Brandon, who is graduating from college in 2008. In addition, I have two granddaughters, one is Arian (the Sunflower Girl) being the oldest, and two grandsons. In the Navajo way, your cousin is your brother or sister; all raised together. I am still close with some of my cousins even though we live far apart. I enjoy speaking Navajo and eating traditional foods with them.

I create images in my heart; my heart tells my mind what to make; my mind tells my hand how to create it. I paint images that are, or were, my surroundings. To me, painting is like laying one paint color against another paint color; I put them together like a puzzle. For many years I didn't paint and I felt like I was letting down the people that believed in me and Heavenly Father who gave me this talent. Now I paint or work on my art everyday. I always had a good work ethic and that has helped me to stay dedicated to my art. On each canvas, I try to tell a story of the life of the Navajo and western people. I paint these images from memories in my mind; places I have been; people I have seen, and the love I have for the Indian way of life.

I feel that Heavenly Father has given me a talent and a heart to love the art he has given me to create. I have to respect this by working hard at my art. Sharing this with people is the only way that I can truly express myself. It is difficult for me to express my feelings, but I can say and show so much in my art. I believe it is wrong to make a profit from sacred things and in my heart something tells me that I will never paint sacred American Indian ceremonies and Gods, or anything violent like war or death. I will create Indian people that look like real Indians, doing the things that we do. I will honor my people and our way of life. This is very important to me, to show the real Indians. I will paint other people, and do it well, but I am dedicated to Indians and our way of life.

I never use models for my work because they are too expensive. I have to rely on images from my mind, or occasionally I have a photograph of some landscape, or a certain little girl or boy, or even a cowboy.

There are so many ideas in my head right now that want to be put onto canvas. When I paint on canvas it almost feels like a mother giving birth to a baby. All of the art I create are my babies. They come out of me with love and respect. I create art because I want to communicate with the people around me that there are beautiful things that our Creator has put on this earth: the little Indian children and elderly people, mountains, clouds, sky, horses, etc. I like to tell a simple story with my art. I want to share my feelings with people through my art.

My art studio is a small bedroom in our house, with room for my art supplies and a stereo. I listen to traditional country music while I paint. My dream is to have a large art studio that is filled with good light and a high ceiling, where I can work on large paintings.

I like to do community projects to help others and to share my art. I have donated several paintings and done other community art projects to help those in need. I wish I could afford to do more of these projects, but my debts won't allow this. Every penny I make at this time goes back into my art, trying desperately to brake into this elite market. I realize right now that the market overlooks an artist that does not have a degree in art. They act like you have not paid part of your dues, but I have paid my dues by working to live and not being able to paint when I wanted to.

Many people tell me that I under-price my paintings. I would rather have more people that love my art able to buy it than to make more money. I do not paint to make a lot of money. I paint for the love of my art. But, I do need to sell my work to make a living.

At this point, I don't know which is the hardest; trying to make a living as an artist or living as a homeless guy on the streets. Right now, to me, both of these are the same with the day to day struggle to live. You never know when you will be back out on the streets again if you can not sell enough to pay your bills. I pray for the days when I can truly enjoy painting and not stress about whether this piece will sell or not.

I want to thank all of those who have purchased my art. I thank you from my heart and hope that you cherish them as much as I do. Thank you also to my family and friends that have believed in me and encouraged me through the years. I want to thank my grandmother for showing me love as a child. Thank you to Heavenly Father for giving me a second chance at my life.

A special thanks goes to my wife, Coleen. She helps with all of the business end of the art, and works a full-time job to make ends meet. She is the one that helped me to believe in myself and that I have a world-class talent. She taught me that I can be a world famous artist. She has also taught me so much about living and doing business in the white man's world. Coleen is a loving, intelligent person who has made my life much better. I don't know what I would do without her.

Please read my bio to understand more about my life and the struggles I have been through.

I hope you enjoy my art.

Randy Keedah Sr.