Miss Mei Kei Fine Art Studio

09/27/2025

of being a mother making time to paint

Captured by my hubby this rainy morning at home ❤️

08/16/2025

I completed my first maternity photoshoot… this time being behind the camera myself! Here are a few of my favorite images of our dear friends so far. A gorgeous green dress and red curls, a beautiful boy with a small hand full of flowers, a proud dadda and lots of love!

It was so much fun bouncing around them in our living room with my cameras as Byron held our own baby girl close by. (I fed her just before our friends arrived and I fed her immediately afterward — she stayed a happy baby throughout, content watching Mama work as her friends posed!) I used a new beige photo backdrop that we had to wash and steam/de-wrinkle three times; still, I had to smooth out distracting textures in post/editing.

While editing… Byron had to hold our baby girl for two naps as I worked Lightroom on my iPad. Then, I had to prop my Lightroom on iPad on a pillow to keep working as I fed her between naps. Hehe, very tricky. And, I had to work quickly!

Anyhow, we are all so excited for our friends’ Baby #2 to arrive!

06/18/2025

01/06/2025

Just finished my little part of an interview toward promoting my friend Lori’s new book “Embracing Life as a Cat Lady” for which I created the cover, illustrations, and a few photographs! 👩🏻‍🎨🎨📸🐾 (I conquered my mom-brain symptoms with our friend McKenna’s help and it only took me about three and a half takes!! Haha.)

Lori and I will be hosting a book-signing event (with snacks, of course!) on Saturday, January 18th, 2025 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm at Design Market Of The Pines (3086 NC Hwy 5, Aberdeen, NC 28315). We are looking forward to meeting you, chatting about our collaboration, and enjoying all pet-loving stories we are bound to hear and share. 🐾❤️🐾 See you soon! 😊

12/12/2024

Annnd this cutie has been shipped, delivered, and revealed as well!

“Mel”
(2024)
9” x 12”
Colored Pencil on Bristol Vellum
Matted
Signed MKeiTM

Years and years ago, I enjoyed work by Liz Hess during downtown art gallery walks, back when I was still just dreaming of becoming an artist. She is an artist I admired when I was studying for my undergrad and graduate degrees at a school near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She had done a lot of monotone work — intentionally only using color by accenting a red umbrella — in her paintings.

So, for this work, I gave a touch of color to Mel’s eyes and her cute pink tongue. 🥰🐾 I am grateful for the inspiration we give one another, the sharing of ideas, and the celebration of Life and the impression we leave on one another to last even when we are nowhere near each other any more physically.

12/12/2024

One of my latest Pet Portrait Commissions has been shipped, delivered, and revealed! 🥰🐾

“Sampson, Ella, and Lila” (2024)
14” x 17”
Colored Pencil on Bristol Vellum
Matted
Signed MKeiTM

For our loves who do not often “pose” together for a portrait picture, I have found a way to digitally arrange and render them into a mock-up of what they might look like together by combining a variety of photos (sometimes with a little feedback about proportions to one another if I don’t have a chance to meet the fur babies or families in-person). Then, I start drawing!

I love working on their eyes and noses and ears, just all of them. (And I love a bulldog tongue sticking out! She was showing her tongue in one picture and I combined a couple photos of her into one image just so I could draw her being that extra cute. Sooo cute!) 😛🥰❤️🐾

12/05/2024

Officially, I am now a published artist!

My friend Lori Vaden’s new book — with my painting on her cover and my photography and illustration work inside — is now out and available for purchase!

She writes beautifully of a collection of stories from fellow cat lovers. A wonderful addition to your coffee table!

We worked on this for months and are so grateful for our community’s cheer and well wishes as we put our work together. Many friends got to watch as I painted her book cover design in my little art corner of this year. I am thankful for all the love and encouragement. What a fun project to put out into the world!

Know a cat or animal lover? We invite you to grab your copy of our book today! Thank you so much for your support!

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