Derenda J. Keating was born and reared in southern Louisiana and studied art at the University of Northeastern Louisiana in Monroe. She has also studied under some of America’s finest contemporary artists such as Judy Crowe, Bill Kalwick, Kevin Macpherson, Robert Moore and Ron Rencher.  

Her works have received awards in juried art competitions sponsored by the Houston Civic Art Association and the Zigler Museum of Art. Her work is currently showing in prestigious art galleries across Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. While in Louisiana, Derenda served on the board of directors of the Friends of the Zigler Art Museum in Jennings, Louisiana. Derenda currently resides in Houston, Texas. 

In 2005 her painting “Denim and Sax” was selected as the subject of the official poster of the Straight and Smooth Jazz Festival of Houston, TX.  Subsequently, she was commissioned to paint a series of twelve portraits of contemporary American Jazz performers. 

Derenda’s style is “loose realism” that emphasizes the values of sunlight and shadow. Most of her work begins with plein air studies to capture the subtleties of the direct and reflected light, followed by studio work that combines the plein air study and photographs taken on location. 

Works in progress include a series of the treasures of New Orleans’ unique and colorful history including the Pelican Stadium, Pontchartrain Beach, the Fairgrounds, and the many beautiful subjects of the Vieux Carrie.  Most recently, Derenda has begun a series of works depicting the beauty and charm of the Texas Hill Country in and around Fredericksburg titled, “Under the Texan Sun”.