When Michael Keane was four years old, the first picture that he drew was of a boat. Since he can remember, he has had a special affinity for the sea; for the look, the feel, and the sound of it. While growing up, he filled his grandmother's house with the ship models that he was constantly building. A life-long artist, Keane started painting while still a child as he was given extensive instruction in oil painting and pastels.

Keane studied for eight years with his first painting instructor, Marshall W. Joyce, a marine artist of some renown. During his years of study with Joyce, Keane was taught many things about the depiction of ships and the sea that continue to influence his work today.

While studying with Joyce, Keane was concurrently studying portrait and figure painting with a well-known New York portrait artist. This artist was well grounded in classical oil painting, and his influence on Keane opened up new dimensions in his marine painting, with a definite change in luminosity and mood of his work. Eventually, Joyce asked him to become a partner and share studio space in a waterfront loft. During this time period, Keane also enrolled in a university, and majored in visual design.

Keane spent almost seven years as a Marine Quality Assurance Inspector for General Dynamics, during which time he used the income and knowledge garnered from the job to further his training in art. After General Dynamics learned of his extraordinary art training, part of Keane's employ was spent as a Technical Illustrator for that firm. He was also asked to become an instructor of painting for the Copley Society of Boston, and also taught painting for over fifteen years for many different organizations.

For the last decade, Keane has dedicated himself solely to painting.