Today we’d like to introduce you to Keisha Finnie

Hi Keisha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

Art has always been something I gravitated toward since my first class in kindergarten. Throughout grade school art was always where I excelled and felt most in my element. In 12th grade I had the opportunity to take a college art studio class at our local art school; Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. After graduating I had plans to go to Kutztown University but I was having issues with my financial aid and not really having anyone to turn to I made the decision to come home and get a full time job as a housekeeper at the local hospital. After a year of working and totally forgetting about my art I left the hospital for medical reason and became a part time employee at our local AC Moore Craft Store. Being back in a creative environment sparked my joy for art all over again. Social media start to go on the rise and I began posting my artwork while still working at AC Moore, seeing other artists online living and providing for themselves soley off of their art made me know that it was possible for me. Fast forward to 2016 I was in a fatal car accident where I was ejected from the window, made it out with a chipped tooth and some bruises, ending a serious relationship was quite a lot to take on in my early 20s. I created an amazing piece of art that still speaks to a wide range people no matter the viewer after going through that chapter in my life. Over the next few years while working a part time job I still created and immersed myself in to the Lancaster art community any way possible. Becoming a resident artist at a black woman owned gallery really exposed me to the art community and behind the scenes of different situations working artists come across. In 2020 I received my first opportunity to create a mural related to the covid-19 pandemic to encourage a positive message. A few weeks later the killing of George Floyd happened in front of the world, this was a time we didnt’t know the words to say but art was at the forefront. I had the opportunity to curate a group of local artist of color and images of lives lost to police brutality and created a mural next to our local police station during the protests. This very moment changed my life and career as an artist. Soon after the world opened back up and jobs were opening which I still had, after this new found recognition with my art in my community the support was outpouring! I was able to go full time as an artist in July 2021 and have been working non stop ever since.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Some struggles along the way of being an independent self-taught artist/entrepreneur can go on forever, a few that stand out are:

-Resources- not having the proper resources of places to find the knowledge to run the business side of being an artist such as EIN, Tax Information, Expenses, Bank Accounts, Accountants, Grant writing, CV Resumes, Marketing, Social Media, Contracts etc

-Learning everything because as an artist starting out you do not have the money to delegate tasks to people so you are forced to get everything done

-Knowing your worth as an artist and standing on that.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I specialize in traditional canvas work. My work is contemporary vibrant and expressive works specializing in the female form. I’m proud of everything I’ve done because I’ve done it all myself and learning and navigating the best way I knew how with what I was given. My most recent project I’m proud of is completing my largest mural to date of 1,000 sq feet of 20 portraits of black physicians and scientists throughout history for a local non profit Patients R Waiting based in Lancaster PA.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?

Being an artist full time is a risk everyday. To have the discipline to work for yourself and know that everything falls back on you is a challenge in itself. But to have the confidence and faith and consistency that the art you create, the work you do and effort you put in will be received well enough to sustain yourself is a superpower not many people possess or are strong enough to.

It is always a risk being vulnerable especially after becoming someone who people look up to, but being yourself authentically is something not many people can do or have the courage to do so freely as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://KeishaFinnie.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/KeishaFinnie
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/KeishaFinnie
• Twitter: https://Twitter.com/KeishaFinnie
• Youtube: https://Youtube.com/KeishaFinnie
• Other: https://Society6.com/KeishaFinnie

Image Credits

Pink & Yellow Portrait of Me (Shelah Riley Photography)

Me in front of Mural (Michelle Johnsen Photography)