We recently connected with Kate Keery and have shared our conversation below.
Kate, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
When I was a kid, I was fascinated with art. I loved drawing the moment I was able to pick up a pencil, and by the time I was in middle school, had a natural talent for it without having any “formal training.” At fourteen years old, I started taking private art classes with a local artist, Susan Kneeland. Every Thursday my parents drove me 30 minutes north to a tiny studio tucked away behind a rustic farm house. There, Susan guided me through the basics of art making, from color mixing and “loading your brush” to composition and form. We broke down every step of the creative process into intricate puzzle pieces that would eventually make one masterpiece. I attribute most of my learned skills in art-making and personal growth to these four years with Susan. Her long-lasting impact is ultimately the driver behind my pursuit of the craft, even after years of a creative hiatus.
At university I pursued a Bachelors in Science, believing that my art would continue to fulfill me as a hobby and I would make a living elsewhere. But still, I was longing for creativity. I eventually decided to minor in fine art, and reserved all of my art electives for my semester abroad in 2019. It wasn’t until then, when I moved to Florence, Italy, that I fully discovered my artistic style. I was entranced by figure and oil painting at this time. So that, combined with the peaceful lifestyle of the Italian community I was immersed in, was the perfect formula to inform my art. I wanted to paint people living – going about their daily lives in search for nothing but the simple pleasures, like walking their dog or enjoying a cappuccino by the Arno. Since then, the work has always been an exploration of the human experience, but lately I’ve been honing in more so on my own experience, and how moments that I hold near and dear are deeply connected to the lives of others around me.
In addition to the technical skills and emotional vulnerability required to be a painter, I have also had to learn the logistics of running a small business. Making a living as an artist is about understanding what you’re trying to say and how to promote it in the most authentic way possible, knowing the operations that go into an exhibition, and what opportunities will propel your career best – what investments are most worth it. I would be completely in the dark on all of this if it hadn’t been for my previous full-time job as a curator at a gallery. I learned some of the most essential aspects of my business as a curator. I would also say a lot of it is just trial and error – analyzing what people respond to the most and why, and then adapting while still following your gut.
Reflecting on my experience as an artist, I of course, could look back and wish that I had pursued a more formal education in Fine Art, but honestly, I don’t know that that would have led me to where I am today. If I hadn’t pursued a degree in another field, I may not have had the craving to study art in Florence and gained the more technical skills I now have that make my pieces successful. Maybe four years in art school would have left me burnt out and itching for something entirely different. I strongly believe I learned at exactly the pace I needed to. Does that mean I feel that I am fully developed as an artist? Absolutely not. I have so much learning to do, and often feel that I fall short. However, that’s what makes this career path exciting – I get to be a life long learner in something I love, and there’s really nothing better than that.
Kate, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a fine artist based in Brooklyn, New York, specializing in photorealistic acrylic and oil paintings depicting my memories growing up in a small coastal community. I began my career as a full time artist in 2023 after leaving my job as a curator at a Chelsea gallery.
My work is deeply rooted in nostalgia and play, as I pull from old film photos and my own personal photography of my friends and family enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Subject matter-wise, the work often includes coastal imagery and figures, and are typically painted from a dynamic yet personal vantage point so that the viewer feels that they are living that exact experience.
There is a feeling that I get when I am with my family – a feeling of peacefulness, connection, and pure joy. These feelings come at times when I see my nieces looking out at the ocean or sitting on my sisters lap watching fireworks at night. Or when I see my Dad sitting in that same old rocking chair that my late grandmother spent years of her life sitting in, drinking vodka squirts and eating shrimp cocktail. It’s the knowledge that they both felt that same sea breeze on their faces, smelled the same sea air, heard the same crashing of waves and distant voices on the beach below. Through my paintings I am determined to express the meaning in those moments – the ones that we look back on and cherish even if we didn’t understand their impact on our lives. The images I choose to paint are a peak into my soul and all the things that define the person I have grown to be.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The very first fair I went to was only about 5 months into my career. I distinctly remember a couple visiting my booth time and time again to look at one painting that had sold the day prior. It was of two young girls swimming at golden hour, hair and water wings sopping wet. The woman struck up a conversation with me about the piece, and shared that the two girls looked exactly like her daughters when they were younger. She began to cry, in disbelief at how much she could relate to the scene. Making someone cry is not <i>exactly</i> the goal, but knowing that the piece had such a profound impact, even on one individual, made the entire fair worthwhile. In truth, I went into that fair prepared to sell nothing. I was fresh into my career with little accolades to my name, so I mainly saw the opportunity as a marketing investment. I was absolutely floored by visitors responses. They just seemed to get it, most of them diving into stories about going up to their friends lake house as a kid, or lazy days spent by the pool. I was vulnerable in my art, and it invited them to be so as well.
The reason I took the risk to become an artist was because I wanted my passions to align with my work – so that I could wake up every day and confidently say I love what I do. Obviously that is one of the most rewarding parts of being a creative, but for me, the thing that I am most proud of is my ability to spark joy in others, and being a reminder to people to cherish the smaller, more intimate moments in life.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Promote art that you love! Artists are lucky incredibly lucky to have such a vast platform to reach wider audiences, but growth doesn’t happen without the support of friends, family, colleagues, etc. Rarely does an opportunity just land in your inbox on any given day. It takes intentional time, effort, and risk-taking to build your brand, and it can be daunting to put yourself out there for the whole world to see. Having supporters that have your back and share what makes you special is an incredible life-line.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.keeryfineart.com/
- Instagram: @keeryfineart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-keery-a27236197/
Image Credits
Emily Croteau Jordan Hodges