We recently connected with Keegan Lewins and have shared our conversation below.

Keegan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I think that last question is the most important. I stood in my own way. I started painting as a form of a coping mechanism. I was trying to survive through PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction. I liked Art in grade school but didn’t think much of it after. Going crazy I decided to paint to pick up a creative hobby. The first painting I did, knowing only the basics (mixing primary colors, lol), I didn’t stop till it was finished, and before I knew it 7 hours had passed. It was of a girl full of dread smoking a cig. It was me. I painted more and more trying to figure out how to sketch and looking up YouTube videos. When I wasn’t getting it, I realized I’m not the best sketch artist and that maybe art wasn’t my thing. You play mind games, like imposter syndrome. At the end of the day, I knew I loved painting and it helped me put feelings to canvas, expressing and interpreting the heavy burdens of life. I shared it on my Instagram and within that day I sold everything I had painted taking any offers (which were way higher than I could have imagined). I began to gain some confidence. Time goes on and you paint and learn just by trial and error or quicker ways or new cool things to add that aren’t just paint. People began to ask for specific paintings and it carried on that way. Today I still get imposter syndrome and I have to remind myself I am no expert and that’s the best part, Art is subjective and Art is the one place I won’t allow myself to be perfect the learning as you go has been the biggest creative puzzle of it.

Keegan, 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?

My name is Keegan Lewins, I am 3 years sober and started painting as a coping mechanism. I was trying to survive through PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction. My art has created a safe space of healing for me and my clients.

I love to paint abstract portraits that tell a relatable story. It was always hard for me to express an emotion or explain how it felt, so I do that on canvas. I accepted commissions from many who would like me to paint a feeling of theirs. I love connecting with people on a different level, so often are “negative” experiences/trauma/emotion’s made to be hidden. We are spiritual beings having a human experience and all emotions should be celebrated, I like to normalize that it is okay not to be okay. I am most proud of creating and opening a safe space for healing and processing emotions. I accept commissions and I sell most prints of my work.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That growth is linear—-And growth is most definitely not linear. One step forward, two steps back. Two steps forward, one step back. That’s just how it goes, and how it works- you have to go through the peaks and valleys to reach the top of the mountain.

You will face uncertainty and go through trials. When you’re uncomfortable, it means you are growing.

Something we said it 1st grade that is so cheesy but I have never forgotten “it’s okay to try and fail and try and fail again, but it’s not okay to try and fail and fail to try again”

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Be vulnerable, be honest, and share share share. You’d be surprised what comes from being vulnerable enough to share something you’re proud of. Leave space for it to work out. Network and local things happening, bring business cards with qr codes. You’re selling you and let that be it.

Contact Info:

• Website: coming soon
• Instagram: KeegOnCanvas
• Other: I will be attending 78th street studios 3rd Friday art walk November 17th 2023

Image Credits
Justin Gamble