We were lucky to catch up with Keisha Manijean recently and have shared our conversation below.

Keisha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

One of the most unexpected problems I faced in business was covid. In 2019 I was awarded best artist of the year and best concept for my universal love series from a international world-renowned magazine called destic magazine out of London. Do to covid I was unable to go to London and receive My awards or tour with the magazine.. The following year, I was also awarded best artist of the year with the same magazine and once again covid. I was devastated to say the least It seemed Colvin would never end. So like they say when you’re given lemons. You make lemonade and that’s what I did. I decided to create a show called Artapeutic.com And for the next 2 years, you can catch me Sunday at 2:30 on Facebook and Instagram live teaching art and showing how art heals…its therapy For the mine and spirit. In 2022 i wrote my book entitled the age of universal love. Finally bringing my 30 year creation to life. I actually gave my pictures a voice. Now looking back, I guess what happened wasn’t necessarily. The most terrible thing that could happen because through conflict brings harmony.

Keisha, 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 Keisha Manijean Im a fine artist, author and Rekei crystal master. I’m a mother of three. I remember at 5 years old, drawing recreation  of the box cover of Disney videos. The animation sparked my interest in fantasy surrealism and the creation of signature characters. I Explored many facets and genres of art before attending the Savannah college of art and design in Georgia. While in college, I fell in love with the surrealism and created my first universal love picture “teaspoon”a spoon sitting on the bed studying for final. This picture birth  my universal love series. Universal love is a surrealism series of art with characters of spoons and forks. My slogan is everybody’s gotta eat. Everybody’s gotta love. food Is the nourishment for this body and love is the nourishment for the soul .After college, my travels took me all over the world. Which subsequently led me further and further away from art. Sending me spiraling down a road of substance abuse and alcoholism. After hitting rock bottom. I had to make a choice to basically live or die. I chose to live and rekindle with the first love of my life art. And that’s when recovery commenced.
Through recovery I learned that the good and the bad is what has help shape my world view and understanding of people on a universal level. In 2017 in recovery i found a new love making jewelry and i learned about my Chakra and crystal healing with led me to become a Rekei crystal master. After coming home Recovery for me was taking my universal love series from color pastel to oil paint. As I recreated them, I reinvent myself.  Rebirth occurred for me. From there I won an award from Destig magazine out of London. I was awarded 2019 artist of the year and my Universal love series won for best  concept. I felt renewed recovered and free. And I really thought at that point I was truly on my way then came COVID… COVID called me  too not be able to get all of the rewards out of what I’ve won. So that really hit me hard so determined to keep it going. I decided I was going be like Bob Ross and create a show.  I was home just like everyone else. So I created a art show that I streamed on Facebook and Instagram every Sunday at 2:30 for over 2 years the show is called Artapeuticlive. The healing therapy of Art. As a way to try an keep everyone else out there Going, but it actually kept me going. COVID was so unbelievable and forced us all to Stop,drop and Love. I also  created several new series, one called state of the world, which depicts COVID and the things that happen in 2020.  From George Floyd to government issues.
All of that led me to create a non-profit called Just love movement. with hope to Spark love to move again hoping it would be able to take. My everybody’s gotta eat. Everybody loves concept of universal love to  actual become physically seen.. Just love movement is a non-profit that helps all people In need, our mission is to raise money for all things Love and to foster 3 programs of its own programs 1.rebirth for elderly. 2.When you’re ready for addicted individuals and 3. Natural Born talents for our children, the theme for Just love movement is natural born talents.  Because without my natural born talent of art. I wouldn’t be here today so I want to create a program that will help People find that first love and actually heal them to be the person That they were put on Earth to be.
I feel if I can do it anybody can do. It just takeself love a little time. And anything is possible last year 2022 I published my first book entitled the Age of universal love from the first picture 30 years ago to now  Over a 100 pictures, i finally gave universal love voice. My first table book. So today I make my art as clear as I can to speak to people. I am creating a movement, a love movement that can be felt. Seen and experience wherever my artwork is displayed. My job as an artist is to communicate the direction in which we need to go without having to speak.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a artist and creator is the constantly flow of imagination that runs through me and have tje ability to continuely Learn new things and be the change that I wantna see.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

My views on NF t’s are. It’s about time this new technology is going to actually give the artist residuals. It will actually allow them to survive with their work. I am actually researching and working towards my first one now

Contact Info:

• Website: keishamanijean.com
• Instagram: @KeishaManijean
• Facebook: Keisha Manijean
• Linkedin: Keisha Manijean
• Youtube: Artapeutic

Image Credits
Ernie singleton mentor and manager Arnold Turner photography