Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keshida Layone. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Keshida, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I champion for all living organisms on Earth. I love to incorporate many elements of our planet in my pieces. I starting developing work where I started painting different portraits of humans of the African Diaspora. I added backgrounds of nature and animals. I first debuted this type of work at my show ” The Brave and The Free” /Flucuations at City Arts Salon in Philly March . I wanted to wake the viewer of endangered species. The hunt to kill must stop. I create for the choice to live and to always find away out of darkness.

Keshida, 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’m a man of creative freedom and will make and mold anything to be in a world filled with color. I was born and raised in Long Island, NY. My mother was an artist herself writer, dancer, and just an overall creative spirit. She taught my sister and I to always be ourselves and to be true to ourselves. I always enjoyed fashion as a kid and loved to experiment with style as a teenager. I learned confidence at a young age and took that into adulthood.

After leaving Long Island after college I branched out into NYC where I began to blossom. I was influenced by everything I saw. I took jobs in retail and eventally I was a Fashion Stylist. This career was paramount as I started playing around with color pallets. I was mixing fabrics and textures, it lead me to more expression and more experimentation. As I became more creative I took my “styling” to the canvas. I always loved to sketch and doodle but I felt driven to take things further.

After moving to DC in 2005 I became immersed in painting. I started my earlier career painting abstract. I would find old canvases thrown away or I would repurposed new ones. These were moments in my life where I would teach myself everything. I was obsessed with my new life. I found that painting would be therapy for me and for those enjoying my work. In 2009 I decided to take my work to the next level. I had my first art show at Lyons Wier Gallery in NY. I created my website in 2010 and I knew from that moment that this was my calling in life. I want my viewers to dive into my work and feel a shift of emotions. Whether it’s happiness from my color choices and or deep thoughts on the titles of my work. My subject matter will always revolve around all things Earth related. This is one of the most amazing planets in our solar system. I will paint for the rest of my life telling stories for those that cannot talk, for emotions that can’t be described or places of peace that can’t be seen.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

In my earlier years of beginning an uncertain journey as an Artist I wanted validation. When you work around so many creative people it’s like energy bouncing off each other but there are times one needs more of that energy than other times.

I can recall telling friends I found to be in successful careers I painted and I was having art shows etc.. It always seems like it was a nod of smile to a hobby I was doing or a new skill I learned. I never felt like I was taken seriously until I understood that my friends and associates are not my clients. I had to learn the difference of how support comes. Realizing not all will ever truly understand my work, purchase a piece, or even come to one of my art shows has to be okay. It comes with being a creative and understanding people will not always be there but they can be there other ways. I know now who I am if no one comes to another show or if people don’t like or follow my work online. I paint because I live my life in color.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Having full and total control of my work is one of the most rewarding aspects of being an Artist. In our professional careers we have a line of people we have to reach out to make decisions. One has to wait for approvals and there are procedures.

Starting and stopping a painting when I choose to makes the process more organic as I approach the work each time. I have had lengths of time where I was away to be inspired or to take time to research. All these elements give my work depth.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://breatheart.gallery
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breatheartllc/