Commissions
Commission a Piece of Art
Art for You
Something Made Just For You
Everyone deserves to have art in their life. You may not know art terminology, or whether a piece has sold at Christie’s or Sotheby’s or for what price, you may not know a lot of art stuff but the one thing that I am sure of is that you know what you like.
And isn’t that all that matters? Buy what you are emotional about. Buy the piece that pulls you in; that you feel a connection to.
Everyone can’t own a Picasso but art is not only for the rich. Start where you are. There is a lot of good art out there at many different price points. Art is made for everyone’s soul so here are four fantastic reasons to start looking for art.
4 Reasons to Buy Art Today
1. Transform Your Space.
there is nothing like a piece of art to transform cold, stark walls into a warm, interesting and aesthetically pleasing space. You will literally feel the difference in the space and in your own persona.
This can extend to your mental state as well. Your mood is enhanced and we know that colour can affect mood positively. This is something you should want for the space that you occupy.
2. Appreciation.
Unlike a car that depreciates in value as soon as you drive it off the lot, art appreciates in value as time passes. Wouldn’t that be something you want?
What other thing that you own and have in your space does that? You could be enhancing your space while making an investment. It’s a good, passive way to make money and a good legacy for your children or grand children.
3. Start Conversations.
The right piece of art can start interesting and thought-provoking conversations. You invite friends, from time to time, into your space for food, drinks and of course, conversation. You want your get togethers to go well and that really depends on the conversation.
The art you have purchased can be a great way to start and sustain the conversation. There are lots of issues and current affairs topics that we all have our opinions on. The discussion brought about by art can produce additional information, a different viewpoint, and possibly a change of heart. Art can be a force for change through conversations.
4. Add to Your Legacy.
Art captures the changing times, a great occasion, a person of note, just about anything. What if the art work you bought and are leaving behind was not only valuable in terms of money but in terms of your own culture – a legacy of cultural significance?
To own and a Basquiat or a Kehinde Wiley would be more important to me than passing down a beautiful piece of jewelry or anything else because it speaks to black achievement and artistry.
You may not be able to afford any of the artists mentioned but you can afford other good artists who have not yet made a name. Basquiat was not always famous. Go out there; buy some art and create a special legacy.
Start Your Art Journey Today
Whatever your reason, purchasing art is always a good idea. Add a personalized piece to your collection by commissioning a Sheryl Keen Original today. Be sure to include the following with your request
- Contact Information
- Size of Piece
- Description of Preferred Piece
- Any themes, colors, or additional specifications
Submit a Request
Frequently Asked Questions
The Beginner's Guide to Buying Commissioned Art
We know that art is healing but through my own work and the process, I have also found out that it can be quite meditative. So even if you are not a professional artist and you just dabble, there is something to be said for the process. The meditation comes through in the process where your entire body and mind is in tune with what you are doing. My process includes sketching, composing, modeling, texturizing and colouring. This is basically a step by step process that flows into each other. Everything I do, every thought I have is concentrated on this one thing. One of the questions I get asked as an artist is if I work on several pieces at once. I do not. Everybody’s brain works differently so I can’t say it’s wrong to do multiple projects simultaneously. For me, working on two pieces at once does not give me the kind of concentration I want to put in a single project. The composition of a painting needs attention because I’ll have to decide where the focus lies. This takes place from sketching a single line to sketching a figure; to modeling a face, carving lines, delineating spaces; choosing and applying texture and colour. All of this is very meditative. My mind has one clear path. All my actions are details that come together to support the whole. At the end its almost like giving birth to something and now I can move on and conceive fresh ideas for another project. What’s your thing that is meditative?
As an artist, I am asked questions about inspiration all the time. What inspires you? Are you inspired all the time? What happens if you are not inspired? I will use this post to talk about two different kinds of inspiration. Inspiration can come like a bolt of lightning. Its those moments when an idea is crystal clear and so fantastic that it can easily be transferred to canvas – or whatever your medium is. These moments are genius and can feel especially great. We all love these moments because everything flows. It all comes together perfectly. But inspiration does not work that way all the time. Inspiration can also be found within the grind. In the lightning bolt scenario, inspiration comes, then you create. With the grind, you must do the work for inspiration to appear. If you do not have that bolt every time you want to create a work of art, what will you do? I cannot sit and wait for the next bolt to come or I would have significantly fewer pieces in my portfolio. What I do in times when lightning does not strike, is approach the canvas, my paints, my brushes, my thoughts. I stand face to face with my creative nemesis, I sketch, I design, I begin painting to see what comes, struggling through. In the process of creating, I am also chasing inspiration and I know that I will find it. The evidence will be in the finished product. Finding inspiration in the grind is not just about artists or creative people, its for anyone who wants to accomplish anything. I am a creative so I use creative references. If you are a writer, you will have to sit down in front of a computer even if you have no clue what you will write. You will have to hit those keys. Write a line. Delete it. Write another. Starting your process is an invitation to inspiration to come in. It wants to come in. Sometimes it is reluctant but if you stick with the process long enough it will come. Today I wish for you all the lightning bolts of inspiration you can get. However, when those fade, I wish for you the patience and tenacity to sit down and start working so that inspiration may come.
To Leave the Beaten Path . Art allows me to leave the usual path. I could paint what everybody else is painting, I can do the popular thing. But how will I make my mark as an imitator? How will I be different? Leaving the beaten path allows me to discover new ways to create, allows me to take risks and to learn new things about myself. When I am on the road not travelled, I am alone and have only my own creative thoughts to depend on. To have an open mind . To leave the well travelled road, forces me to have an open mind. I carve out my own style. I paint the subjects I want to paint. I experiment with different paints and use various found objects in my work. Opening my mind leaves me available and open to new things which will enrich my mind, my art and my life. To let go . If I am going to have an open mind, I have to let go. It’s much easier to do this in art than in life. But as I said, I am using one to inform the other. We all have perceptions that we hold dear; we are slaves to our culture, our family, our friends, our ancestors and we could go on. We are all colouring within the line but what if we coloured outside of it? What would we discover within ourselves and within our world? All I need to do is start . I don’t need to be intimidated by a blank canvas. The empty space is waiting on me to make my mark. The canvas is yearning for me to use it to bring a story to life. I don’t always know what I will paint but I stand before the canvas and I think about what I can create that will be impactful. As soon as I start, the path starts to reveal itself. The reveal is not always quick but if I persist it becomes sure. There is always another way . If I start and I realize that my creation is not going the way I envisioned it, I can change midstream. I have created works that I did not like. I gesso them over and create something new. These paintings are always the better ones because they have been through the fire of failure and came out popping. There are many ways to fill an empty canvas – different colours, different textures, more pop. This is the reason we should not be afraid to start. We have the ability to adjust. To surround myself with people who understand my dreams and encourage it . This is the final one and it is a big one. The business of art is already challenging so I do not surround myself with naysayers who sap my energy and diminish my creativity with negative thoughts. I sever any cord that would tie me to discord, to anything that will let me lose focus, to anyone that feed self doubt. Self doubt can mean death to a creative. I surround myself with light; with people who encourage and help me to find my path. This is a very important life lesson – hold fast to dream builders; let go of dream killers. Light in; darkness out.