Meet Masha Keating | Artist, Gallery Owner, Designer & Instructor

I try not to focus on my legacy, but rather focus on the here and now. I am more interested in knowing how I affect people that I interact with on a daily basis. What butterfly effect am I setting in motion now? If I expose someone to the joys of digital art and how it can enhance their creative expression, I’m happy. If I can impress upon someone that it is important to make art in order to get in touch with oneself, even if no one on the big stage will see it, I’m happy. If my work inspires someone, I’m happy. If it transforms someone’s space giving them a sense of wonder, I’m truly happy. Even if I affect only a handful of people, that’s good enough for me.

Authenticity is the most important rule I have in my life and in my art. In order to let that authenticity shine through, I have to pay close attention to myself as I work and make sure I do not interfere with the process with my own agendas. Transformation and spontaneous change are a part of my work process, as well as my subject matter. After I start with an idea that inspires me, the painting inevitably takes a turn, then another, and yet another. Although it is often difficult to let go of my original vision, my job is to embrace those changes because I know it is a way toward a better piece of art.

I aim to draw the viewer in with complex, surreal compositions and deliver a sense of energy and vitality while sharing my inner world. I distort and abstract representational imagery to encourage the viewer not to take things at face value and to discover the complexity and mystery below the surface. My goal is to evoke emotion with a tapestry of visual experiences. Along with exploring the visual elements found in the external world of nature, I also focus on the feelings and internal states of consciousness that accompany life’s moments of change and transformation. As I implement abstract elements, like colorful undulating shapes and lines weaving throughout the painting, I think of the weaving tapestry of life’s paths that we encounter and navigate. Making art reminds me of how important it is to submit to the flow of life and let go of my expectations and demands. I always enjoy the process of collaboration between the painting and myself. The highlight of the journey is discovering the final result that my initial inspiration brings about.

I pursued an artistic career because I realized that I am good at what I do and that way I can share my gifts with others. Having my own art gallery has helped me interact closer with my collectors and customers. I love the conversations that I get to participate in every day. I also get to offer new projects to people like my Art Wear Collection, as well as digital art workshops and classes through the gallery. Both Art Wear (where I put my artwork on silk scarves and other products) and digital art workshops, came about directly from listening to the needs and desires of people that I interact with on the daily basis. Although I am classically trained in oil painting, for the past 8 years, digital art has become my main medium. There are many benefits for artists in digital media, even for those who work with traditional tools. There are countless ways that they can incorporate digital into their work process. I started offering digital art workshops and classes in my gallery because the demand was so great for that knowledge in artistic communities. Being my own boss allows me to implement new ideas quickly. I love the flexibility and freedom I have here.

My road has not been an easy one. In order to overcome the fear of failure, I had to accept it and become OK with it. I used to be so terrified of making mistakes, to the point that the fear of it was paralyzing. One day I had an imaginary dialogue with my inner critic. I imagined the worst-case scenario where I was at the end of my life, having failed at everything I had taken on in my career. My inner critic was mocking me, to which I said, “At least my failures show me that I was brave enough to try. There are plenty of people that never try anything.” Of course, I am not planning on failing at EVERYTHING, but this mental experiment freed me from my fear of failure and perfectionism. Every step I took in my career, I did it before I was ready. Although it is important to prepare as much as you can, at some point you have to just jump and that involves risk. Risk can never be eliminated completely. Staying true to what I wanted to do has helped me maintain my work ethic over the years and not get burned out. When you care about something it’s easier to consistently work hard at it. Also, your clients and customers pick up on your authenticity