Juliana Keith

Hosted by: Feed the Beast Restaurant, 4300 N. Lincoln Ave

I paint for my well being. I seek humor and color in life and am inspired by oddity and all things unconventional. This is reflected through my work.

My process is unstructured and fueled by spontaneity. I paint with oil, acrylic and latex house paint - whatever I have on hand. I love to paint with bright colors in simple color combinations on found materials. I look for materials that are portable, stack easily and won’t get warped in the trunk of my car. My preference is scraps of wood and sturdy cardboard.

My current work grew out of a desire to learn how to paint people. I paint subjects that I feel would make interesting company. I finish each work by asking myself what my subjects would think or say. The frank and honest dialogue of the subjects develops spontaneously. My goal is to continue to evolve as an artist through the creation of unique characters reflective of the human condition.

I am originally from Eastern Iowa but have lived all over the country. I have found roots in Chicago. Except for many pottery classes throughout my life, I do not have a formal art education. I have a BA in Psychology from the University of Iowa. I taught myself to paint because the portability of painting versus pottery better accommodated my nomadic lifestyle. I am in love with the process, it has become a necessity in my life. I have been painting consistently for the past 8 years. It is my goal and dream to share my art.