Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keith Dion. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Keith, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I use my art to give me optimism. It’s really easy to see the downer things in life, in the news, on some social media, online, some people’s attitudes and conversations. I use my art to battle negativity, to be optimistic, to see beauty and positivity (and sometimes fun). I use the art that I see in my head and the beauty that is all around. I enjoy seeing the art images and ideas in my mind. And I enjoy the beauty and art all around, everywhere, in nature and in man-made environments; nature, scenes, moments, structures, lines, light, shadows.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I do photography and art.
With my photography I like to capture things I see and then be able to print it and share it with people. I always think of my photography as ‘a moment’. Rather than focusing on the camera and the technical aspect I focus on the moment. Whatever was in that moment when the picture was taken is then gone forever, but captured in photography print. I like to share what I saw; an angle, a focus, light, shadow, subject, composition. I don’t use filters and I do my composition on-site in the moment with the camera framing (no cropping later). I really love the moment and the capturing. I started to notice I always smile right when my camera clicks and I got the picture, I smile every time. I really love the sharing. It’s a lot of fun talking with people about my photos. And it’s a really neat feeling when someone wants one and tells me where they are going to put it, in their space, in their life.
With my art I make the visions I see in my mind. It’s such a great feeling and process and experience. With my art I always smile when I think of something I know I want to make. There is so many different types and styles of art in the world, it’s tremendous. Scrolling on Instagram, museums, art shows, galleries, so many different types of art – then there’s yours. What comes out of your mind. That’s the fun, joy, pleasure, process, and experience. Then (as I mentioned with my photography) the sharing, with people, so fun. It’s such a fun and nice moment to stand with someone who has asked about your art piece. It’s such a personal experience to create something out of your mind, and then share it.
I’ve been creating collages. I have several other art pieces in my head that I am working on one at a time that I’m really looking forward to making and sharing in the months to come.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think a ‘quality’ that I appreciate and was impactful for me was that I have always been aware that I see art in my mind and in the world (ever since I was a kid). That would be the biggest quality. To have that and be able to access it. (And then turn it into art.)
As far as ‘knowledge’, rather than a technical or schooled knowledge, I would say the knowledge of realizing you’re an artist, it’s in you, and it wants to come out, and you should let it.
That would also be my advice, what I just said. Your art has to come out, let it.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
More art time! The ‘business’ of life can be distracting, and if you let it become too much it can rob you of art time. Time flies. And art time is valuable time. I’ve been enjoying more art time. Sometimes you have easy art time, and sometimes you have to cram it in somewhere, early morning or late night. I’ve been doing all of that. And I’m glad.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.keithdion.net
- Instagram: @keith.d.art
Image Credits
Keith Dion
