We recently had the chance to connect with Mrs. Kareemah Scurry and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kareemah, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Who are you learning from right now?
Right now my biggest and most inspirational teacher is life. I learn from quietly observing the things and happenings going on around me. With the rapid decline of this country, I feel like they are constantly promoting and pushing fear on us. I choose not to live in fear and search for the good instead. One of my favorite quotes, from one of the most amazing human beings to have ever lived, Fred Rogers goes; “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.””
Outside of life, and lived experiences, I have been studying the greats. Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, and Da Vinci.
I also think that it’s important to learn from other artists around me. I love learning from my peers as well. Artists like Sheeba Maya, Brianne Moore, Brian Branch, J.D Vinci and $he Artsy, Perrion Hurd, etc. All artists that I look up to, learn from, and build foundation from.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello,
My name is Kareemah and I am a surrealist artist whose work is rooted in storytelling, identity, and transformation. I create with the belief that art is not only a reflection of who we are, but also a vision of who we can become. My paintings blend realism with surrealist elements, using bold color, symbolism, and layered textures to capture the beauty, resilience, and spiritual essence of the human experience.
I am deeply inspired by everyday life, dreams, and the quiet moments that hold universal truths. Each canvas becomes a place where reality and imagination intertwine, where beauty is redefined, and where the viewer is invited to pause, reflect, and connect. I see my art as both a mirror and a window. A mirror that reflects hidden truths within ourselves, and a window that expands our vision of the world around us.
Ultimately, my art is about legacy and connection. My greatest goal is to create a body of work that not only resonates in the present but also inspires future generations to see themselves as whole, powerful, and worthy of being remembered through art.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I honestly feel like my late grandmother saw me for who I was before I saw it for myself. She would always say and do things to encourage my creativity. Random doodles would be looked over like fine art. She encouraged me to join art clubs in high school. Not only as a way to build my skills in art, but also to build my connection to other people. I’ve always been a bit of a recluse and found it hard to connect with people. Over time, I became more comfortable being in group settings of like-minded individuals.
Social anxiety is still a very real thing for me, but I feel like it’s not as bad as it used to be. My grandmother saw me as the creative spirit that I am. Even when I didn’t see it for myself.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
So… I’m just now coming back from a nearly 2 year hiatus. Giving up was already a plan that had been put into action. I have a painting, (currently still in my possession) that I had been staring at for at least a year. I had been trying to promote it and get eyes on it. At the very least, I wanted people discussing it and talking about how the work touched them on a personal level.
After trying to promote on social media, grass-rooting, and forcing myself to speak in front of a camera non stop, I started to feel burnout. But it was in such an extreme manner that I just threw my hands up and called it quits. I hated the content creator side of trying to get my work seen.
Got tired of dealing with algorithms that only favor the popular or the ones willing to pay to be seen. I want my audience to come to me organically. Our society has become so obsessed with numbers and metrics, to the point that it’s the only thing that matters or contributes to “success” these days.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Ai art is actually “art”. I think that is one of the BIGGEST lies told in this industry today. The fact that Ai has been trained to steal from actual artists and generate renderings that resemble their styles is such a huge insult to creatives. True art has human connection behind it. You buy a painting, you should be able to feel the spirit of the artist behind it. Resonate with the emotional energy that charged it. Feel the passion behind every brush stroke.
Ai art is not a real thing, At least it shouldn’t be. We’ve gotten to a point where people are satisfied with instant gratification. Why pay an actual artist to create something for you when you can just type in a prompt and let a computer generate an image for you for free? Believe it or not, I’ve actually had someone argue this very statement to me before.
Besides the waiting time, this person also told me that the time it takes to sit down and speak to an artist about the idea of the painting/drawing/what have you, coming to an agreement on payment, or whether or not they feel the price is fair, most people don’t see the value in commissioning artists anymore.
I only want to disprove that and make people understand the value that we as creatives bring to the world. It’s so much more than just making pretty pictures.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel the most at peace when I am allowed to operate in a space of creativity. I feel the most at peace when I am home with my husband and children. Walking through nature and just listening to Earth exist. Sitting in the sun and letting it refuel my energy,
My peace comes from the joy and love that I have surrounding me. I have been blessed with such and incredible support system, and I do not take any of it for granted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kjartz86.wixsite.com/kjartz
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kjartz86
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kjartz8649?si=WN3YNxyVF8rRu
- Other: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RestlessCreativitywithKJARTZ
RedNote: https://xhslink.com/m/9Yl4VglwDrh
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/kjartz86.bsky.social
