Meet Kat Francis Keomany of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Francis Keomany.

Hi Kat , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Francis.

Hi Kat, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I knew I wanted to be an artist since I was very young. I always enjoyed drawing and wanted to be a cartoonist originally. The art room in school was my sanctuary. In school, I was picked on and pretty unhappy because I dressed different and enjoyed, at the time, unpopular things like punk music, coloring my hair, and skateboarding. To help me get through school despite those struggles, my high school art teacher arranged for me to participate in an internship for what she thought was cartooning- it ends up being with a famous Special EFX makeup artist Robert Kurtzman. I stayed with his company for many years workin on dozens of major motion pictures such as the devils rejects, hostel 2, Captain America Winter Soldier, the Avengers, fun-size, and so on.

I loved working in film, but I also had a son who I didn’t want to be away from for long periods of time. I returned to college to finish my BFA and MFA to focus on my own art professionally. I exhibited my first artwork when I was 18, and I have been selling art for a living for almost 20 years now. I still work in special effects part-time, but I also mentor art students, paint murals and exhibit art all over the country.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I feel for fortunate to be where I am today. I believe that (during college) being a single mom has made me the artist I am today. I couldn’t take making art for a living lightly… I made sure I was always receiving high grades in college and spending every moment I had on trying to get better- because I knew my kids were depending on me. I have also been very lucky to have incredible mentors in the film industry and in fine art. My mentor, painter Gordon Lee, told me to never waste this time. To always use it. I hear him always when I’m drawing, preparing for a show, and even reflecting on life. As an artist, you have to work hard and often. I practice never wasting a moment whether sketching, researching ideas, looking for inspiration, or organizing my space, etc. My struggles have more often been from loneliness or feeling isolating from my peers because I spend my free time making art and trying to further my career. So far, I have found ways to make money and live off my art professionally for almost two decades, as long as I put in the time and work at it every single day.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a muralist, mixed media artist who exhibits in gallery’s, and a fine arts instructor at Malone University.

I am a proud mom of 3. I am proud that I have learned the true value in life, so slow down, take in nature and all the creativity and life around me- as corny as that sounds.

My life has taken many twists and turns but art has always been consistent for me.

What matters most to you? Why?
Right now, embracing culture and community. Learning to love and support fellow humans. Just really soaking in and being grateful for my surroundings and routing for my fellow underdogs- in art and in everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Katfrancisart.com
• Instagram: Katfrancisart