Hailing from the Eastern Cape, Amy Keevy is a South African artist, content creator and art director who is based along the Garden Route. Her artwork focuses a multitude of themes and according to her official website, ‘warm tones of ochre, rust, and flesh, she embraces the unexpected changes wrought by wet ink on paper’
We spoke to her about art, life and what’s to come in the future.
Your transition to a full-time artist has been a journey, how did you prepare to move into this role of creating and crafting?
Oh, if only there was a simple answer to this question! I think the life of an artist or creative can be a tricky road to follow, as you often need to wear many hats to make ends meet. Being a full-time artist is ultimately the end goal, but I also love working with others in the branding space. At the moment I above being an artist l have my own small creative agency called Visually Amy. Here I work with brands on their visual identity, art direction, graphic design and photographic content creation.
I find that my creative life overlaps. To feel inspired in my work life I need to be inspired in my personal life and vice versa. This balancing act is ongoing and ever-evolving.
Your work focuses on different themes, from lunar phases to nature and the human body - what continues to shift your artistic journey?
I’ve always been inspired by Nature and my own body, as a way of making sense of myself in the world. At the moment I am being challenged though to look a little deeper, and spend more time researching subjects before diving in and creating. My art creation has taken on a much slower approach since moving to The Garden Route and I’m just leaning into that at the moment. I recently posted a quote on Instagram from Dr. Sarah Campbell. ‘Slowing down is medicine: When you think you’re moving slow, move even slower.’ I’m challenging these words in a big way.
Who/what inspires you, what are you reading/listening/watching right now?
I’m always inspired by The Expanded Podcast, I’ve been doing the To Be Magnetic work for a while now and it’s been life-changing. I also love Elise Loehnen’s podcast Pulling The Thread and I can’t wait to read her new book ‘On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good.’
I recently got my hands on ‘The Story of Art Without Men’ by Katy Hessel and I’m loving it! She also hosts a podcast called The Great Woman Artists which I listen to religiously.
How can people support your work and what is in the pipeline for you - work or otherwise?
You can find my art online at amykeevy.co.za or on Instagram @amy_keevy. I love creating commissioned artwork, so if you have seen anything of mine that catches your fancy don’t be shy to reach out to me on [email protected]. I’ve been experimenting with raw canvas and embroidery, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this unfolds in 2023.
At the moment I’m also fascinated with learning more about Fairy Tales and the way they have shaped our consciousness.
Fairy Tales give us the context of Ever After. That justice will prevail, that bad people exist and that anything could happen to us at any moment. We aren’t always the same.
A career is built on wins and mistakes, what are some of the best lessons you’ve learnt recently?
I think the biggest thing I’ve learnt in my career is to not give in to or let my fear stop me from moving forward, trying something new or just deep diving into change. Like a lot of people in my generation, I definitely suffer from some imposter syndrome, something I’ve learnt to greet, thank and then ignore! Also, this social media world is just a highlight reel. Don’t ever be fooled into thinking others have it all together when you don’t. We are all just on this earth trying to do our best and that is a good thing to remind yourself of often!
