Meet Keith Two: Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keith Two and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keith, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
This is such an interesting question because I don’t think I ever really thought about work-life balance when I was younger, single, with no kids. Now a husband, father of two, working a day job in addition to my own business, work-life balance is something that I’ve had to wrestle with. I had to confront the myth that balance meant equality; 3 hours with the kids, 3 hours with my wife, 3 hours working on my business. I discovered that it was about priorities, what needs to come first, second, and so on. This approach helps me stay flexible because, as we all know, each day can be unpredictable. Another skill that has become invaluable to me is communication with my spouse. Giving her a view into my business lets her know some of my goals, and when I need to lean on her when a deadline is approaching, it doesn’t seem so unexpected.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love drawing and painting artwork that celebrates life and faith. I generally find inspiration in nature, music, family life, and scriptures found in the Bible. My style is an amalgamation of superhero comics, action cartoons, and great African American artists like Maurice Evans. In these different forms of art, I saw a common theme of expressive line and bold color, and that is what I’ve carried with me. Art has been an interest of mine since I was drawing superheroes in elementary school. That interest took me to the Savannah College of Art and Design, where I graduated with Illustration and Graphic Design degrees. Now I’m using my graphic design degree at my day job while pursuing my passion as an illustrator and fine artist through my business, Keith Two LLC. I started my art business in 2011, and it has been a fun ride. Running a business isn’t easy; you must continuously educate yourself. One lesson I’ve learned is to, if possible, immediately respond to a request or question. It communicates professionalism and a level of genuine care. When people look at my artwork, I want them to see the beauty in the seemingly mundane. Common occurrences like a flower growing on the side of the road, a woman waiting for the train to get to work, or words written down thousands of years ago. I consider a painting successful when I can bring those occasions to life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Wow, this is tough to narrow down the options. We would go to The Original House of Pancakes on Cheshire Bridge road for breakfast, and then we head to the High Museum to check out the latest exhibit. We would go to Farm Burger for lunch, which has great burgers and some items for the health-conscious eater. Next, we would go and hang out at Ponce City Market to soak in the new Atlanta vibes and perhaps walk on the Beltline. For dinner, we would go to Nori Nori Japanese buffet to stuff ourselves with good sushi. We would end the night with a movie at Avalon Regal cinemas. One caveat, if this is during Dragon Con in September, we won’t be doing anything listed above; we will just be hanging out downtown enjoying Dragon Con, lol. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Uncle Mickey saw my desire to start a business with my art and decided to gift me with the money to get started.

Website: www.keithtwo.com

Instagram: @keithtwoart

Twitter: @keithtwoart

Facebook: @keithtwoart

Youtube: Keith Two Art