ABOUT CUSTOM ARTS STUDIO //Custom Arts Studio (CAS) is a full service fine art and design company in Philadelphia, PA. The company started in 2014 as a personal creative outlet and incorporated in 2018. In addition to offering custom painting, portrait, book cover art and murals, the company offers high quality graphic and web design services to private clients, businesses and organizations. CAS, forever dedicated to the spirit of creativity, provides customers and clients the opportunity to be creative through arts-focused events, Paint Parties (traditional and fundraiser), and Coloring Poster products based on their original art.
The CAS Core Values that drive every interaction, creation and sale are: EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE • HIGH-QUALITY ART + DESIGN • BURSTING CREATIVITY |
"The Mask" Culture Portrait with Founder Keisha Whatley
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MEET THE FOUNDER //
EXPERIENCE + EXPERTISEWith over 15 years of teaching and mentoring experience, Keisha creates unique workshops, presentations & events based on the audience and client needs. From sharing her personal development & transformation experiences to topics such as leadership, teamwork, attitude, and communication, she brings passion, creativity and excellence to every project. |
HER-STORY: KEISHA DENEE WHATLEY
Keisha Whatley is a Philadelphia artist; born in Illinois, raised in West Philadelphia. A graduate of Andrew Hamilton School and the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Keisha excelled at the drawing and painting discipline from a young age and went on to study at Parsons School of Design (NY), The School of Visual Arts (NY) and The Art Institute of Philadelphia (PA). She started Custom Arts Studio, LLC, a full service visual arts business, in 2018 after a long hiatus from painting or anything creative. Things happened; "Life" happened, and the arts fell by the wayside. A PAUSE DOES NOT MEAN THE END! After returning to her creative roots in 2013 (she hadn't painted in over 15 years!), she grew passionate about creative expression, the need for quality art programming in {all} schools, and encouraging people to pursue their dreams, no matter how outlandish they may seem. One of her signature pieces, 'Baduism/20 Years of Paint,' is a testament to her journey. THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW STYLE "Badu-ism/ 20 Years of Paint" is a culmination of years of growth, expansion and discovery. This painting was started in New York City in 1997 and left unfinished. After close to 20 years away from the canvas, the artist returned to this painting and over the next 2 years the previous 2 decades of growth, expansion and reconnection was laid on the canvas. Each time the painting was pulled out of the closet, another new/fresh layer of paint, style and story was added. This painting has been worked on for 20 years and displays artistic growth and energy with every stroke and crack of the paint! It was 20 years later, in 2017, that the painting was completed and a brand new style emerged, The Culture Portrait. What is a CULTURE PORTRAIT?While Custom Arts Studio specializes in Custom Art commissions, when we create for and from our spirit, we create Culture Portraits! The Culture Portrait style, blending surrealism, traditional portraiture and research, is a Custom Arts Studio Signature Storytelling Technique (think visual griot). Culture Portraits invite the viewer into a visual dialogue of discovery; each viewing uncovers new connections, contrasts and layers of the story. Depending on canvas size, desired level of storytelling and required research, Culture Portraits take anywhere from 30 to 75+ hours to complete.
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