By Nordia Henry, Staff Reporter
Deane is immersed in his work at his home.
"ART WAS something I loved from a child. I was always drawing but I also had love for architecture. So after high school, I decided to take on one of them and decided on art even though I love architecture more. I chose art because it allows you to be free and you have more space to be creative," says artist Khalil Deane.
Ask anyone who associates with this young, talented artist and they'll tell you, "He is a cool youth, quiet, dedicated and attentive to his work." Deane is a shy, pleasant with a jovial personality.
A Kingstonian, Dean left Jamaica for Trinidad with his parents and his older brother when he was one year old and returned to Jamaica at age six. During his teen years, while living in Mona, he attended Campion College and then later enrolled in the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts on Arthur Wint Drive.
Deane, who celebrated his 27th birthday on January 23, says he gets inspiration for his work from his life experiences, human relations and how people deal with each other. He specialises in painting and has exhibited his artwork at the National Gallery, Mutual Gallery and Grosvenor Gallery in Kingston.
When I'm doing a piece... I can work in either solitude or noise. It doesn't matter the type of environment I'm in, once the noise is created by me.
The time to complete... an art piece varies because it depends on the kind of artwork you are doing plus other factors. For example, if you are doing a painting, it depends on your mood and how interested you are, if you are getting what you want, etc. So there is no specific time, it can take months, few hours or more to do a sketch or finish an artwork.
When I complete a piece of artwork... it makes me feel like I've accomplished something great especially if it comes out the way I wanted but most times when I finish an artwork, I feel like there is something missing. I've had some bad pieces but some people may see them and get excited and think they're wonderful.
My most memorable moment... in art was in 2002. I entered a Visual Arts competition sponsored by SuperPlus for young artists and I won the young artist of the year and that felt great.
Deane says he does not have much time for hobbies since art takes up most of his time. He was a football player but has been forced to give it up due to a knee injury.
