ABOUT ME,
KEATON HINZE
HISTORY OF
MY BUSINESS
Long before I officially started this business, I was already selling my artwork. I grew up in a screen-print shop owned by my dad and from there I learned graphic design at a young age. In middle school I sold my first product that I actually designed. It was a t-shirt that had my principal’s face on the front and a quote he would say on the back. The quote was “This is BA not BK, you can’t have it your way.” I kept the box of shirts in our 8th grade principal’s office. I don’t remember for sure but I think I sold them all. In high-school, I sold tank tops to soccer team fans, spirit week t-shirts, and a Juicy J parody shirt with the words “We Trippy Mann” big on the front that went over very well (I went to JL Mann High School). In college, I sold beer parody t-shirts themed after the different colleges I went to, there were three of those. It was also in college when I helped my dad start a lifestyle apparel brand, called WhatTheFin.
After 8 years of building that brand with my dad, at the end of the summer 2022 I stepped away to spend more time in youth ministry. While balancing ministry work as a middle school Bible teacher, a summer program art teacher, volunteer youth leader, and FCA guest speaker, I worked as a freelancer to help make ends meet. At the beginning of my freelance journey I offered website design, graphic design, photography, and videography. With experience in all of that, I thought “why not?”
As all things typically do, I changed and so did my work. I stopped offering web design and started painting. While I do sell my original paintings and I prints, I do commissioned work as well. To this day, in addition to painting, I still offer graphic design, photo and video.
As far as experience goes, I’ve been painting for 2 years, photographing and filming for 11 years, and have 19 years of graphic design experience under my belt.
If you don’t want to hire me for any of those services but you like my work, I have original paintings, prints, and other products like t-shirts and mugs available with my artwork on them.
Also, feel free to visit my YouTube channel and follow my social media pages where I post a lot of my work, talk about my life and faith, and share my love of fishing and the outdoors.
ABOUT ME
KEATON HINZE
In addition to my work, I enjoy fishing, paddle boarding, being outdoors, playing sports and video games, watching tv, and reading.
In the past few years, fly fishing is how I’ve spent most of my time on the water. Artistically, tying my own flies was a natural, probably predictable progression. When it comes to fish, largemouth bass are my favorite because learning how to catch them made me fall head over heels with fishing. I love the process, the challenge, the anticipation, the bite, the fight, the opportunity to see them and hold them. More than anything I love how the pursuit of fish gives me an excuse to spend time in God’s creation. Living in a world that’s so digitally enthralled, going out on the water is often therapeutic for me.
For sports, soccer is my first love because I spent the first 20 years of my life dedicated to it. I played from the age of 3 at the YMCA all the way into college at the D1 level. Now, in my late twenties, I can honestly say basketball is my favorite to play. Since I began serving as a youth leader I’ve been given the opportunity to play it a lot and I love it. Volleyball is also an honorable mention for me. I grew up playing it on the beach and now I get to play it regularly with the youth group at my church.
When it comes to video games, I’ve always been a Call of Duty guy and I think I always will be. Some other notable favorites for me are, Super Smash Bro’s, Mario Cart, Mortal Kombat, Assassin’s Creed, NBA 2K, and Pokemon.
If I had to pick a favorite movie series, it would be The Lord Of The Rings/The Hobbit. Second would be The Pirates Of The Caribbean. In my college years my favorite TV show was no doubt, Family Guy, but now it would probably have to be The Last Kingdom, Rings Of Power, and definitely The Chosen. An honorable mention series would be the adventure films on YouTube put out by Wild Fly Productions.
For reading, my #1 book is the #1 book in the world, The Bible. Other than that, I mostly read self-help books about topics I think will help me live a better, healthier life. Some of those topics being about how to live out the Christian faith, mental health, physical health, art, business, nature, wildlife, and gardening.
MORE ABOUT ME
AND mY FAM
There are two things in particular I want you to know.
The first thing being that I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe with all my heart He is the Son of God, that He died on the cross to forgive us of our sins, and that He rose from the grave and is today in heaven, interceding on our behalf, and will one day return to claim His bride, the Church, and launch every believer into an eternal life of perfection with Him. In May of 2017, I had an experience with God and gave my life to Jesus. Ever since that day my life turned in a completely different direction and I became a new person. Despite all the challenges that come with being a follower of Jesus and a child of God, choosing to repent of my sins and believe in Him is the best decision I’ve ever made. If I ever get the chance, I would love to tell you the story.
The other thing I want you to know is I'm married to a wonderful, beautiful, and strong woman named Cameron, who has loved me and supported me in ways I didn't know another human could. Fun fact, we were married on September 9, 2019 in Landrum, SC. She's the love of my life and although she doesn’t share my love of fishing, we enjoy many of the same things. We love to go hiking and on breakfast dates. Sometimes I even get to second shoot weddings with her. In our area of the southeast, she is a renowned wedding/portrait photographer and has really helped me hone my skills as a photographer and an entrepreneur. She’s also given me reason to become a better man. Today, we live with our three dogs and two cats in the upstate of South Carolina.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking time to read about me and my business. If there is anyway I can help you, reach out. I would love the opportunity to serve you with the creative gifts the Lord has given me.
Sincerely,
Keaton Hinze
