Artist Statement:
I believe there are many kinds of art and artists. Art has always been part of my life, though I have never called myself an artist. My first job after moving to Olympia in 1975, was as a floral designer, which I did off and on all through college at Evergreen. From 1981 thru 1985 I owned a Gallery/Cafe in Olympia called Smithfield Cafe. We had different artists each month, along with poetry readings and music. I mostly painted with watercolors throughout my life and in the early nineties began making clay beads and jewelry, mostly earrings, which I sold on consignment and at craft fairs. I also went into designing gardens for myself and others around that time and later got into painting with acrylics on vases and boxes and canvas for friends and family. I continued like this until about 6 years ago, when I hit a very dry period creatively.
Then, last year, my niece turned me on to acrylic paint pouring and it sparked me. I love the process, it's elemental, energetic and expressive. In each painting I discover a new universe. This works for me, as I have spent the last 33 years in the healing arts, the last 26 years as an acupuncturist. My life has been devoted to working with elemental energies in people, to achieve Balance and harmony, which helps us to live healthier and happier lives. Taking this process to this new method of painting has been liberating and life changing. Each piece I work on is a journey: it's emotional, spiritual, edifying. It has been transformative, and in that sense, I guess, is my artist statement: My art is about transformation and creation. I take the elements, which are the paints and mediums, and find the life and creative expression that is arising from their meeting the canvas, and with tools and other forms of manipulation, I find balance and harmony and, hopefully, beauty. Beauty being the result of finding that point where the elements arise and harmony and balance are achieved.
For more information email galleryofoceanshores@gmail.com or contact Shannon directly at elementsarise@hotmail.com