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Artist Statement
My art is inspired by my love of nature and it is the result of my need to share that love with others. I also love using my art to spread education and awareness for issues that are near and dear to my heart. My passion for the need to conserve our planet and the Animal Kingdom shines through my collections. I have had no training as an artist or photographer (I don't even have Photoshop), and have had very little public exposure. I am learning to call myself an artist without feeling like an imposter. I am learning not to compare myself with others. I am a hot mess and I am learning to accept and embrace that. Ask me what my favorite anything is, and you'll quickly learn that I can't give a definitive answer. I am always seeking, always searching, always undecided; honing my passions and my preferences, as well as my skills. So I suppose what sets my style apart from other artists is my apparent lack thereof. I love acrylic pouring. I also love working with archival ink and watercolors. And I love working with oils and acrylics. I am also obsessed with photographing everything that strikes me. Allying myself to one style feels as limiting as defining myself with only one aspect of my life. I am a multifaceted person who can't bear to choose one passion over the other, and as such, I am a multifaceted artist who can't bear to abandon one style for another. Art imitates life, right? My inability to fit into a single box in my actual life reflects equally in my life as an artist.
Artist Bio
Art has always been a part of who I am; I have been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil and along the way I've picked up painting and photography. I have never had so much as an art class. My formal education has nothing to do with art; after completing an AA in Natural Sciences at San Joaquin Delta College, I received my BA in English from California State University, Stanislaus. Shortly thereafter I enrolled in Animal Behavior College and became a certified dog trainer in order to supplement my long-time job managing a no-kill, nonprofit animal shelter. When my life took a sudden and devastating turn, I had to leave my job at the shelter and essentially start over. I am now prioritizing the things that make me happy and am pursuing a new life. I recently completed UC Berkeley's Professional Sequence in Editing in hopes of making a career doing copyediting work, and I got a new day job to pay the bills in the meantime. I am taking my art off of the back burner and am making it a priority. My style continues to grow and evolve as I am alway eager to learn new methods and try new things. I am an artist, an aspiring editor and writer, a dog-mom, a rock climber, a nature enthusiast, and I happen to have EDS and POTS. Art is my outlet and I love sharing it with others.
Why the Zebra?
Medical students are taught, "when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras" because if something looks like a cold and sounds like a cold, it's probably just a cold. And most of the time, that is true. But doctors are essentially taught to ignore the possibility of a "rare" (i.e. zebra) condition. But just because a zebra isn't as commonplace as a horse, it does not mean you'll never come across one. I am a medical zebra, bearing chronic illnesses that most doctors know little about and struggle to pronounce: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a form of Dysautonomia. EDS is a genetic connective tissue disorder broken into several types and subtypes that involve the production of faulty collagen proteins. Joints that sublux and dislocate easily, stretchy, fragile skin, and chronic pain are the main unifying characteristics. Intensity can range from mild to debilitating and deadly. POTS involves autonomic nervous system dysfunction and is commonly characterized by tachycardia, dizziness, blood pressure issues, digestive issues, headaches, fatigue, and more. If this page can spread even an iota of awareness for these chronic conditions then I am a happy zebra! Check out the links provided below to learn more!
Thanks for stopping by!
Shannon
