Meet our May Artist of the Month, Shawn Wallace. His work is now hanging at Rivertown Coffee Co. in downtown Florence. Stop by and check it out!
Tell us a little about yourself...
I was born and rasied in the central Appalachian region of Virginia. I have been painting for 17 years. I started out as a sign painter but always made paintings for myself or family members. I started preaching the gospel in 2003 and I moved to Alabama in 2004 to preach for the Church of Christ that meets in Phil Campbell. I attend the Memphis College of Art and will be a graduate with a BFA in painting in May.
What materials do you use in your art? (and why?)
Most of my art is made using acrylic paint on found objects (mostly wood). I think the found objects lend themselves to the folk art aesthetic in my work and they also have a redemptive quality about them that I, as a Christian appreciate. I use collage from old magazines and books. I take anything people give me and I enjoy seeing what I can make from it.
Describe your artistic style and/or approach.
My style of work is very hard to label and I really would rather not label it. Some people have called it Visionary, some Surreal, others call me a Regionalist. I just like to call it my own. My approach to painting is drawn from my unique life experiences growing up in the rural mountains of Virginia. The people, the landscape, all of it is one of the most peculiar and well preserved American cultures that still exist today that hasn't been dissolved in the proverbial melting pot of the U.S. My work is heavily story driven and reads very much like an illustration. I sketch and think a lot before I ever put brush to canvas.
What influences your art?
My life experiences and religious convictions are the two biggest influences on my work. Artists that have influenced me are Andrew Wyeth, Thomas Hart Benton, N.C. Wyeth, Mark Ryden and Red Grooms. I draw inspiration from the works of these painters, though most are very far from one another in style. It's their subject matter and honesty I relate to. I also draw influence from music, specifically that of The Avett Brothers and traditional mountain music.
What do you want the viewer to take away from your art?
That not all crazy looking paintings are crazy.
What do you do when you're not making art?
I study the Bible, history and read every day. I enjoy spending time with my wife and dogs. I also enjoy architecture and seeing the country. I watch documentaries, the stranger the better and enjoy exploring new places. I collect old books and shop at thrift stores. I attend several folk art shows and when I get the opportunity I like to spend time with other artists or be alone. I find being alone a necessity for turning out a lot of work.
