Shelby 4 Painting

For me the essence of art is the exploration of fundamental issues of our time. My work focuses on victims, witnesses and survivors of opioid/substance use and the stigma which inhibits prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery. My large portraits start with an ambiguous expression, shared gaze and uncertain context calculated to provoke you into creating the narrative. I begin with a live model and then work from reference photographs. I suggest certain features and realistically detail others. I use a limited pallet of acrylic paint along with metallic and iridescent colors that produce changing patterns with changes in lighting and view angle. Working freely, I drip, brush, pour, scrub and scape paint while applying a variety of lines, dots and other adjustments. I often paint multi-views or facial features slightly out of alignment or vaguely different expressions for each side of the face. These variations might make my images appear more real as time, half remembered memories, and prior experiences affect your perception.