August: Year One Painting

Billie Dean Shoemate III is a self-taught artist living and working in western Kentucky. A musician and media producer, he didn’t start painting until his late 30s—but when he did, it hit with the force of something long overdue. His work dives headfirst into themes of isolation, memory, trauma, and emotional extremes, using heavy textures, stark contrasts, and a refusal to play it safe. Whether abstract or surreal, each piece carries a raw, unfiltered intensity. From his inky, immersive Blackout series to the offbeat and surreal Mushroom Soup collection, Billie paints with instinct over polish, grit over gloss. He doesn’t chase trends or approval—he paints what demands to be painted. Every work is a moment, captured honestly and without compromise.