Today we’d like to introduce you to Shan Richards.
Shan, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
For as long as I can remember I’ve been an artist. I didn’t quite know what an ‘artist’ was, just that I always had the desire to draw, paint, and be creative in one way or another. My mother was an amazing artist, before she devoted her life to me and my four siblings. I used to spend hours going through her portfolio of drawings and paintings wishing I could draw just like her. I was known as a bit of a daydreamer! In my early childhood years, I was late to school every day. I had no concept of time, as I was so fascinated by nature, and the beautiful blooming flowers on my path. I’d be caught by my neighbor dawdling, picking flowers, who would have to drive me the rest of the way to make sure I made it to school! Not much has changed as an adult. To travel with me, means you either must hide my camera, or be prepared to completely loose me for as long as I’m out and about! Wherever I go, I am incredibly inspired and fascinated by cultures, people, and the beauty in diverse landscapes, which is reflected in my works. The path to be an artist has been a very interesting, and incredibly rewarding journey so far. In fact, I did not choose this as a career, as it’s an extremely difficult path to follow and hard to financially support yourself. I always painted alongside of whatever I was doing, commissions here & there, however, it took second precedence to my career at that time. It wasn’t until recently that I decided to take a few months off to prioritize art and produce my first solo show. At this point I realized my primary desire was to be an artist, so made the (daunting) shift to become a full-time artist (with work on the side!). It’s a bizarre feeling looking back, as I never thought I could do this, and now I can’t imagine life any other way. I can see how much my art has evolved since I’ve made this shift, and how far I would like to go with it, which is very exciting.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Primarily, I am a painter, focusing in oils on canvas. I have spent many years exploring all different creative paths including photography, fashion and couture design, experimenting with these techniques together to draw inspiration and create my artworks. I literally live and breathe art! As I write this, I’m at home surrounded by my paintings, tubes of paint, paintbrushes etc. everywhere. While I do have an art studio, I think I subconsciously deliberately do this as my place would not feel like home otherwise! I can’t explain why I create, it’s just something that I’ve naturally done for as long as I can remember. I love colour! As you’ll see, colour is a defining characteristic in my work. My current series focus on an intricate weaving of elements; movement, form, colour and depth, creating a multidimensional space that can be interpreted in a variety of ways. They explore a concept of “fabrication”, inspired by my love of fabric draping, harmonious, uplifting, saturated colours, and beautiful, exotic landscapes and cultures. My fascination with the concept of manipulating fabrics into intricate 3D pleated “sculptural” designs, has taken my work into a direction which explores the relationship between the techniques of draping with painting to create depths of illusions. Drawing on this concept, I experiment with the deconstruction of 3D forms back into a 2D painting, creating these graceful ‘fabricated’ illusions, heightening the effect by applying rich vivid colours. Combining these elements, they create a labyrinth of ideas with the intention of provoking a deeply thoughtful, personal connection. I strive to produce unique thought provoking paintings that create an awareness of the beauty of all that surrounds us, leaving the viewer feeling invigorated and uplifted, while revealing a world or an idea that may have once been closed off to them. “Lend me your eyes I can change what you see” (Mumford and Sons, “Awake my Soul”)
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
Artists have an amazing ability to comment on, or ignite a conversation around global events, by challenging and engaging an audience with the power of an emotional connection, which otherwise cannot be achieved by other forms of communication. If anything, I think the role of an artist has become more powerful with the avenues of social media, making it possible to share real time thought provocative responses to current events on a global scale. I love to reflect on the beauty that surrounds us and use colour to stimulate positive emotions. So many global issues can be quite overwhelming and disheartening at times. My work endeavors to remind people of the beauty that our world has to offer, one worth preserving, while providing a sense of escapism, and having a positive impact on health and well-being.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Instagram is my main outlet: @Shanyrichstudio. I post up shots of works in progress to show my process and the behind the scenes journey inside the studio. I also post about my exhibitions, my most recent being in Tokyo, Japan, and an upcoming one in Melbourne, Australia this August/September. You can follow me here to find out more! I really enjoy and appreciate people’s comments and reactions to my work, so please feel free to comment or ask any questions! I also have a website and Facebook page, with more information about me. Follow, share, comment, like, are all great ways to support my work!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shanrichards.com.au
- Email: shan@shanrichards.com.au
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanyrichstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shanyrichart
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