King Tide Flooding

Oh water....

Updated more on my website and included these cards I designed for a community outreach event with Enough Pie and Cultivate.  Living on the coast we have seen sea-level rise and need to continually learn about ways to contend with the water, don't think its receding anytime soon, unfortunately.

If you want a printed version of the card contact me.

SOLACE SUMMER

Some tidbits from my current show SOLACE on view at Mitchell Hill Gallery, Charleston, SC.

sol·ace

ˈsäləs

noun

1.

comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness.

synonyms: comfort, consolation, cheer, support, relief

verb

1.

give solace to.

synonyms: comfort, console, cheer, support, soothe, calm

Mother and Child Jasmine, 11" x 14", acrylic on wood

Childhood, 16" x 20", acrylic on wood

Anthropology, especially the aspect of the symbols we use to express, describe, communicate our human existence has been a foundational spark for past paintings and continues in this series. 

I try to stay educated about what is going on in the world which tends to lead to anxiety and sadness but also a questioning of my role as a responsible human and specifically an artist.  

There are artists creating poignant activist pieces addressing important, big issues, unfortunately my talents have not given way to such cleverness so I have to find what does fit within my voice to do my part.

Here I am with "Solace"; choosing to look at personal and wider cultural symbols that may give some comfort, cheer –solace, to viewers as they gave me a bit of a respite in painting them. Guilty pleasure or not, can't art just sometimes be about a piece of happy magic in the maelstrom?

Rose Violin Mother and Child, 16" x 20", acrylic on wood

Pansy Rain, 12" x 16" acrylic on wood

Cupid Bear, 11" x 14", acrylic on wood
Limited edition prints of “Cupid Bear” are available with proceeds going to HEART Artist Guild and Theatre Company https://www.heartsc.org/ 

Summer Halos

Recent Water Halo commissions....

Water Halos Dusk, 20" x 60", acrylic on wood

Water Halos Siesta, 20" x 60", acrylic on wood

Water Halos Summertide, 20" x 60", acrylic on wood

and pet portraits....

Bear Cat's Magical Tea Party

Colby and Murphy, Colorado Dream

King Tai and Queen Sasha

Happy SUMMER!!

spring Spring spring

The wind is still blowing a chill from the water, but the sun is out! Spring is on the mind....
2 little Carolina Wrens with blossoms and Magnolia Octopus. Magnolias won't be blooming for a little while yet, but wanted a flower in tentacles and thought the magnolia blossom fit.

Anniversary at Artist and Craftsman

I'll have my paintings at the upper King Street Artist & Craftsman 10-6 Sunday for their Anniversary Celebration.  Live music, kid's activities and ART!!

Culling Art and Abstracts

Finally built a new website for my artwork: 

ShimkoArt.com 

Culled the art on the old site making way for some fresh paintings.

I'm known more for my "representational" paintings; birds and other animals in surrealistic settings.

Illuminate/Extinguish, 4" x 12", acrylic on canvas

Lately exploring another language via "abstract" painting has been on the top of my studio list.

Aqua Portal I, 30" x 30", acrylic on canvas

Aqua Portal II, 30" x 30", acrylic on canvas

Aqua Portal III, 30" x 30", acrylic on canvas

Artist Statement:

These paintings are my attempt at describing and celebrating the landscapes of the Low Country without the usual language of representational painting.

Within these works are my meditations of the  aquatic world and the edges of land to the  water, constantly changing with tides, various organisms big and small and accentuating the range of colors found both up close and seen at the landscapes' distance.

The act of painting, especially with the repetition of circular forms, is also a meditative process much like the personal solace of being by the water.

These paintings are not meant to be an illustration of Low Country landscapes, but portals of my experience/feeling of the meandering waterways and the energy of the many organisms that call it home. Using vivid and varying colors found in nature but released on my canvases, re-arranged in a more abstract way, moving away from the usual landscape schemas each viewer is welcome to conjure their own stories.

Air and Water I
15" x 36"
acrylic on canvas

Air and Water II
12" x 24"
acrylic on canvas

Gift Time

Having fun painting lil' pieces for holiday gift giving. Check out my website ShimkoArt.com and Mitchell Hill Gallery.   This work will be featured on December 11th at Mitchell Hill Gallery for the "Popcorn Garland" event, 6-9pm.