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.

Gift Menagerie Coming

Halloween is still on its way, but I'm painting ahead of time for the holiday gift season fast approaching. Here are a few samples of the menagerie to come....

Panda Yellow, 3" x 9", acrylic on canvas

Tulip Bear, 3" x 9", acrylic on canvas

Panda Red Balloon, 3" x 9", acrylic on canvas

Blue Jay Halo, 4" x 4", acrylic on canvas

Song Sparrow Halo, 4" x 4", acrylic on canvas

Gold Goblet Crow, 4" x 4", acrylic on canvas

Coffee Crow, 4" x 4", acrylic on canvas

 These are all small and affordable!

Drawn to Water Paintings

Struggling to articulate, in words, all the environmental conservation issues behind these paintings for "Drawn to Water" at Mitchell Hill Gallery due to open next Friday August 28th, with a reception 6-9pm.   While I orchestrate the written language, here are a few more visuals for the show:

Drawn to Water approaches

The August 28th opening date is fast approaching as I enjoy painting painting painting for Drawn to Water, a collaborative show with Trever Webster, Hirona Matsuda and myself.

 Here are a few paintings I've created....