Shawn Sullivan
“My paintings are composed with thrift shop objects, toys, stuffed animals, old frames, anything that can be used to illustrate the concept I have in mind.”
Shawn Sullivan (b.1957) is a representational painter, originally from Sacramento, California, he currently resides in Long Island, New York. He attended Pratt Institute, Long Island University, and Brooklyn college where he received his Masters In Fine Art degree. His work is in many private collections, notably the Salmagundi Club’s permanent collection.
Q&A
How has the pandemic affected your artwork and practices? It hasn’t had much impact on my art practices. I spent many hours alone in my studio, and I continue to do so. It has however, had an effect on some of the themes or concepts that I use. Whereas, I previously concentrated on humorous or whimsical themes, I now include some darker concepts as well.
What medium do you use for your studies and how does that translate to paint? My studies are small sketches made in ballpoint pen or pencil, or whatever’s at hand. When I get a flash of inspiration, I quickly draw out the concept. I have learned that these images can disappear as quickly as they come. Even an indecipherable little scribble is enough to bring me immediately back to that initial inspiration. The painting is an attempt to keep the freshness of that idea that I jotted down as the anchor for the final piece.
What role does your artwork have in society? The number one use of a painting is to decorate a wall in somebody’s house. However, a good painting can have some of the characteristics of a great novel. You can read it again and find something new each time. That is the best that I can hope for.
What turns has your art career taken? I spent many years submitting my work to galleries and juried exhibitions and getting routinely rejected. When I stopped listening to that negative voice in my head and started painting those ideas that I thought no one would ever approve of, I was surprised to see that suddenly I was getting into art exhibits and having the art career that I had been striving for.
Affiliations
Salmagundi Club
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Signature Member
Oil Painters of America
International Guild of Realism
