Shawn OB次元官网网址橩eefe is a graphic design artist from Maple Bay with a fondness for the Group of Seven and a fascination for the natural wonders of Vancouver Island and beyond.
Coming out of high school, OB次元官网网址橩eefe knew he wanted to pursue visual art. His Saskatchewan-born father steered him toward design work to ensure he would not become an artist selling prints out of a van.
From 1990 to 1994, OB次元官网网址橩eefe did an applied arts diploma at Vancouver Island University, formerly Malaspina University College. With his girlfriend in the baccalaureate of science and nursing at Camosun College and UVic, OB次元官网网址橩eefe decided to relocate from the Cowichan Valley to Victoria. He found work at a silk-screening shop and, during his 10 years there, learned how to screen print.
OB次元官网网址橩eefe went on to become a freelance graphic artist and illustrator, a highlight from which has been designing logos for the Great Canadian Beer Festival. He later connected with Matt Phillips around 2001 and crafted the first logo designs for the new Phillips Brewery.
OB次元官网网址橩eefe is a freelance clothing design artist as well, working for friends and magazines in California and, over several decades as an artist, has also produced album art, gig posters, graphics for the surf and skate industries, magazine illustrations and various other beer label designs. This has been a long span of immense development and diversification for OB次元官网网址橩eefe, who was originally just a pen and paper illustrator.
He went on to form Woodpile Collective in 2003 with good friends Blythe Hailey and Sean McLaughlin. OB次元官网网址橩eefe described their collaborative work as B次元官网网址渁 mix of graffiti, abstraction and surrealism that results from unplanned expression and another artistB次元官网网址檚 reaction to it.B次元官网网址�
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OB次元官网网址橩eefe left for Ontario four years ago to see a childhood friend in Barrie, visiting many of the Group of SevenB次元官网网址檚 famous drawing and painting sites around Algonquin Park and Georgian Bay to find inspiration for his own work.
B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� I usually let the scene in front of me dictate how I represent it. The landscape will inspire, and through that inspiration, the process becomes apparent.B次元官网网址�
Especially for his work on Vancouver Island, OB次元官网网址橩eefe has found much joy in walking along the many forest trails, often taking mental snapshots of the stunning landscapes he comes across to use for later.
B次元官网网址淚 always find that working out there gives you a better painting in the end. ThereB次元官网网址檚 something about working strictly just from a photo that you lose something from it.B次元官网网址�
Favouring contemporary work in his younger days, OB次元官网网址橩eefe initially pursued cartooning, graffiti and street art. But, as he later began to engage with the visual wonders of Vancouver Island, something changed for him.
B次元官网网址淚 found myself fumbling through the process with little formal training, and in creating my process organically I began to find some success B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址�
In particular, OB次元官网网址橩eefe found his creative process and work have a lot in common with that of the late Tom Thomson from the Group of Seven. He was also pleased to learn that the Group of Seven had come at large from graphic design backgrounds as well, with some members having collaborated at Grip Ltd.
OB次元官网网址橩eefe said each member of the Group of Seven inspires him differently, and his interest in each changes as he develops his own process and undergoes his own phases of artistic transformation.
B次元官网网址淚 suppose IB次元官网网址檓 both a fan and feel a kinship [to the Group of Seven] as I continue to discover similar painted conversations with the land.B次元官网网址�
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OB次元官网网址橩eefe felt deeply honoured to be nominated for the award and recognized for his craft in a city he deemed B次元官网网址渞ich with artistic talent.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 suppose the nomination suggests that a prolific art career will eventually shine some light on your body of work and itB次元官网网址檚 much appreciated.B次元官网网址�
Now married and the father of two kids, OB次元官网网址橩eefe said he looks forward to B次元官网网址渢he continued pursuit of becoming a better artist.B次元官网网址�
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