Entering the Mind of the True Artista
By: Shannon Stevely

So I've known this girl for about five years. She is the most complex bundle of personalities that I have ever met. She can be one of the sweetest people you could ever talk to, she has an absolutely sick since of humor, she has a pretty bad temper, she cusses a lot, if you hurt her she forgets that your alive, if you treat her as a true friend she will never forget you. This friend of mine also happens to be an artist. When I first learned this I asked if she was any good. Her response was, 'Of course I'm good. I don't waste time doing things that I'm not good at.' "Damn, what an ego', I thought. That was until I actually saw one of her paintings. It wasn't her ego, it was the truth. She really is good. She actually is excellent. Her paintings are among some of the best art that I have ever seen and when you know her, when you have some hint of where she is coming from when she creates these works of art, the entire beautiful, hopefully cynical package is made much more fascinating. I just had to find a way to let everyone in on these secrets that are only known by those closest to her. So, I persuaded her to sit and talk with me about her art so that I could put it all down for posterity and for all those fans that I am sure she will gather as she becomes more known.

SS: How old were you when you started painting or first realized that you wanted to paint?
JSY: I honestly don't remember ever making the decision to paint or do the artistic things that I did as a child. Both my mother and grandmother are painters and the resources were always available to me. Also, according to them, I can do no wrong so I never really questioned my ability to do these things. I went through a phase in high school of wanting to be impressive in a way that was generally accepted by society and talked a lot about being a psychiatrist. My first semester of college taught me that I really didn't want to do that. All of a sudden, I thought, 'I know what I am'.a painter.' So I decided to major in art. I've balked at the lifestyle on occasions since then but I feel that I am truly over that now.

SS: Where does your inspiration come from?
JSY: People. They are the loveliest things in creation. They absolutely fascinate me. My husband says that I hardly ever pay attention to my surroundings or the people in it. I'm aware of more than I appear to be aware of. I just don't always acknowledge it. I am totally mesmerized by man's ability to feel one way but portray something else. Sometimes, I feel like my vision pauses on a look or an expression that was just so beautiful. I sometimes wonder how I appear to others when I do that. It probably pretty weird, I think I probably get a glazed look that may be kind of creepy but oh well, I don't care, it's just something I do.

SS: How much time do you spend on each painting?
JSY: That really depends. None of them go very quickly. I am not a hasty painter. I like to spend time with my subject. I'll paint what I call a sketch and then I'll let it sit for a little bit to really study the mood of the figure. I like to let the subjects determine the mood of a painting. So, obviously, this can take a little bit. I also am very fond of layering paint and I like to let the paint settle before I will add the next layer. For the most part, a painting can take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks.

SS: How does your family feel about it?
JSY: About what?

SS:About the amount of time spent painting. Does it bother them, or are they supportive?
JSY: They are very supportive. Especially for a husband who can not get enough of his wife and a fifteen year old that actually likes to hang out with her stepmother, they do incredibly well. Then we have a problem with me feeling left out of whatever they go do while I am painting. But it all works out.

SS: How do you see your future in the art world?
JSY: I'm actually fairly confident that it is going to go well. I may be completely dreaming but I totally expect to be able to quit my day job. Not that I don't love my day job because I do. It's just that I am an artist through and through. I am meant for that life. I am supposed to be in my studio every day, covered in paint, forgetting what time it is. Life has gotten in the way of that somewhat but I am rectifying that.

SS: What has been your biggest accomplishment in the art world?
JSY: There was a brief period in my early twenties when I had a few art dealers hanging around my studio, trying to buy unfinished paintings and whatnot. I sold practically every painting that I did at that time. My ego was just too big, not that it isn't now. I simply took it for granted that I had a following. I just assumed that it would always be that way. I took no names, addresses, or numbers. I just expected them to find me. Looking back on it, I really enjoyed the feeling of knowing that I was creating these items that people were wanting enough to try and beat each other to the next one. That was exciting. I liked having fans. Ha.

SS: Where do you want your career in art to take you?
JSY: Basically, everywhere. I want to design album covers really bad. I would love to get into that. I just love music so much. I basically want the world to be at my feet. I want to be able to do whatever I want. I want financial independence, I want travel, I want cars. I am so freaking materialistic it is not funny. But oh well'you asked. I expect my art to open a lot of doors for me and my family.

SS: What do you think your paintings say about you and is that what you want them to say about you?
JSY: I think that my paintings show that I am an observant person that sees beauty in a lot of areas. I am afraid that with the current collection, Necropolis, that people may think that I am morbid. I am not trying to communicate anything morbid by painting cemetery monuments. I am actually trying to express my fascination with moving on and reformation. I think that when a husband erects an angel on his wife's grave that he is communicating his knowledge that her soul still exists in a more beautiful form. She has evolved. We are all evolving every day. At least I hope we are. I believe in overcoming sadness and fear and embracing bravery and unquestioning self awareness. That is what I want the paintings to say. But a painting can say anything that you want it to really. A really good question would be, 'What do YOU think the paintings say about me?'

SS: Me?
JSY: Yeah.

SS:I think they say you're morbid. No, seriously, I think they are very positive and hopeful, and a little sad. It's a great paradox.
JSY: Exactly what I was going for.

SS: What artists do you find inspire you?
JSY: I really like Van Gogh although I paint nothing like him. I just like how painting was his life. He was willing to give up anything for it. Obviously, I don't want to cut off my ear but , hey, I admire those that are willing to go crazy over something. I also really like Jackson Pollock, I just think his paintings are so unexpected in the way that they actually communicate a feeling if you look at them hard enough. I also really love the storytelling in Norman Rockwell paintings.

SS: Would you ever want your paintings to be commercially reproduced?
JSY: I would love nothing more than to see a painting of mine on like 3 billion My Chemical Romance covers. That would be badass. Would I want my paintings to be bought by Home Interiors? Absolutely effing not, I would rather starve.

SS: Do you have ideas in mind for your next several collections, do you plan that far ahead?
JSY: I am always planning ahead. I was thinking of my next collection while I was working on this one. I have like the next three planned out. It may change though. I can't help what pops into my head when I am half asleep.

SS:Have you ever started out with an idea that just didn't work out as you'd planned?
JSY:Oh, absolutely. Especially when I am trying to be too mainstream. That is just part of it though. You keep toying with ideas until it actually begins to feel like THIS could be the collection that makes you famous. Which is totally going to happen one day I just need to convince everyone else.

SS: Speaking of your current collection, what made you choose cemetery monuments?
JSY: It started a long time ago when I was hanging out in cemeteries a lot. I visited one particular cemetery to visit a friend pretty frequently. Then, I realized what peaceful and non judgmental places they are. Eventually, being in cemeteries and looking at the monuments helped me to see that death was not sad or scary. It just is. But guess what? None of the screw ups or sins of your every day life really matters. It all comes down to whether you can admit your mistakes and learn from them or not. If you could muster up the dignity to apologize for something that you did wrong or not. The whole thing is just this wonderful beautiful mess called living. I visit cemeteries to remind myself that I am alive and that I shouldn't waste time being something that I am not. I am totally aware that I am rambling but what can I say, there are a million reasons to love cemeteries. I could go on all day.

SS: Were you pleased with the response to the collection?
JSY: I actually was. The reception was so much fun and I really enjoyed hearing what people had to say about the paintings. I don't really expect anyone to come up and tell me that I suck but people genuinely seemed to like them. I naively expected the place to sell out. Huge ego strikes again. But I know that they will find homes eventually.

SS: Do you have a favorite or a least favorite?
JSY: My absolute favorite is Into the Blue. She looks so brave and victorious. I love it. She is saying exactly what she was meant to say. I do have a least favorite but I already feel bad enough for having a favorite so I won't go so far as to single that unfortunate painting out. That's mean.

SS: When can we expect your next series?
JSY: Probably toward the end of this year or early next. This series will require props so it may take a little longer.

SS: What is it about?
JSY: I can't say what it is exactly because I don't want to give it away. I've decided that I need to be more mysterious. I will say that it is about showing emotions that may not match exactly what you are feeling or maybe sometimes they do. The next series will explore the complex beings that humans are.

SS: Where did the idea come from?
JSY: From the depths of my own crazy mind. No seriously something did inspire the idea but if I said exactly what it was it will give it away. I will however give a clue; David Bowie.