“I painted an entire series about my black Labrador Retriever, Hank, who was stolen in 1995. I was just beginning my graduate studies at the University of Oklahoma, where we had to select a style or theme around which to build an entire two-and-a-half years of work. This was such a difficult task, because, as you probably know, artists sometimes get blocked and change direction. It took me at least a month of floundering and searching, only to realize that I just had to look within and paint about how I felt over the loss of my darling dog. After I graduated, I still found myself painting Hank - for quite some time. These paintings have been hugely successful sellers (everybody loves a Lab!), but after a while, I ventured into abstract, only to eventually come back to the paintings of circus-inspired animals and wild-looking people."
“Some artists gain inspiration from nature, their surroundings, day-to-day life, sadness and sorrows, pain and depression, happiness and love. For me, it is life experiences, music, nature and the circus. I just love the circus! So... it's natural for me to want to express that kind of passion in the best way that I know how - visually, on a canvas. In every painting I create, there is a little piece of me and the way my mind works.”
“For most artists, their work expresses what they are feeling - or seeing - or hearing. Consequently in each and every piece of art you possess, you also have a part of that artist with you. Therefore, in order for you to have full appreciation of your art acquisitions, I'm sure you will agree it's important to take the time to meet your local artists, ask them questions about the piece you admire, and get to know the story behind it. As a result, when your friends make comments on your choice of art, you will be in a position to discuss it in depth.”
de Shan's most recent abstract paintings deal with exploring the nature of paint, asphalt and texture application on wood panels. They beg for further exploration beneath the layers: within the paint strokes lie text in hand-written journal entries of a stream-of-consciousness nature; scratch marks by various tools and sharp objects; or a glossy opaque colour in between transparent strokes.
