Shannyn Strebe

A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE ARTIST

1. What do you do when you’re not making art? (Day job etc...).

When I'm not making art, I'm thinking about making art... at my day job where I sell balloons. I also enjoy writing and photography, and fancy myself to be a pretty good cook.

2. Why do you make art?

Painting is kind of a meditative practice for me. I started painting during a hard time in my life. It was the first (and only) thing that stopped my racing thoughts and pulled me from the darkness. It is such a cathartic experience for me - the world disappears and there is only color.

3. What inspires you?

I am inspired by Nature, by other art, and by so many things that could be art: the colors of sunset, shadows and light, movement... and the stillness that follows, a barren landscape destroyed by fire, a field of flowers, a single shoe left by the roadside, the splatter of blood on a wall. Inspiration is everywhere.

4. What/who are your influences?

This is a difficult question. I have learned a great deal from people. I am inspired by some people. I admire some people. But, I wouldn't say that any of those people necessarily have or had any influence on me or on my art. I learned a little about painting from Bob Ross and various artists on YouTube (Mollymakesart is the only one I recall). I admire the art of Monet, Van Gogh, O'Keefe, Dali, Khalo, Hopper, and a million more. I am more inspired by Nature and the colors around me than of other people or other art. If anyone or anything has inspired me, it would be AURORA, whose music gives me strength and courage to share my art.

5. If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?

I want to meet AURORA. It's on my bucket list. I've never been one to be enamored with famous people, but I'm truly struck by her, by her music, by her incredible energy.