Paparazzi

Here’s a picture of my Daddy at my recent June show at Avante Art Gallery in Maplewood, taken by the very talented Michael Murphy. I was really proud to have my dear father at my show- like a good father he is always there, has always been there for me no matter what and I am eternally grateful. Raising a wild, imaginative, and distracted child was not easy for Patrick, but he took special care- our bond of love is deep. I often wonder how he conceptualizes the wildly different path I took in life, how his gray eyes see me in the roar of my rock and roll band, the bizarre expressionism of my artwork… his wild one. He’s probably amazed (laughs) that I am still alive and gainfully employed! See more of Mr. Murphy’s pics of the show at my ShawArt.com MySpace site.

Naomi Silver also interviewed me on CutureSurfer.com before the show as well, where I talk to Naomi about my different methods, mediums, and inspirations- check it out HERE. No one else in St. Louis is doing this kind of one-on-one look inside the local St. Louis arts community on video- Great Work, Naomi!

Avante Art owner and director Brett Steen informed me that my sales were the highest there yet! My heartfelt thanks to Brett and everyone that came out to support me!

"No Mercy", framed...

"No Mercy in My Sleep". 2007
oil pastel and acylic on paper, 14 x 20"

I sold "No Mercy in My Sleep" near the end of May, and I finally got around to framing it- you can read about it here... I nearly hesitated in selling it as it was somewhat special to me, but a very important collector asked for it, one I could not say no to. Thank you Rose for always supporting me in all I do!

Change of date for the group showing at Concrete Ocean Gallery

DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL THE DATE FOR THE GROUP SHOWING AT CONCRETE OCEAN GALLERY HAS CHANGED TO FRIDAY, JULY 17TH. The work I saw coming in for it was GREAT, by the way- a solid group of artists you don't want to miss!

A few of my small figurative works on plywood from 2003 will be on display at The Concrete Ocean Gallery for a group show on Friday July 17th. Other artists showing: Justin Cissell, Bryan Pease, Marlene Lewis, Ryan B.Thornburg, Sarah E., Stephanie McNair, Susan Giger, Jen Rogenski, Carlyne Hasten, Henry K. Ptasiewicz, and Jennifer Hayes.

Opening Reception
July 17th, 2009
6:oo P.M.
Concrete Ocean Gallery
2257 S. Jefferson Ave. (at Shenandoah)
St. Louis, MO

Thanks!
CM Shaw

Blossom

“Blossom” is acrylic on paper, a simultaneous homage to my unexpectedly popular and freshly painted collage on canvas “Spring Nocturne No.1”, and inspiration from a scrap of pop music sitting among the cobwebs in the locker of my imagination. I started painting it right before my birthday this past May, and had really begun to slow down a productive streak that began around October 2008. I burned through a few dozen pieces in that eight months, a lot for me, and in a variety of mediums- cut corrugated cardboard works with acrylic, mixed media collages with acrylic on canvas, charcoal drawings washed in acrylic on paper, crayon monotypes on paper… I was on a good run, enjoying what seemed like an endless fountain of energy and productivity, effortlessly wielded.

Then this self-portrait, aged 37, began and I paused to look at myself. I promised myself this year would be a year of forward momentum, if I had to wring it violently from out within or crawl on my hands and knees to make it so. I burned the candle at both ends so often I was left emotionally and physically drained- when you live inside, on top, and underneath your work it can become self destructive in a way that is hard to explain, and harder explain is the sheer enthusiasm of seeing just how far you can go before you break. Stopping here to take a breath I could see something beautiful had happened to me, “…from the wound a lovely flower grew, from somewhere deep inside”. As this deep breath was inhaled, something HAD began to blossom- a maturation of my work, understanding of a buried and previously unattainable handle of it’s sometimes painful urgency, and a new joy in my spirituality and myself. Work began to sell at an unprecedented speed, too, the momentum of demand for it surprising me.

It’s a funny picture, “Blossom”, (laughs) ‘cause I’m a funny lookin’ guy, but it is as honestly sincere as I can be, really. As I had been trying to explain to my buddy Les for the last couple years, I’ve felt as though I am supposed to be doing something with my work, that it should serve the public or mankind or …something, I don’t know… I want to inspire sensitivity to the individual in my work when it is viewed. I watch you all fight about politics, art, religion, money, in-laws, love, and traffic … what if instead we saw each other as divine and precious, irreplaceable? All I have to give you is myself, Children- I have nothing else except you.

Show this Friday, June 19th- Avante Art Gallery

In case you haven't heard, I will be having my first show in over a year this Friday, June 19th. I have been working hard to get things ready, and there should be a nice little crowd there- come celebrate with me. My thanks to gallery owner Brett Steen, my sponsors Schlafly Brewery and Michael Dickens, and local art blogs STL Openings and Art Patrol for posting my event. Thanks also to the incomparable Stefene Russell for posting the show on the St. Louis Magazine online arts blog- really cool! I appreciate it!

Colin Michael Shaw- Assorted Mixed Media Works
Artist Reception Sponsored by Schlafly Brewery
Friday, June 19th from 7 – 10:30 PM
Avante Art Gallery
7225 Manchester Road
Maplewood. MO 63143
Light refreshments will be served.
ALL WORKS WILL BE FOR SALE- WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS.

For whatever reason, I've been selling pretty well PRIOR TO the show, and getting all kinds of phone calls & e-mail inquiries about pieces from my website, shawart.com in the last three weeks ???
I swear to you, I was bagging up "March" for the show when it sold off my Etsy store the other night! Thank you to my recent patrons Jane Reed, Nick & Cate Sanazaro, Rose Weaver, and Shelly Steiger for your generous support of my work- you all have made me a success before opening night.

Two more...

Two more framed pieces for my upcoming June 19th show at Avante Gallery...

"Storm" 2009

"Black Like Sunday" 2009

Newly Framed Work

These are some of my newly framed pieces for my show coming up in June 19th, 2009 at Avante Art Gallery.



These cardboard pieces were inspired by my friend, artist Tony Renner, who suggested back in January a possible future collaborative show of works on cardboard. While this has never really been realized, we both HAVE been working on cardboard since, in our own styles, and I've managed to sell a couple created since the seed was planted. Painted on cut corrugated cardboard, the "January" pieces took on a really different personality when framed in 8-ply mats w/glass over them- like a prehistoric fossil plopped into a museum case- suddenly refined in their presentation.
Thank you, Tony...