Friday the 13th of October Show, Cuba Fest Oct. 21-22, New G.H.O.S.T. Agent Books

 

I’m showing with several other artists on Friday the 13th at Bake The Studio for “The Character of Horror: What Is Beautifully Scary?” I’ll have copies of my Spring/Summer 2023 Night Watchman Sketchbook, matted prints of new horror drawings, and a couple framed pieces that sold a week before the show- those can be reordered through Bake The Studio.

If that’s not enough fun, VERY LIMITED STOCK of G.H.O.S.T. Agents: Crimson Reckoning arrived from publisher Cosmic Lion Productions and will also be available Friday the 13th Bake The Studio -Officially, my first published work in comics- in 9 x 13” Treasury Edition format, nonetheless! Thanks to writer Rocko Jerome for hiring me for the two full-page pinups I contributed! See more at ghostagents.net

And finally, I’ll be selling my Eichelmann’s Bakery poster, G.H.O.S.T. Agents: Crimson Reckoning books, and Night Watchman Sketchbooks at Fall Fest in my hometown of Cuba, MO on Saturday/Sunday Oct 21s/22nd at Cuba Fest in Recklein Auditorium from 10:00am - 3:00pm

 #smallbeginnings #spyfi #smallpresscomics #minicomics #scificomics #TheNightWatchman#visualstorytelling #supportindiecomics #indiecomics #ghostagents #comicbookhistory #CosmicLionProductions #horrorcomics #halloween

Gallery Event Sept. 30th

Gallery Event- Sept. 30th 6 - 9 pm

Bake The Studio

119 E. Saint Louis St.

Pacific, MO 63069

Group Show, Sat. Nov. 21st- Norton's Fine Art

I'll be participating in the Smaller Is Better group show at Norton's Fine Art again this year, on Saturday evening, Nov. 21st, from 5-8 P.M. Three new paintings are getting the finishing touches as we speak, the process of which I'm enjoying immensely. Here's a sneak peek at one in progress that's getting a lot of good feedback, "Healer", 12 x 12" acrylic on plywood...

Smaller Is Better
Nov. 21st, from 5-8 P.M.
Norton's Fine Art
2025 S. Big Bend, between Manchester/HWY 100 & HWY 40/64
St. Louis, MO  63117
314-645-4040

Smaller Is Better Showing at Norton's Fine Art

I have three figurative pieces in the 2014 Holiday Show "Smaller Is Better" at Norton's Fine Art on Nov. 22nd. I was surprised to win the Bruce Zuckerman Memorial Award last year, and had a nice time enjoying the other artists' work. Please join us from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. for the opening reception! Full of small, affordable pieces of a wide variety of art, this group show may be your chance to find that special something for the holidays that no one else will be giving...

ABOVE: Finishing up Untitled, 2014 for the Smaller Is Better Show

11 x 14", acrylic on masonite

Concrete Ocean 5th Year Anniversary Exhibit

 

I can't say enough good things about my years of working with Bryan Pease at Concrete Ocean, from my inclusion in his group showings, to my two-man shows with fellow artists Jeff Sass and Dale Wilke. Bryan is a tireless defender and promoter of the working class St. Louis artist, and extremely talented artist in his own right. Please come celebrate with us all this Friday:

Concrete Ocean 5th Year Anniversary Exhibit
Friday, Oct. 10th  7-11 P.M.
2257/2259 S. Jefferson Ave @ Shenandoah
St. Louis, MO

Her Night

"Her Night"  2013
11 x 14"
acrylic, mixed media collage on masonite

I actually finished work on this a year ago, along with a couple other mixed media collages on masonite I was working on simultaneously, before stopping to paint a few acrylics on paper. Collaging matboard and magazine scraps onto my paintings began many years ago, and is a process I always seem to come back to- using found element always creates a surprise in results I don't achieve in the same way when drawing or painting with convention media. The female in tight gold dress was the catalyst for the implied narrative, finding the houses at sunset and extravagant chandelier scraps thereafter to furnish the setting. Her hipshot stance frames the doorway, confidently announcing the evening to come belongs to her.

This collage won the Bruce Zuckerman Memorial juror's cash award at last weekend's Size Matters Holiday Show at Norton's Fine Art on Big Bend. Though I've sold a lot of paintings, I honestly can't remember the last time I won an award for my work, so that was an unexpected honor. With so many artist's pieces on the wall, it felt special to be singled out for "Her Night". The upswing in my 9 to 5 career and other creative endeavors had taken a great deal of attention away form my painting in the last year, but this humble accomplishment made me feel I should perhaps get back to exploring that. A nice crowd of art lovers in the gallery on that unseasonably cold November evening, and I enjoyed meeting new people to talk about art with.

"Her Night" is displayed for sale until Jan. 11th, so call Mary at Norton's Fine Art if you need the perfect holiday gift for that diva in your life  :)
314-645-4040

Size Matters Holiday Art Show

Join me and over 25 other artists for the annual Size Matters Holiday Art Show at Norton's Fine Art on Sat. Nov. 23rd, from 5 - 8 PM! The pieces submitted for this juried exhibition were restricted in size to satisfy the need for fine art on a holiday budget. I haven't participated in any art shows in over a year, and will be showing three of my new mixed media collages from the last year, all 11 x 14", framed and ready to hang at great prices. Special thanks to Dick Blick for the generous goodie bags we received for participating in the showing- visit them today for all your art supplies!

The Proposal, 2012

11 x 14", acrylic/mixed media on board

Art From The Heart!

"Handle With Care" 2010
acrylic/mixed media on canvas
16 x 20"

You can bid on this piece at the upcoming 3rd Annual Art from the Heart... a wonderful evening of music, wine and art! Friends of Kids with Cancer is devoted to enriching the daily lives of children undergoing treatment for cancer and blood related diseases. "Our mission is to be an advocate for these special kids and provide them and their families with the recreational, educational, and emotional support needed throughout the long hours of chemotherapy illness and isolation." Please join me in support of a cause that is close to my heart:

Thursday, September 27th, 6-9pm.
Mungenast Lexus of St. Louis
13700 Manchester Road
Manchester, MO 63011
314.822.7681

*Support the Friends of Kids with Cancer Art Therapy Program
*See over 70 pieces of professionally framed art celebrated by kids in the Art Therapy Program for Auction
*Feel the emotion expressed by these wonderful young artists
*Taste the fine wine and hearty appetizers
*Hear the beautiful music of the Poor People of Paris
*Bid on the children's art and silent auction items

Register online today!!

Dueling Minds: Closing Reception, Friday March 30th

I hadn't thought to show you the closing show postcards Dale had made (above, front & back). I've wondered if these make the same impact they used to, but they did come in handy at Leslie's CD release party, when we had a chance to meet people that weren't at the opening for the Dueling Minds show. The pieces on this card were a good example of how many of the canvases Dale & I crafted for the show shared uncanny similarities- I shared my thoughts in an earlier post which you should read if you haven't.

Come see the show at our closing reception this Friday:

DUELING MINDS: COLIN SHAW AND DALE WILKE

Closing Reception: Friday, March 30th 2012 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Concrete Ocean Art Gallery
2257 S. Jefferson Avenue, at Shenandoah
Saint Louis, MO 63104
(314) 448-1796
(314) 497-0199
See more of my available works at my WORKS AVAILABLE page at Shawart.com :)
email me if you are interested!

Anomaly

As I said in my last post, many of the canvases Dale and I created for the Dueling Minds show shared striking similarities, but not all of them.  Our respective versions of Anomaly also turned out very different. An anomaly is a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form- certainly a word most relevant  to our "conversation in canvas" on the individual and perception.  Dale utilized a seemingly more organized method, overlapping a fabric pattern transferred in paint onto a warm khaki ground, metallic gold filling the horizontal magenta bars floating above the surface of the canvas. My version of  Anomaly doesn't have surface texture,  any spacial illusion in the monochromatic, circular swirls merely implied. As chaotic as it looks, Anomaly did begin in an organized fashion, two perfectly measured pencil circles overlapping in the middle, still visible in the finished piece. Several of my peices for this show began with a circle- it's the perfect shape, no beginning and no end. And when you aren't sure where to start, a circle will get the ball rilling, so to speak.

 

Anomaly, D. Wilke

acrylic on canvas, 20 x 24"

Anomaly, C.M. Shaw
acrylic on canvas, 20 x 24"

$150.00 each/$275.00 for the pair

Concrete Ocean Art Gallery
(314)497-0199


Come see the show at our closing reception at Concrete Ocean, March 30th from 7:00-11:00 PM!
See more of my available works at my WORKS AVAILABLE page at Shawart.com :)
email me if you are interested!

Daughters of Cambodia CD Release Show & Photography Exhibit!

Friday, March 16th at 8pm

Daughters of Cambodia presents

Leslie Sanazaro CD Release Show for the new album “First We Cry, Then We Laugh”

Concrete Ocean Gallery

2257 S. Jefferson Ave.

St. Louis, MO  63104

$10, kids free, light food and drinks served

There will be a photo exhibit on display for one night only from photographer Alexis Santi, featuring images from Leslie's travels in Cambodia visiting women and girls around the country.  Additionally there will be a projected photo show during the live performance of all the new music.  The band  includes an amazing assemblage of players, icluding Teddy Presberg and his Resistance Organ Trio, Dawn Weber, Eric Grossman, Rebecca Ryan, Irene Allen and more!

A local reperesentative from anti-human trafficking group Rescue Restore will speak briefly about the issue here in St. Louis. ALL PROCEEDS from the new album sales benefit AFESIP in Cambodia.. We hope to see you this Friday night at Concrete Ocean to celebrate and raise awareness for the issues of human trafficking and women’s safety around the world.

*Visit the Daughters of Cambodia website to read about my dear friend Leslie's project addressing the enslavement and forced prostitution of women and children in Cambodia and around the the world.

Two

"Two"  2011

acrylic and pencil on canvas, 36 x 24"

$175.00

This is the first abstract created for the recent Dueling Minds show at Concrete Ocean when I began work last summer. I was calling it Two Sisters while working on it, as I had no real name for it, and I'd already made a drawing called Two Sisters- a "working title" if you will. Experience in comletely abstract, non-objective art was limited for me. Not knowing where to begin, i put two big circles on the canvas, bisected them, and i was off and running from there. As friends began commenting on it in the studio, all sorts of interpretations were given, ranging from "two orbs" to "two planets", and inevitably "two breasts". I began to realize they would tell me what it was, as the viewer often will. It was percieved almost universally as two items or objects, so I left it open to interpretation as "Two". I've been known to couple subjects in my work many times in the past, though never this purely. It's very simple. I've been a fan of Jasper Johns' painterly handling conventional symbols since college. Johns' flags, maps, targets, and numbers may rely on this schemata to answer the need for subject, but seem to be a vehicle for pure joy of brushstrokes.

At the beginning of discussions between Dale and I for the Dueling Minds show, duality was the topic: duality in personality, tastes, perception/percieved value, society, artistic vision, style, and method, and on and on... it was a very open ended conversation, peppered with our normal day-to-day experiences, frustrations, societal  issues and politics, and shared mirth. While it's ended up in the room adjoining our concept portion of the show, I feel it really fits with the theme of the whole thing really well. The two spheres/circles are seemingly identical, but they are not, their difference in their brushstrokes wildly varying. Like two people, they may both have two legs and arms and a head, but entirely singular beings. As such, this is painting is best enjoyed up close and personal. 

Come see the show at our closing reception at Concrete Ocean, March 30th from 7:00-11:00 PM

See more of my available works at my WORKS AVAILABLE page at Shawart.com :)

email me if you are interested!

Ready, Set... Go

"Magic"  2011

acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30"

Yesterday I delivered my 22 paintings for this Friday's show at Concrete Ocean, as did my show partner, artist Dale Wilke. I was really pleased with how well everything went together, and along with gallery owner Bryan Pease, we arranged how everything will be hung. Today one of the new canvases , "Magic" sold a week before the show- this is usually a good sign of how things will go. It should be a nice crowd Friday night, and Dale, Bryan, and I look forward to meeting you there at Concrete Ocean    :)

DUELING MINDS: COLIN SHAW AND DALE WILKE

Opening Reception:Friday, Feb. 24th 2012 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Concrete Ocean Art Gallery
2257 S. Jefferson Avenue, at Shenandoah
Saint Louis, MO 63104
concreteoceanart.com
(314) 448-1796
(314) 497-0199

Show Postcards!

My show partner Dale ordered the cards he had designed, which should arrive Monday. I've never been one to have these made for shows, feeling their impact is dubious at best these days, social media dominating attention for events here in the 21st century. Dale felt we could get some use out of them, so I went along with it for the novelty of experience, and I liked how the design turned out.

Each of our versions of "The Divide" are featured on the verso, so it's a sneak peek at what the work looks like. That said, many of the 22 canvases I've been working on since last June look wildly different from one another, and their non-objective nature radically "cool" in comparison to my emotionally charged work of the past. Like the press release in my last post stated, I opted to paint completely abstract images for this show, as is Dale's style, to establish some unity. Also important however, was the need to challenge myself to something I'd never done- how would I approach the predetermined titles without using the loaded images, personal symbolism, & narrative style I was accustomed to working in? It wasn't easy!

Left intact with each canvas, however, were my expectations of what I deem a finished, presentable work of art- a complex & difficult to explain system of characteristics, based mostly on aesthetic taste I'm sure, but also presentation. I just knew when I was finished with each one, save a couple that became overworked & had to be redone. Many of them appear rather simple, but required several layers of work to satisfy the demands of my personal vision. One of my friends said they looks as though someone else painted them, which pleased me greatly. Some may not appreciate the 180 degree turn in my work, but I was challenged and invigorated by the experience and I hope the audience will feel the same upon viewing them.

"The Divide"

acrylic on canvas, 20 x 24"

Dueling Minds: Colin Shaw & Dale Wilke

Opening Reception:

Friday, Feb. 24th 2012 7:00PM - 11:00 PM
Concrete Ocean Art Gallery
2257 S. Jefferson Avenue, at Shenandoah
Saint Louis, MO 63104
concreteoceanart.com

"Dueling Minds" Feb. 24th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1/25/12   Shaw Art Studio/Concrete Ocean Contemporary Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Bryan Pease, owner of Concrete Ocean Contemporary Gallery, approached Colin Shaw and Dale Wilke about creating a show combining their very different styles. To better unify the two artists, Shaw’s emotionally charged, narrative works were abandoned in favor of the non-objective vernacular Wilke employs in his palette-focused, mood pieces. Additionally, Wilke’s preferred larger format was downsized to compliment Shaw’s typically smaller working scale.

The challenge of how to merge the two artist’s distinct approaches into a show that would not jolt the eye turned into a conversation on perception and the individual. From there it evolved into the exploration of multiple realities created in the individual experience, unique from one another, yet coexisting in real time with or without depending on one another.

The artists decided upon the unique approach of assembling a list of titles before any work began, assigning each title to a predetermined size. Each artist then created his own rendering of that title separately, free of any influence of the other’s work. Upon completion, the resulting pieces shown side by side. A unique experience will be achieved both as a group and singularly on several levels, from each artist’s initial reaction to the given title , in addition to each artist’s first experience with the other’s corresponding pieces. The show attendees will then complete the process with their perception of the collaborative presentation.

Opening Reception:
Friday, Feb. 24th 2012 7:00PM - 11:00 PM
Concrete Ocean Art Gallery
2257 S. Jefferson Avenue, at Shenandoah
Saint Louis, MO 63104
concreteoceanart.com
(314) 448-1796
(314) 497-0199

My Work at PHD Gallery!

I'm really excited to announce I am now showing at PHD Gallery along the historic Antique Row at 2300 Cherokee St. in sunny South St. Louis  :)   The handsome & accomplished gentleman peeking out the door pictured above is world renowned artist Philip Hitchcock, proprietor of PHD Gallery since 2007. Part of the white-hot arts district forming on the city's south side, and boasting three adjoining storefronts in a GREEN building (in both design and color), PHD features 12 foot ceilings, clean white walls, north facing windows, and a combined exhibition space of nearly 2000 square feet. Reflecting the passion and artistic vision of artist Philip Hitchcock, PHD is an alternative art space that advances challenging works by ground-breaking local, regional, and national artists.

Among the five works of mine Mr. Hitchcock has taken into the gallery is the canvas pictured below, "Prince of Fire". Give him a call or stop by his beautiful gallery and get a closer look:

PHD Gallery 2300 Cherokee Street, Saint Louis, MO 63118 (314) 664-6644  "Prince of Fire" $185.00 acrylic, mixed media collage on canvas 30 x 40"

More Later!

Ginger Bay 10th Annual "Spatacular" & Friends of Kids with Cancer!

I am honored to have been asked by my pal Roze to donate art for silent auction in Ginger Bay's 10th Annual Spatacular! All proceeds benefit Friends of Kids with Cancer  :)  Friends of Kids with Cancer is devoted to enriching the daily lives of children undergoing treatment for cancer and blood related diseases. "Our mission is to be an advocate for these special kids and provide them and their families with the recreational, educational, and emotional support needed throughout the long hours of chemotherapy illness and isolation."

Saturday, September 17 · 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Ginger Bay Salon & Spa - Kirkwood

437 S. Kirkwood Rd.

Kirkwood, Missouri  63122

Call 314-966-0655 to purchase your tickets today!

I have donated an 11 x 14" canvas:
"Mother" 2010
acrylic, mixed media collage

Art Dash for City Academy, Saturday, February 26, 2011

I am honored to have been asked to participate in the third annual Art Dash fundraiser Saturday, February 26, 2011 at the Soulard Preservation Hall this year. I was given a personal tour of the new facilities this past autumn, and was impressed with their dedication to providing a quality education to children who might not  otherwise have received as such. Three of my paintings will be auctioned along with other the other artist's work for this very worthy cause- the children of our great City of St. Louis.

What is Art Dash?
Art Dash is a unique way for couples to own a new piece of art while having fun obtaining it. The evening begins with all guests being assigned to a group. When their group is called they have to “dash” to the piece they want and claim it as their own. The event will feature over 125 pieces of art, donated by local artists. Along with the “dash” there will also be a live auction featuring work by notable professionals. The cost is $250 per couple or $150 per person. All proceeds from Art Dash benefit City Academy’s unique scholarship program, which offers generous tuition assistance to 100% of the school’s families.

Preview Night
I will personally attend Preview Night on Friday, February 25 for artists and guests. Cost for the preview party is $25 per person, which includes drinks and appetizers. Acclaimed jazz vocalist Erin Bode will be the featured performer at the preview party!

Saturday, October 16th- Cuba Lakes Show with Matt Isbell

SHAWART STUDIO, ST. LOUIS, MO
October 5th, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Cuba Lakes welcomes Cuba High Alumni artists Matt Isbell and Colin Michael Shaw on Saturday, October 16th. In conjunction with the Cuba Fest weekend activities, an artist’s reception, free and open to the public will be held from 7pm – 10pm. Cuba Lakes Clubhouse is located at 241 Highway O in Cuba, MO. A special acoustic musical performance by Myles Shaw will entertain the crowd throughout the course of the evening.

The two artists began drawing together after meeting in fifth grade at Cuba R2 schools, often times spending entire weekends at one another’s childhood homes sharing their creative ideas, play, and drawing time. Keeping in touch over the years, Isbell built his career in graphic arts and illustration while Shaw developed his techniques in modern fine art painting. “Though Matt and I grew in very different directions stylistically, we could both easily see a real connection in our current work- the surrealist, fantasy elements prevalent in what we are both doing is undeniable,” says Shaw “An otherworldly influence present in our art is what ties it together- two very distinct, yet both highly imaginative approaches.”

Isbell’s work can be seen and fine art prints purchased at misbell.imagekind.com and misbell.deviantart.com. The day to day of Shaw’s work can be followed at his online artist’s journal: http://shawart.blogspot.com/

End of My Residency at Urban Arts Collective...

"Sister Moon" 2010
carved PVC board, acrylic, varnish
6.75 x 14.25"


My three month residency at Urban Arts Collective is coming to an end- this weekend will likely be your chance to see it, along with the work of Tony Renner, Jane Linders, Craig Downs, and Kevin Belford. Tony will in fact be hosting his last showing at the Collective this Sunday, September 26th from 11am to 2pm- get down to see Tony’s work while you still can! Thanks to everyone who came to all the openings and share a bite to eat with us at the café- we do this because it’s what we love to do, and we appreciate your support :)

Along with the fourteen canvases I made for my run at The Collective, I also produced three carvings for the new grouping on “signpainter’s board, which is essentially a thick PVC board that can be cut and shaped with carpentry tools or even with a small handtool- in my case a small bamboo pick. I was gifted these three chucks of board years ago by my beloved painting teacher Charles SHOEmaker. SHOE said, “Here Colin, take these and see what you can do with them- it’s kinda fun to play with.” I promptly put them in my closet for seventeen years and forgot about it. While digging through stuff looking for inspiration for new work at the Collective I uncovered them and started scraping out designs- they became “Soldier”, “Soldier with Child” (pictured below), and “Sister Moon”(pictured above). I’d like to make more, but found that SHOE was giving me some scrap of REALLY expensive material, so I dunno what will come of that. He always treated me like a son, and the older I get the more I appreciate it… I wish he was still here so I could tell him, but at least I FINALLY did something with the damned boards! :D

"Soldier" 2010
carved PVC board, acrylic, varnish
8.75 x 15.625"

"Soldier with Child" 2010
carved PVC board, acrylic, varnish
10 x 16"