Interview with Shelley Irish
1. Please tell us something about your background and your art journey so far.
I started ‘disappearing’ while painting as a young girl and the effects of the creative process on the brain have captivated me ever since. During one of these instances I was painting while sitting on my bedroom floor as a teenager. I 'woke up' after what must have been an hour or more, because much of the small painting was done. This scared me at first, but now I understand being in the 'flow' state and view myself as a vessel for the art to come through.
The act of creating art is a powerfully healthy practice for our minds, bodies and nervous systems. Paired with specific intentionality, it can offer potent and unique, sometimes life and health altering results. I became a Therapeutic Arts Life Coach to deepen and expand my arts-based wellness offerings. I serve individuals and professional teams in person and online.
2. Can you tell us more about the theme in your art and your inspiration?
My paintings act as bridges between the beauty of the natural world and the rawness of feeling and healing.
My choice of subject matter comes from being emotionally moved by scenes in meditations, through shamanic journeying and tapping into the healing needed for the collective. I choose subjects that honor transcendental experiences, the connection of nature to healing, and the purity and strength of women.
I believe the female figure represents the sacredness of the world and that moon lovers are honoring an aspect of the sacred feminine.
My foundational intention is to offer my art as yantras – sacred images that act as touchstones to the parts of ourselves that are ready to return home. My wish is that you will find moments of peace through connecting with my artwork.
3. Could you share any difficulties and hardships you had to face in life and how or if you managed/overcame them?
Art has been a constant force of healing through all the hardships of my life. As a friend of mine says, "arts make life bearable".
Art has helped me endure IBS, endometriosis, trauma and life altering injuries. In the times when I could not even draw because pain was so bad after car accidents, the art I created in my mind was a lifesaver.
4. Is the artist life lonely? Please share your thoughts and experiences.
When I am making art I don't feel lonely. It feels as if love is pouring over me, providing a shield to the stresses of the world.
I have a wonderful arts community here in Seattle, including being part of a gallery inside an art collective. I teach art and offer arts based wellness programs and coaching. Art is a big part of many facets of my life. At times I have felt lonely as an artist, but after more thoughtfully curating my life, that passed.
5. What are you working on at the moment and are there any upcoming events you would like to talk about?
Right now, I'm working on a portrait of Malala Yousafzai. She won the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy in girls education, after being shot by the Taliban on her way to school. I wish she was Queen of the World, so I am painting her as if she were.
Website: shelleyirish.com
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