Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharlee Shepard.
Hi Sharlee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been passionate about art for most of my life. At seven years old, I was telling the adults I wanted to be a tattoo artist when I grew up, and there was always something about the shock on their face when they heard it that sparked excitement and motivation in me. To pass the time I drew still-life of the cabinets and candles in our living room, spending time drawing in my room when I wasn’t doing homework or with friends. When I was Thirteen, I began selling my art on the side of the street in the heart of my hometown, La Porte, TX. That little art walk hosted by the local shops on Main Street is what began my artistic career. Throughout middle school and high school, I remained in art classes, and I truly enjoyed exploring different styles. Today I still can’t help but explore various styles of art, and I have a hard time sticking to one medium. My passion for creativity is clear, so it comes as a surprise when I tell anyone that I moved four hours away to Denton, TX to study Environmental Science. In every lecture and class I’ve attended, I’ve been the daydreamer, with my notes bordered by those doodles and scribbles that have followed me my whole life. Now, I am working on building a business and being my own boss, so I can finally give in to my dreams of being an artist.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Anyone who’s passionate about the arts would probably admit that it is not a smooth road. I’m very fortunate to have a loving, supportive family, but even as a child, the projection of fear that adults placed on me really affected my own self-belief. When I was selling art on Main Street in La Porte, a lot of adults would come up to me and make condescending comments. Anytime I mention I want to make art my career, I’m afraid that people see a giant red flashing sign that reads ‘STARVING ARTIST! BEWARE!’ I fear those conversations because I can hear myself trying to defend my goals against other people’s opinions.
Today, I’ve come to the realization that the biggest limitation against me has been internal. No matter how much success I accumulate, there will always be someone doubting me, and my biggest mistake along this bumpy road was letting anyone else’s fear become my own.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work with various forms of art, from traditional art such as painting, drawing, and sculpting, to creating custom clothing designs with paint, bleach-dye, or linoleum printing, as well as custom hand-painted skateboards. I’ve done a few graphic designs, album covers, and merchandise designs for musicians, and I’m always open to creating more. I used to think that being called a “jack of all trades” was an insult, but I’ve grown fond of the phrase. This is how I would describe myself as an artist. I have a hard time choosing only one style or medium of art. To me, it’s more than being a master of one particular expression but finding every possible way to express something.
When I’m not creating commissions, I’m using Art to interpret my imagination and especially deep emotions that are hard to describe with words.
That is what my biggest goal is as an artist; to bring light to complex human emotion and mental health–both things that have oddly become a taboo.
I’ve often heard that what sets me apart from others is my dedication to detail and my ability to invoke feelings with my art. I feel most proud when I see or hear someone trying to work through their own interpretation of my art. What I’m aiming for is to bring the subconscious mind to the surface.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve always been a very cautious person, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that the riskiest thing to do in life is live in fear. If I’m not taking a risk to do something I love, then I’m taking the risk to miss opportunities and stay stuck in one place. If there’s anything from this interview that’s been revealing about me, it’s that I don’t like to stick in one place, doing one thing. So, eventually, I realized that I would just be a walking contradiction if I don’t take a leap of faith, and I’m not a fan of hypocrites.
I’ve taken two very notable big risks in my life recently.
The first is that I took a year-long break from school. I felt that I was on autopilot and I was neglecting my passions. So, I risked my speedy education and the possibility of finding a stable long-term career, and instead, I used my time away to figure out what I truly wanted.
Thankfully, I don’t regret it at all.
The second is that I quit my full-time job with a stable income. I took the risk of having an inconsistent income and living off of savings until I create a stable income doing what I love. While it requires a lot of work and dedication, I am glad that I’d chosen this risk over risking my own happiness.
I used to logic my way into “playing it safe,” but now my perspective is that sometimes taking a risk and following our own intuition is the most logical thing we can do for ourselves.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art.ambition/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/art_ambition
Image Credits
Axandria Shepard
Adrian Escareno
Jakob Simpson
