Sean

Acoustic Session at the Studio

Sean O'Shea art — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

My fascination with a tiny pufferfish washed up on the beach during a morning walk inspired me to paint "All creatures' Great and Small". Sea creatures are a common occurrence on Byron Bay beaches and most of my friends have had similar experiences. Andrew, a seasoned surfer from Lennox Head always talks about these creatures and other interesting objects he encounters while exploring the ocean and what it throws up onto the land. He describes the sea like a Pandora's box full of beautiful things, as well as strange dangerous creatures that come in all shapes, sizes and colours. His favourite remains the pufferfish which we tend to take for granted, even though it has a unique and delicate shell structure.

Often artists talk about their art finding its true home and for me that is the most satisfying part knowing that the new owners of this painting are wonderful people. To think that this small sea creature found by chance on the beach is now a large painting that hangs in a house which over looks the ocean. When my partner Tracey was planning to hold a birthday celebration for me at the studio, it was suggested that I hang the painting behind the musicians as a back drop. The couple who bought the painting were there to enjoy the acoustic session. The music was so beautiful and moving that all the singers and musicians began to interact with the painting which seemed to bring it to life. Although not tangible, I believe the vibes of the music will stay with the painting forever.

The video below is a small part of the evening which was sublime; Brent's exquisite double bass, Jess joyous on flute, Lee's beautiful double flute and the sublime silver guitar playing by Geoff. More videos to come will show Rich's gentle mood setting ambience, Jess and Emma's joyous, uplifting and touching songs, Brent on keyboards, Lee and Lou's beautiful vocals, enchanting new songs, Jackie singing a heart wrenching version of "Shine On" and more of the brilliant guitar and mandolin playing by Geoff! I cannot forget Paula's soulful harmonies and Nick's keyboards for both were pure magic. Then there was Yasgurs Farm - Monique and Paul soaring beyond the heavens with their incredible performance of "Don't Give Up".The acoustic session brought much joy into my life and was the best 50th birthday celebration which I will always treasure, especially the wonderful poem that Shawna wrote for me and the beautiful speech from Melissa.

[video:http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=-s0aRmsJ2OU=dir350x269]

Byron Bay Lighthouse

Sean O'Shea art — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

One of the great landmarks and popular attractions in Byron Bay is the Cape Byron Lighthouse and, like all lighthouses in the world , each have their own unique story to tell. Being a regular visitor to the lighthouse over the years I have definitely developed a personal relationship with this beautiful castle-like structure with it's large ornate crown and it's breathtaking panoramic views including Mount Warning and beyond. At night the lighthouse with it's light beamed from an eight ton lens shines brightly from its position on the most easterly point of Australia. The light in the tower revolves slowly sending forth its safety message reflecting back everything around it, birds flying, whales breaching, and at dusk the sun catches the glass face and reflects the light back to the dying embers of the setting sun.

I don’t really know why lighthouses have such an effect on people, and the Cape Byron lighthouse is a prime example of this attraction. A meeting place where locals and international visitors came to marvel at and just simply BE. Everyone I speak to have their own personal experience of the effect the lighthouse has on them from “I haven’t missed a daily walk to the lighthouse for 5 years”,"I have a special spot for whale watching",“it's cured my chocolate addiction” to "it's overcome my depression","inspired a new song" ,"got me really fit"and "I proposed to my fiance in the shadows of the lighthouse".

For me, it’s not just the dream I had as a kid of being a light house keeper that attracts me, but the personal journey of reflection and creativity that the lighthouse experience gives, where new ideas are born and the old is left behind. Each time I walk the 5 km walking trail up to the light house I touch the tower wall for good luck, look up and always see something interesting in its architecture and design. The concrete blokes that hold it together always fascinate me and, depending on the angle that you view them, there is always a new line or shape that intrigues. Looking through the side arched windows at the entrance door and seeing people stroll by is like watching a movie. Hats off to architect Charles Harding for building this lighthouse in the style of his predecessor James Barnet. The legacy that these men have left behind is not just a magnificent lighthouse but also an inspirational landmark. This short film is a tribute to the Byron Bay Lighthouse and it's ability to calm and inspire those who make the pilgrimage to it's great heights

[video:http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1TKEehq-igI=dir350x269]

Cape Byron light house and the magnificent rotating lens.

Unexpected Exhibition Experience

Sean O'Shea art — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:53:00 +0000

I arrived in Sydney today for a family re-union. Before I left Byron Bay my partner, suggested that I visit the Mori Gallery as Stephen Mori, the gallery owner, had always said to keep in touch. I had met Stephen Mori in 2005, not long after I started painting, and I've always remembered him telling me to keep painting and everything will just fall into place. So I did and last year I moved from painting in my garage into my own studio in the Byron Bay Arts and Industry Park. Stephen was right!
The Mori Gallery is located at 168 Day St, Sydney. When I arrived this morning Stephen was putting the final touches to an exhibition that was opening within the hour ! Stephen invited me to stay and explore the wonderful art, sculptures and videos of the "AART. BOXX 2009" Exhibition - a national exhibition of works by emerging artists living with a disability. It was an honour to be there for the opening and to hear the personal experiences of these amazingly talented artists and the stories behind their wonderful art. Some of these artists had never had their work shown in public before while others have exhibited widely.
There was so much compelling art to take in, I particularly loved Luke Bayshco's work "Elephant" - a beautiful drawing! Also Stephens Colwell's mixed media sculpture. Another gallery room was set up like a cinema with two terrific short films - one inspired by spaghetti westerns and the other entitled "The Exquisite Corpse". I also heard Danny Moore speak from the heart about his brilliant drawing "The Land of the Restful Glow Spirits". It represents his thoughts on the afterlife and what would happen upon reaching there. Finally, sculptor Pierre Comarmond encouraged everyone to feel free to touch his sculptures which I found joyful.
I would like to thank Stephen for inviting me to stay and enjoy this truly wonderful exhibition and also to his gallery team, Rochelle and Josie, for their hospitality. I highly recommend any art lover to attend this exhibition which continues until the 7th of November.

Music while painting

Sean O'Shea art — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:21:00 +0000

Listening to my local radio station Bay FM while working in the studio is a really enjoyable experience. It gives me a sense of being connected to what’s happening in the local community. Painting for me is a solitary experience and although I spend most of the time creating art in silence, music is an important part of my creative process. Therefore the moments I play my favourite music or listen to my local community radio station is always uplifting.

Bay FM is a really important part of the Byron Bay community where the unique independence of the programs offers a rich resource of information of what’s going on in the community. There is always something unique and different being played and the choice of music always surprises. One of my favourite programs is Audio Chocolate, a cool contemporary mixture of international and local music. Luisa Gurbiel-Milan and Richard Bell have a love for indie music and each show is an enjoyable blend of quality sounds and live performances from emerging and established artists.

The importance of music can’t be underestimated while creating art. I wonder what music inspired Picasso? What great composers or songs of the time influenced artists throughout history? Such information unlike their art is intangible and was not left to prosperity. Lately I have been listening to the Kate Bush "Ariel"album and that beautful song "A Sky of Honey" a beautiful meditation on the cycles of life and Rufus Wainwright album and always chill out with my favourite cello music. Bay Fm adds to my musical palette with songs not found so easily on commercial radio. You can tune into Audio Chocolate on Bay FM, tuesdays from 12-1pm Home page

Looking Forward to Looking Back

Sean O'Shea art — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Mike Williams, an established Australian poet and writer spent some time with me at my studio last week. We shared ideas about creativity and how to keep the energy alive. Mike's a quietly spoken bloke who has an effortless writing style and the ability to tell a story drawn from a life of rich experiences. Mike commented that as he gets older his writing gets deeper and more enjoyable. I have been thinking about how my own creativity has manifested during my later years and how it has become a driving force in my life. It’s strange to think I'm approaching 50 and living an artist's life. I often think what might have been had I made the commitment to art in my 20's. What sort of work would I have created?

I have been reading some interesting research about the subject of creativity in 'Late Bloomers' and there seems to be two schools of thought. One thought is that artists tend to do their best work early on in their careers. Picasso's early work, paintings produced in his 20's, still demand the highest prices even today, whilst on the other hand, Cézanne reached his artistic excellence in his mid-sixties. I believe creativity is rooted in one’s own belief systems; the influence of society and family conditioning can delay or hide latent talent. So far the unfolding of my creative journey has been rooted in breaking old and limiting thinking. 'Life begins at 50' is a powerful affirmation for me because I see ahead a fresh and optimistic future. It's an exciting time for a self taught artist who turns 50 in a few weeks time.

I am planning an exhibition which will show in 2010. The complexities of what I do are in my mind and I am working on a regimented research and work schedule. To help me understand this process I have been reading an excellent book titled 'Old Masters and Young Geniuses; The Two Life Cycles of Artistic Creativity' by David Galenson. The book offers the idea that there are two very different types of artist; a 'conceptualist', who has a very clear idea where they want to go and how they will execute the idea. The other is an 'experimentalist', the intuitive artist that allows a spark, an inspiration to reveal itself in the painting.

I think that as I get older and gain more experience as an artist, I will develop both set of skills which, I hope, will strengthen my work. Yet my very first paintings remain a reference point where the enthusiastic journey into the image is always a source to draw strength from. I believe that those paintings came from an inner part of me unaffected by anyone or anything and they are very precious. return to home page

Art from Intuition

Sean O'Shea art — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

This image came into my mind so powerfully that I had to draw it. At the time I was working in pastels in a garage beside my shared apartment trying to establish myself in Byron Bay. I had just arrived from a small country town and I didn't have all my art equipment with me. Still when an image presents I believe you have to get it down on paper and the only paper I could find were four small pieces.

Working on intuition I started drawing the hat, arm and part of the upper body on one piece of paper, then I moved to the second piece and completed the hat, face, second arm and upper body. On the third piece of paper I drew part of the wide skirt and completed the skirt on the fourth piece. Standing back from the images which were laid out in a giant square at my feet, I decided this dancer needed movement and with a white pastel I swirled lines found the dancer's arms and upper torso.

I have to admit I wondered what people would think of this picture in four parts. As it turned out, a friend of mine loved the image and bought it. Don't worry she said it will look good once I frame it. She split the two quarters into one frame with a small division between the two pieces of paper. The bottom half formed the second frame again with the division down the skirt. She explained to me later that she didn't want to camouflage the fact that the drawing had been done in four parts.

Best of all she hung the picture in a 14 foot hall in her guest cottage in Hannam Vale on the Mid North coast of NSW and this gave the art a long wall it could dominate to maximum effect. The moral of this story for me is always follow your intuition, never put off today your creativity and even if the right size paper or canvas is not at hand, find anything and get the inspirational idea down. In this case the Sufi Dancer has turned out to be a success thanks to the framing touch of the owner to bring the image together as one.

Front page stories

The Lucky Wonders

Sean O'Shea art — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:06:00 +0000

Yesterday was a busy day. My time was taken up creating a nice environment in the studio before commencing to paint. As spring is in the air and daylight saving has extended extra hours of natural light, it seemed a perfect time to re-pot all our beautiful plants so that they form a nice cooling green backdrop for the summer months ahead. The plants also act as a natural barrier protecting us from the local bush turkey that regularly visits. Sunny days have a good effect on me; I seem to think more optimistically. Then Jessie from "The Lucky Wonders" rang urgently needing a photo for a music magazine article. They had lost contact with their photographer who had taken some nice shots of them at an old red phone booth in Bangalow. I had been listening to the music of "One Giant Leap" with Eckert Tolle speaking over the soundtrack about staying in the moment and the girls' request seemed psychic in its timing.

Putting aside what I was doing, I said yes and 10 minutes later Jessie picked me up with my dog Loli and off we went to do a photo shoot for their magazine article. Many photos later I was on my way back to the studio ready to begin painting and feeling upbeat for helping the girls out. Jessie and Emma believe good music is contagious and with their new album to be released soon, there is a real buzz amongst their fans. They've been lucky enough to have Jessie's old friend Ben Franz from The Waifs come up to record the bass and some gorgeous lap steel on their album. There are two tracks I really love, Emotional and Happy Pill, and they can be heard on their myspace/theluckywonders

The Lucky Wonders - Jessie Vintila and Emma Royle

Tracey Anderssen - Rarebird Flicks

Sean O'Shea art — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The videos featured on this website are a collaboration with my partner and film maker Tracey Anderssen. The video of Duncan Bridgeman from 1 Giant Leap was the first of many synchronistic meetings. It’s hard to believe that she started using a video camera only a year ago and has also just started to learn about the editing process. Tracey seems to have found her passion and it's now hard to get her off her imac!

Duncan asked me to paint him before flying off to promote the latest 1 Giant Leap film 'What About Me' . It was an exciting time , the film had just been shown to a full house at the Byron Cinema’s and Duncan's creative genius had inspired us all and we were lucky enough to be invited to a private gig held in Byron with another brilliant musician, Simon Lewis from 'Amanaska'.

During the gig a film Tracey had made about my journey as an emerging artist showed and Duncan was interested in what I was doing and he asked me if I would like to paint him. Of course I jumped at the opportunity! The next day Jenny, a friend of Duncan's and a beloved Bay Fm announcer joined us and we all headed off to my studio for a painting and drawing session.

On the way to the studio Duncan offered Tracey his camera to film the session with. This was one of the camera's used to film 'What About Me', Tracey was thrilled! The quick thinking of Duncan gave us an opportunity to capture the session.

In a way it was the beginning of many collaborations with local musicians producing videos that capture the wealth of talent in the Byron Bay area. Tracey has created her own boutique film production company, 'Rare Bird Flicks' specialising in live music videos, ‘Life Story' videos and art videos. Tracey enjoys collaborating with artists of all mediums and has worked on several projects which can be viewed at Rare Bird Flicks

Tracey and me in The Studio

All Creatures Great and Small

Sean O'Shea art — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

This painting came about from a walk along belongil beach thinking deeply about the mystery of creation. What a great artist mother earth really is to have made such a myriad of wonderful shapes, forms and colours. Then as I stared at this tiny sea creature covered in spikes which washed up at my feet I could see within it a cross that seemed to shimmer from its centre as the sun caught the droplets of water which shook free as it gently rolled along the sand. It struck me that this is where the divine resides inside each living organism and if we do not pay attention then, like the sea, time washes away this revelation of the almighty just as the sea picked up the tiny pufferfish and swept it back beneath the waves. It is there for us to see, appreciate, value and also conserve nature’s great works. The painting was simply about honoring the beauty and divinity that exists all around and within us. I sought to use big and small images of the urchin to symbolically point out how God is in all creatures both great and small. Walking in nature is truly inspiring to me and I find unlocks a well of spiritual feeling inside of me.

Nimbin Rocks Glow

Sean O'Shea art — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Where in the world would you find three large rocks jutting from the earth, pointing skyward like the Nimbin Rocks, in NSW? Called affectionately the Timble, Cathedral and Needle rocks in early colonial times, they appear to stand together from one point, whereas from another point they stand apart, thus creating an interesting optical illusion. They inspired me to paint them at a time of day when the sun softly peaks on their points throwing up rich brown colours on the rock surface, while around the base the grey/green tones of the eucalyptus trees with their sparse leafy tops framed these giants in all their majesty.

My friends Ono, Melissa and their young son, Johann used to live under the Rocks until recently, before they embarked on their four wheel drive road trip around the top of Australia. On the many occasions I stayed with them I was intrigued when I drove to their home, how the rocks seemed to move like a merry-go-round has I drove toward them. This important site is highly valued and respected by the local Bunjalong People, the traditional land owners and is therefore an important Australian landmark. view gallery

Nimbin Rocks 100 x 100cm acrylic on canvas