Casey Shannon

Country : USA
Name : Casey Shannon
Web: http://www.caseyshannon.com
Email: admin@caseyshannon.com

Statement:
Casey Shannon is a non-traditional contemporary sumi-e artist literally painting the 'sound of one hand'. She is an acclaimed international artist and has exhibited her work locally and world-wide.

She has won many awards for her work including the prestigious 'Sumi Art Cultural Award' from the Jade Buddha Temple, LiaoNing Province in AnShan City, China. Casey holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Choiunard Art Institute Los Angeles, Ca., Teaching Credential from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master of Art Degree from California State University, Long Beach. She has studied with renowned Chinese Painter Lian Quan Zhen and Master Chinese Sumi-e artist Ji-yi-lou-zhu.

Casey taught art in public high school for 10 years and now currently teaches in community college and has for the last 26 years. Casey is the survivor of a massive brain-stem stroke and paints solely with her non-dominant left hand. She used her art as an integral part of her personal healing.

Casey's professional organizations include: Sumi Society of America, Carmel Valley Art Association, Oregon Society of Artists, ICCPS, and a member of the elite Seal Carving Gyoku-seki Society in China. Casey was asked by Master Sumi Painter Ransui Yakata of Tokyo, Japan to become the Director of The North America Branch of ICCPS - International Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society. She has held this position since 2010. 'The Soul of Nature' is Casey's inspiration for her art. Her medium is sumi (ink) and Japanese watercolor on all forms of Xuan.

Casey's Art Story

My artistic journey began, like many artists, in grammar school and continued through high school. I seemed to be happiest and closest to my spirit with pen and brush in my hand. I bloomed as an artist learning techniques and then learning to break all the rules, eventually beginning to develop my own style.

You never really know what life has in store for you. Many years ago, I encountered an event that would change my life forever. I experienced a massive left hemisphere brain-stem stroke four days after my 36th birthday. In an instant, I was paralyzed. I could not breathe, speak, walk, and I lost the use of my dominant right hand. Needless to explain, this was very devastating and the prognosis for my recovery was bleak. I worked very hard in rehabilitation (years actually) and slowly learned to talk again and walk as well, eventually obtaining added assistance with my licensed service dog, Gabe.

However, I did not recover the use of my dominant right arm and hand. So, I taught myself to draw with my left hand and used this activity and my drawings as an integral part of my stroke recovery. As soon as I could sit up in a wheel chair, I began drawing with a vengeance. I just intuitively knew art would save my life. There is something about the creative process that is absolute healing. I knew this deep inside myself and worked toward recovery with art as healing. I turned to the spirit of ink painting.

I feel in love with the beauty and essence of Asian ink painting. It nurtures my soul. I am a contemporary Sumi-e artist reaching beyond the limits of traditional ink painting and creating the 'sound of one hand'. My paintings one would not generally call traditional sumi-e. However, I adhere to the traditional sumi-e principles and philosophies, as well as, the traditional artist mind preparation before beginning a sumi-e painting. Sumi-e expresses the character and soul of the artist. It is a meditative process and spiritually personal.

Understanding this concept has been at the center of my art. I strive to 'become one' with the object in the painting. I paint from a quiet centered place and have the intention of capturing the object's spirit and essence with graceful brush strokes. Sumi-e exemplifies the concept of 'Less is More'. My mission as an artist is to tell everyone that there is hope/life after traumatic life-altering experiences. I inspire others not only with my words but also with my art.

Hmay Art Supply is a xuan paper manufacturer from Jing county Xuan city Anhui province - the birthplace of xuan paper. We produce top grade xuan paper (shuen paper, rice paper) and provide superior quality paper crafts and other art items for Japanese calligraphy, Chinese brush calligraphy & Chinese sumi-e painting, etc.

Let's enjoy sumi-e painting and brush calligraphy together!