Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Colleen Shore. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Colleen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

Being able to devote all my time to being an artist didn’t come until after retiring from the working world. It was something I have pursued since a very young age, through studio classes in college and on a various occasions tried putting my creative skills to work. Learning, it was a tough way earn a living, my time was unfortunately consumed with being gainfully employed elsewhere.

In hindsight I do wish I could have begun this journey sooner. Although everything that I have learned up until now has aided me in my current creative pursuits. Maybe because of my past and who I am today is why I’m so inspired to create my art.

The new journey began in 2019, a retirement present of pochade box and oil paints to fulfill the desire to paint plein air. Today’s technology has certainly changed the landscape for artists since 1982 when I graduated from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a degree in Art.

To my delight I could find anything I needed or wanted to buy through the internet and delivered to my door. It used to be I had to drive 3 hours or more to a major city to visit a store.

Now computer technology offers what seems to be an unlimited resource of videos on techniques. Even chat rooms or someone from the manufacturer to answer a question about their product. Early on, my daily resources consisted of library books and waiting for studio time to get some answers.

Connecting with my audience evolved to blogging about my journey. In addition it is a great way to see my progress and relay my efforts anyone, anywhere. anytime. It sure beats participating in artfairs and lugging around a portfolio to prospective galleries.

So sooner or later? I can’t imagine having the new opportunities that today has provided. Plus of course not having to live off my art sales.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My focus wasn’t so clear to me five years ago. I was exploring a new medium (oil) and trying to learn the art of plein air which still excites and impresses me. Just working on my skills.

To find my way I think I first had to find something in myself. One of my aspirations was to travel and paint going to all the national parks. As the days of covid and lockdowns were just around the corner I was just beginning to get comfortable with getting some paint on the canvas. As an artist in their studio passing the time painting it wasn’t so bad, I had many photos from past adventures. The days we could get outside and take a hike were cherished and really opened my eyes to the landscape before me. Now you may not realize it but where I live in Onalaska, WI is called the Driftless Area and has some of the most beautiful scenery. Lush greens (maybe too many for some artists) the Mississippi River and wildlife year round.

Now my focus was on what I had around me. It hadn’t gone unnoticed but it was profound in how my art has evolved and my new connection to my community and patrons.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Painting is my passion as a visual artist. Working with oils since 2019 in my Onalaska home studio and outside, plein air on occasion, as weather permits.

I’m creating art inspired by my surroundings in order to connect and engage others to embrace the extraordinary.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Connecting with my community. Each person I interact with has given back to me more than I could have imagined. There are people who I would never have met along the way that have made my life more complete and inspire me to continue to create.

I belong to a group of artists, mostly former art teachers who meet one a week to draw called Drawn Together. One of my images of a painting provided is of some of our group outside during covid, all masked up and having a chance to still draw and share around a picnic table in a Myrick Park. Titled “Together-Bonded by Art” . We go to places and businesses to draw that I may never have had access too.

Plein Air Painting and the curious people who stop by. Whenever given the opportunity to paint onsite present itself, I’m in. Elmaro Vineyard and Winery in Trempealeau is a lovely venue that offers artist space to display in their crush pad. I’ll be doing my third annual show in May 2024 and each time they have invited me to set up my easel during some of their events. Between sales and sipping a little wine afterwards it feels like home to me. Image of still life Wine and glasses, title “Wine Time-Elmaro”

Drawing Bag and Camera go everywhere. Just joining my Village of Holmen community neighbors for music in the Halfway Creek Park on Sunday evening. I stretch my drawing skills on unsuspecting models and reward their smiles by giving them the sketch. Image provided of my sketch and what I saw and also there reaction to seeing themselves.

Commission for pet portraits and more. I find the challenge of painting someone else vision worth while. Some artists don’t enjoy it but for me when I finally hit the mark and see there faces looking at a memorial painting of their lost pet is something I don’t mind aspiring too. No images but could provide some.

You never know what the end result will be. Whenever I start a painting I usually have a plan but I need to be flexible too to take in new discoveries. After signing up for Between the Bluffs Plein Air Competition I sought out a spot at a local restaurant Red Pines on Lake Onalaska. The area serves up delicious food and provides a welcoming atmosphere. After asking permission from Corinna to paint on the premises, she was just as excited and insisted on seeing the results. Now five of my paintings she purchased will be on display in the new expanded business venture in the spring of 2024. Image of painting on deck of Red Pines, titled “Evening on the Deck”

Oh, the list goes on. I paint everything from La Crosse, WI to Winona, MN, images of paintings provided , Sugar Loaf in Winona and Pettibone Gazebo in La Crosse. Having done over 800 small oil paintings and I haven’t run out of inspiration yet. It’s true, it’s not work if you’re doing something you love.

Contact Info:

• Website: cshoreartwork.blogspot.com
• Facebook: CShore
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
First Image on the Additional Photos photo credit Dylan Overhouse. Dylan Overhouse Productions is a local photographer in our area. He was out capturing moments in La Crosse WI and he found me plein air painting in one of the alleys. He was one of you recent interviews this past fall. That’s how I heard about you. So you never know who you’ll meet and what happens next.