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

Shawn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I’ve had formal training in certain areas of my art, however, I’ve experimented and taught myself a great deal. In regards to speeding up my learning process, I believe we all should be patient and learn at your own pace when it comes to creative endeavors. The most essential skill in my opinion is learning yourself and learning how to effectively work and select those you choose to work with. The only obstacle in learning more is yourself. Every day is an opportunity to learn more about your craft and your passions.

Shawn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am Shawn Artis, visual artist and creative visionary. I was adopted at birth by two social activists who happened to have the last name of Artis. Being that my adoptive parents were far beyond child bearing age I was informed of my adoption early on. Once I discovered I was creatively gifted I used art as therapy to cope with the complexities of being adopted. I had no images or any information about my biological family so I was always amazed at seeing the genetic similarities of family members. At an early age I developed a passion for creating portraits. Although as an artist I delve into multiple disciplines, I always held a special place in my heart for portraits because it was always a dream for me to see images of my biological parents. Fortunately, in December of 2019 I was finally able to see a photograph of my mother with the help of my relatives I discovered on Ancestry DNA. Subsequently in 2021, to my surprise I was also able to find my paternal sister on AncestryDNA and finally saw a picture of my father. I now have a host of siblings to vicariously experience my parents through and further discover myself.

For the most part, I’m a visual storyteller. I primarily use my art to share my thoughts and feelings about a host of issues that plague my community in hopes of bringing people together who can create solutions. Over the years I’ve worked with several corporations and institutions to raise funds and awareness for numerous causes.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The primary goal of my creative journey is to leave a body of work that tells my story in hopes that it helps humanity.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

As far as NFTS I really love the digital certificate aspect and royalties. I think it’s a great way to create an avenue for visual artists to capitalize off of all the content that we share online.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ShawnArtis.com
• Instagram: The Art of Shawn Artis
• Facebook: The Shawn Artis Gallery