Exploring the Iowa countryside in his youth, Shawn established his connection with nature and his curiosity to see more. He now feeds his curiosity exploring the beaches and mountains near his northern California home. The local landscape and wildlife provide abundant inspiration and reference material for his work.
Shawn began his art career as an illustrator, creating award winning science and natural history illustrations for clients like National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institute, and Audubon. He also illustrated two children's books. After about ten years, he was able to turn his attention full time to creating his own paintings.
Often, personal experience is the inspiration for Shawn's work. Many ideas for his paintings originate during trips into the wilderness he loves. Combining his experience and observations in nature with personal interpretation and creative expression, the paintings share a glimpse of Shawn's unique vision of the world around us. In the end, however, viewers will have their own experience with the imagery and their own response to it. Hopefully it will resonate with them in some way.
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