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Shannon Hamilton Artist – Up Close and Personal

Shannon Hamilton Artist Up Close And Personal In Studio 3

Get to know Perth based artist Shannon Hamilton who is renown for her Mother and Child bold figurative paintings touching the viewer with feelings of fun, togetherness, and memories of past moments that they may have experienced themselves.

Shannon Hamilton has been exhibiting with JahRoc Galleries for the last 10 years and we have seen her go from strength to strength holding constant interest from visitors to the gallery who can relate so easily to her paintings that depict our iconic Australian Beach Lifestyle.

Enjoy Getting to know….Shannon Hamilton

When did you first feel the desire to be artistic and realise you had talent

I have honestly felt the desire to paint and draw since I was very young, probably from 2-3 years of age. Whenever I had the opportunity to do it, I did. My parents always encouraged this side of me through my schooling and although I was convinced initially to start my adult working life with another profession, I always continued my artwork as much as possible on weekends and spare time during the weeks. I don’t think it was until early highschool that I realized I had some talent-this was mostly from feedback I’d get from my art teachers and other students. I just knew how I felt in the process of making something, it was what I craved to do all the time.

Where did you learn your art?

I learnt a lot of my art skills at highschool with my exceptional and very influential art teacher in years 11 and 12.  Following this, I commenced studying Fine Arts at UWA whilst still keeping up my interests in the human body and science (I studied a few Science units as well). As this was the first year of the FA course at UWA, it was run by the architectural school and really didn’t include much practice, predominantly theoretical. It didn’t fulfill my passion for the actual “doing” and creating so I didn’t continue with this degree. After being convinced by many that Art would not sustain a living in the future, I applied for and completed my Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) which I worked in for many years and loved for its connection with people.

What inspires you most?

People/ relationships, beaches, bodies, sun and bold colour.

What message are you sending to the viewer of your art?

I try to depict the connection between people, to capture feelings between people that are momentary and fleeting. I’m particularly interested in the relationship between mother and child or familiar relationships. I find these fascinating on so many levels in ours and other cultures, and they change minute by minute each day. As life goes by so quickly, I attempt to hold these moments in time and make them last a bit longer for us to stop and appreciate.

Describe your studio?

My studio was purpose built at my home in Wembley, Perth and as far as design, I couldn’t ask for much more. It was designed to maximize light which it does beautifully. It is however, a big mess – ‘a creative mess’ is the term I like to use – but its my space and my mess to leave and return to when I like – bliss as far as I’m concerned!

Describe your typical day of creating art?

Probably very similar to a lot of mums – getting kids ready for school, school drop off, a good coffee, then into it for the next 5 hours (ideally uninterrupted) until school pick up. As my youngest has just commenced fulltime schooling this year, I now have more days in which to do this! I have always treated it like a “proper job” in this sense as otherwise there are constant distractions to be pulled away from it. I have a good work ethic and have kept it going through all pregnancies and births of my 3 children.

I often schedule commissions on weekends when kids and parents are more available and also weather dependent for beach studies also.

What mediums do you use and why?

I now use mostly oils on canvas. I also, at times, use mixed media including fabric (silks, batiks, paper) oil crayons, chalk pastels, guache and acrylic bases as well as spray paints.

What are you working on now?

I’m pretty constantly working on several commissions at the one time as I have a very large list for the next 18 months or more. Whilst doing this, I feel it incredibly important to keep painting “my visions” on canvas to keep my passion alive for what I want to create, not only painting what others wish. I continue mostly with the beach-themed paintings of people capturing the colourful essence of Perth/Australia and capturing moments of intimacy between individuals. Primarily this is often the sibling or parental relationship.

What do you love most about what you do?

I LOVE that I have my own hours and my own “different” self created profession. I LOVE and appreciate that people “get” my work and want to see more! I feel so incredibly lucky to have a demand for my work and I LOVE meeting incredible and special people, little and big! I LOVE that my kids can see that if you work hard, they can too do something that comes from the heart. I LOVE being able to “give” to people and “help” people who come to me at difficult times in their life to create a memorable and much needed art work that can inspire them to move forward. I feel privileged to enter such peoples lives in times of need and that my work can help them in some way.

Where can you see yourself in 10 years time?

I would love to be seen as a more well- known Australian Artist who can capture beautiful relationships in time. I hope to be still doing what im doing now, perhaps with a little more leisure time (less demands) but not necessarily! I love what I do so I really hope I can just continue to do it as much as possible.

Artist Statement

Based in Perth Western Australia Shannon Hamilton paints vibrant semi-abstract paintings reflect her passion for people and travel. The Australian light and warmth is captured in her paintings of the beach often depicting a mother and child. The subject of human relationships is continued in work inspired from trips to Africa and Asia, paintings that depict the atmosphere, colours and patterns surrounding women and children.

Artist Biography

Shannon Hamilton creates appealing, familiar and exciting contemporary artwork which has found popularity throughout Australia and overseas. Having loved art from a young age, Shannon developed her unique self-taught style during her career as an occupational therapist. She would encourage patients suffering with low self-esteem and eating disorders to communicate and express themselves through art. Giving occupational therapy away in 2000 to explore her own potential, Shannon has gone on to achieve outstanding success.

Shannon’s paintings feature strong, bold strokes of colour, tastefully capturing the sensuality of the human form in the warmth of Australian sunlight. Having travelled the world, she also draws upon African and Asian cultures with a focus on warmth of human relationships, especially of mother and child. Shannon Hamilton also challenges societal standards of female perfection, painting women with nontypical beauty using abstractions of colour and line. Her artistic flair is also sought by those looking to find artwork to fit a particular space in homes, offices and newly developed buildings.

Exhibitions of her work have been held at galleries including:

  • JahRoc Galleries, Margaret River, WA
  • Agora Gallery, New York
  • Red Sea Gallery, Singapore
  • British High Commission, Singapore
  • Catherine Asquith Gallery, Melbourne
  • Margaret River Galleries, Western Australia
  • Gadfly Gallery, Western Australia

Group Exhibitions

  • Melbourne AAF (April 2005)
  • Australian Fine Artists – “Down under” Agora Gallery, New York (May 2005)
  • Guest Artist Hale School (Aug 2004)
  • British High Commission, Singapore (June 2004)
  • Catherine Asquith Gallery, Melbourne (Dec 2003 to Jan 2004)
  • Trinity College Art Exhibition (Oct 2003)
  • Guest Artist St Hildas Art Exhibition (Sept 2003)
  • Salek Minc Art Exhibition (Aug 2003)
  • Guest Artist at Hale School Art Exhibition (July 2003)
  • City of Vincent Art Award Exhibition (June 2002 / June 2003)
  • City of Cambridge Art Exhibition (May 2003)
  • City of Albany Art Exhibition (April 2003)
  • Art Exhibition and Auction-Modernian Hockey Club (August 2002)
  • Salek Minc Exhibition (Aug 2002)
  • Guest Artist at Newman College Exhibition (May 2002)
  • Rotary Clock Auction (Mar 2002)
  • Town of Mosman Park Exhibition (Mar 2002)
  • Accent (Nov to Dec 2001)
  • “Bang” Maverick Gallery (Aug 2001)
  • Salek Minc (2001)
  • Guest artist in Presbyterian Ladies College School Exhibition (2001)
  • Resident Artist at Maverick Studios and Gallery (2001)
  • Accent Gallery, Dalkeith (1999)
  • Art Gallery of Western Australia, Year 12 Perspectives Exhibition (1991 to 1992)

Solo Exhibitions

  • Red Sea Gallery, Singapore (2005)
  • JahRoc Gallery Margaret River March 4th 2006
  • Margaret River Galleries, Margaret River (Dec 2005 to Jan 2006/Sept to Oct 2003)
  • Gullotti Galleries, Perth (Jan/Feb 2006)
  • Catherine Asquith Gallery, Melbourne (Nov 2004)
  • Country Road Homewares, Perth (Mar-April 2004)
  • Gadfly Gallery – Scent of a Mango (Mar 2004)
  • Accent Gallery – Hot and Spicy (Dec 2002)
  • Blue Duck Restaurant – Summer (Nov 2002)
  • Maverick Art Gallery – In the Flesh (Aug 2002)
  • Nudes Exhibition – St John Of God Hospital, Subiaco (2001)

Professional History

  • 1995 to present – Professional Artist
  • 2003 Part time Art Consultant, PH3 Property Development
  • 2000 Senior Occupational Therapist
  • 1996 Occupational Therapist/Art Therapist

Education

  • 2000 Art Therapy Course, University of Sydney
  • 1997 Tafe
  • 1997 Kidogo Arthouse
  • 1996 Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy), Curtin University
  • 1991 Hollywood Senior High School (with High Distinction in Art)

Shop Shannon Hamilton Paintings

Shannon Hamilton Recently Sold Paintings At JahRoc Galleries

Shannon Hamilton Mum And Bub Bronte Beach 43900
Mum and Bub
91cm x 107cm
oil on canvas
SOLD
Shannon Hamilton Hanging North Cott 152x137cm
Hanging North Cott
152cm x 137cm
oil on canvas
SOLD
Shannon Hamilton Beach Angel 60x60 980 980
Beach Angel
60cm x 60cm
oil on canvas
SOLD
Shannon Hamilton Sisterly Thing 102x102cm 3800
Sisterly Thing
102cm x 102cm
oil on canvas
SOLD
Shanon Hamilton Reflection Cable Beach Broome Painting
Reflection, Cable Beach, Broome
oil on canvas
SOLD
Relaxing, Geordie Bay, Rottnest
152cm x 111.5cm
oil on canvas
SOLD
Shannon Hamilton A Mothers Love 51x51cm
A Mother’s Love
51cm x 51cm
oil on canvas
SOLD
Shannon Hamilton Drawing In The Sand 1200jpg
Drawing In The Sand
oil on canvas
SOLD
Shannon Hamilton Best Buds Painting
Best Buds
112cm x 91cm
oil on canvas
SOLD


Shannon Hamilton in Her Studio