We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shawn Harris a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shawn, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
For me, being creative often implies being imaginative. My creativity goes hand in hand with imagination and a desire to share ideas with others. Me imagining without an outlet may make me a bit of a day dreamer. Creativity mixed with imagination becomes something much more, art has the possibility of intimacy with complete strangers. Short answer, I keep my creativity alive by listening to my imagination. When I say ‘listen’ to my imagination, I mean allowing myself to run absolutely wild. I often relate creativity/imagination to exercise in that the more one practices, the easier it becomes. I’ve been a practicing visual artist for 30 years. Imagination is constantly competing with reality. I enjoy the non reality and relish the escapism it provides. The struggle I have is allowing it to constantly run in the background regardless of what I’m doing. Turning it down and stepping away from creating becomes the challenge.
Several things inspire the process. I have a studio full of antiques and props that are utilized in my work. A trip to a vintage shop is a great source of inspiration. Odd/obscure/obsolete objects are perfect for sparking the imagination. New landscapes and travel, seeking out smaller, less visited roadside attractions is a delicious recipe for inspiration. Art, dance, movies, sharing in other’s creativity is infectious, awe inspiring. Motivation is enlivened by surrounding myself with artist friends immersed in their own processes. Motivation is listening to music that feels like its been crafted to perfection. Keeping my creativity alive is a blend of all these overlapping elements. Creating the art itself to share with others allows me to feel most alive.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
The work I do, that’s captivated me for over thirty years is fine art photography. I’m especially interested in utilizing the camera to translate the world into something totally unreal. I enjoy using my camera in a way that’s unexpected and pushes it’s limits. This past decade, I’ve focused on a series of images I call ‘camera illustrations’ [digital composites made with upwards of 500+ images per illustration]. The work is narrative-based and focuses mainly on anthropomorphic figures in human like situations. I have 200+ animal masks and an enormous collection of clothes and props. Standing on a green screen, I dress up as the characters, and with the aid of a tripod, I photograph myself in into my work. One piece may take up to a year to create, but 3-4 weeks is average. The work can be found in a handful of galleries, I also travel the country in the summer months doing outdoor arts festivals.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Advice I have for those beginning a similar journey- Have a day job, something that is hopefully relevant to your interests [or at least compensates you well enough]. Do what you’re passionate about in your free time. Your free time is yours to explore, question, practice, develop, make mistakes, hone your skills, know where you fit in, take risks, put yourself out there. If you are making something [art] submit your work to shows, listen and be flexible to feedback, allow yourself to hear how others receive your creativity [adapt if you need to]. This time is yours and there’s great value in nurturing your craft. With time, and a great deal of patience, one of these two things will win out. The day job may evolve into something you enjoy, or, your art/passion project will win out and you find yourself doing what you love. A win-win scenario that plays out over a period of time. For me, it was a 10-12 year process of working for others. It took longer than I expected, but those ‘day jobs’ were art/photo related, I learned a lot from several talented people. I’m extremely grateful for for those years!
-See/watch/look/study/absorb/question, take time to notice the small stuff. Find ways to play.
-Don’t look for the quick and easy, put your time in. It’s going to take a lot of patience and focus.
-Continue working when other’s in you field have quit for the day.
-Know the history of what it is you are trying to do. Study those who were doing it before you, who pioneered the field you’re interested in, and why they are notable. Know what has been done prior to you, not to copy or imitate, but so that you may find your own path and know how it fits into the context of what you are doing.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
The people who have been most influential in moving me in the direction of being an artist, hands down, my art teachers in high school, John and Bill. Bill taught painting/drawing, John taught everything else. I’m incredibly grateful they were in my life. There were one or two college professors who kept the fire lit but the college experience wasn’t quite what I had hoped for. The jobs I had out of school came with co-workers who were brilliant at what they did, they gave their knowledge and experience without hesitation. Present day, my circle of artist friends and colleagues share their knowledge and influence my skills/abilities. It’s this tribe of folks who keep me wanting to better myself, their progress and skills have me wanting to grow with them. It’s been a wild ride and I’m grateful for the opportunities given to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shawn-ray-harris.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnrayharris/
Image Credits
Photos by Shawn Ray Harris
