The Spiritualist Series
This is a series I was working on last month combining my current obsession with transparency and layers with my other obsession on themes of spiritualism which includes mediums, ghosts, and ectoplasm. I really like the mystery and blurring of line that happens with the layers which seems to reflect the blurring of reality in spiritualism.

They were made with various media including oil paint, grease pencils, graphite, and various layers of tracing paper, and were designed to be seen against a light box. I created a 5' by 3' light table in which they are layed out flat underneath a large pane of glass, and are meant to be seen in a dark room to mimic the atmosphere of a seance.

detail from a larger piece:

detail from a larger piece:

alternate version:

alternate version:

detail:

detail:

all images copyright Shannon Freshwater. Not to be used without permission.

illustration process for Tom Waits:
This is a portrait of Tom Waits for a mock Rolling Stone assignment. I just finished it today. It's pretty straight forward, but I'm fairly happy with the way it turned out.

process from sketch


completed illustration

Images copyright Shannon Freshwater. Not to be used without permission.

The Spring Instillation at Art Center:

I was able to show some fairly recent work for this instillation, and was lucky to get a large wall to show off my sculptural work! I'm really happy with the way it turned out, even though I worked on it through the night until 8am. The sunrise and deer frolicking just outside the window was enough to give me energy.

these are porcelain plates which I re-fired, applying decals of my illustrations and then added the plush

these are current pieces dealing with my personal experiences with music




this hand plays my music box which uses color in place of sound

All images copyright Shannon Freshwater. Not to be used without permission.

Spacecraft Gallery Sticker Sheet:
Last year I was selected to do an image for Spacecraft's annual gallery sticker sheet. Spacecraft is a Seattle based snowboard/clothing/sticker company that puts out this sticker sheet to promote artists along with their brand. They give out this limited edition sheet as promotional gifts at their parties, and can be found in various magazines. They are really rad, artist friendly people over there, and although they didn't pay because it's a promo piece for the artist, they gave out a lot of freebies. This sheet came out late 2007.


front image, and back promo info

My sticker

The back info (yeah, my actual website is still under construction...)

copyright Shannon Freshwater

Messy desk:
Here's a taste of my typical work space. This was actually on a clean day, working on a portrait of John Lurie. That's my cat. His hair can be found in most of my work.

copyright Shannon Freshwater. Not to be used without permission.

New-ish work:
Sorry everyone, I've been so swamped with work recently that I've been neglecting the blog. So here are a few pieces that I did sometime around December / January.

on vision

this is how I feel sometimes

on fertility and religion

psychotic twin marriage

copyright Shannon Freshwater. Not to be used without permission.

Theme: Imprisonment / Freedom
Here are some images based on this theme.

All images copyright Shannon Freshwater. Not to be used without permission.

Theme: Technology's Influence on Evolution
Here are some images that are roughly based on this theme.

Images copyright Shannon Freshwater. Not to be used without permission.

Theme: Life Support System
Here are some images based on this theme.

Images copyright Shannon Freshwater. Not to be used without permission.

Fashion illustration?
This was an assignment to take contemporary fashions and re-interpret them in my own way. I decided to approach the assignment as a scientist or biologist, by dissecting and analyzing the various forms in a garment. I picked designers like Benjamin Cho, Giles Deacon, and Alexander Mcqueen who's lines are inspired by nature and natural forms. I like the idea of not being able to distinguish between what is natural and what is man made.
(will not be published)

cover:


spread:

Images copyright Shannon Freshwater. Not to be used without permission.