The Selfish Giant - by Patrick Sheehan based on the beloved story by Oscar Wilde →

The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde. Acrylic and iridescent acrylic on birch veneer by artist, Patrick Sheehan. 41" X 48" Paintings are more than what you see o...

Paintings are more than what you see on the surface. There are countless versions hiding beneath it and many attempts before you get the one that says what you need to say. I began this as an illustration years ago in a style that was more children’s book than the style it ended up.

I had seen a short film of the story, that I believe will probably be on youtube and then read the story. I happened to find it in a publication of short stories on my bookshelf. I had no idea I even had it. And as most inspirations go, I was inspired. 

Since this is a children's story almost every page is a detailed illustration in print. You just have to pick one. Mr. Wilde makes it very hard to choose. I finally settled on the great reveal of the book. The giant seemingly asleep in his great chair, exhausted by breaking down the huge wall he had erected around his garden. His heart. And at his feet a small child comforts him with the words, “... today you shall come with me to my garden, ...” 

For my model I used my brother-in-law David, he was not an old giant as I depicted him but he was a giant of a man with a big heart. He’s since gone to stay in the child’s garden but I can still look across my studio and visit him. I never did finish this version. 

I didn't have winter and hail and wind and ice stopping me but I dropped it into a storage portfolio and let it rest for a while. That was in 2009. Like so many unfinished works it never was far from my mind. Then, cleaning out old work and supplies last year I brought it out. 

Studying it I thought I might try changing the style to the cubistic style that I’ve developed. I would try just painting on the surface without sketching it first. This worked to a point. It got me the pose I wanted for the giant. That of a person exhausted, falling asleep almost in the act of laying down. 

Withered from building so many walls against intruders his arms are limp. Sleepless night watches assuring that no one touches him has left his heart cold. But no matter how hard or how long he labored to surround himself this frozen brittle wall breaks and love slips in. 

The child fills the hole in the giant's heart. A touch of his hand transforms darkened trees to gold and melts away the walls. Yet, even as the giant's garden comes to new life he must leave it.  He has been invited to another garden, the child's garden, “which is Paradise.”

Pat Sheehan

Rabbouni Catholic Community

Drawing Classes - The Real World of Art

In February, we launched our first drawing class. It was a great way to impart the knowledge of a guy who has been creating art since he was four years old and pass it on to kids. He taught them about drawing pencils and erasers and sharpeners and paper. He taught them about shadow and how light will create those shadows. We expected excitement and we were not disappointed.

We learned a full appreciation for what teachers do five days a week all day long. Our two hours with these incredible little minds barely touched the surface of the commitment of teachers. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who expand the minds of these amazing little brains.

One thing we learned very quickly is that a 5 and 7 year old are VERY different. They process information in unique ways. But one thing that was universal for the kids this young, is they question everything and they are bereft with opinions and can be very pointed in their assessment of the creative world. They drew animals and monsters, cartoon characters and fruit. and then they painted! “Can I draw batman?, “How can you do this all day?, “I’m thirsty”, We have HOMEWORK?!”. They fill up two hours very quickly and we had naps after class.

Then the art class changed! Enter a 12 year old. A 12 year old, having established years of developing listening skills, is deliberate in learning. The conversations led to “hows”. “How do you know how to do that?!” “How can you draw that without looking at anything?” “How do you just draw all day?” And shadows were learned and how light creates those shadows. Anime came into the conversation while favorite music was played. Learning to draw hands and feet was a big deal. “Hows”, continued.

So for four weeks for two hours each Saturday, in the cold grip of February, we hosted a small group of kids to step into the art world and learn how to draw from a guy that has been drawing since he was four years old. I said before, we were not disappointed. These kids were nothing short of terrific and having a chance to pass on what you know to a new group of artists of what it means to draw is a gift we were given. Thank you to the parents! Thanks for trusting us with their learning. Thank you for allowing us to learn from each one of them. We look forward to learning more.

And thank you to Preston Arts Center for your support of the arts community. You are the best!

Elevator Artist Resource

I was sitting down with Pat last night.  It was a few minutes before we left to join the Elevator Artist Resource launch event at Gravely Brewery.  I was lamenting over launching our e-commerce site and wanting to reach a broader audience. Ever so gently, as he often does, he nudged me and said “Why don’t you blog more?”  I thought a little bit about his comment and then we left for the event.

I had remarked, early on, at the event to a friend of ours that I am so incredibly awkward at these types of things.  I never really know what to say. I am not a networker. For me it feels phony and I am not good at it. But I do like to connect with people. So using my go to survival instinct I reached out my hand and introduce myself to people I had never met before and ask about their art of choice. And it worked!  

I had a blast and can’t remember the last time I was in a room with mostly strangers and actually felt completely connected.  It was a terrific event and was packed with a snappy representation of local artists from around the city and our neighbors across the river. Two hours sailed by and during that time I ran into some friends, talked with artists I had never met before, creating in fields that ranged from music to acting to photography, sculpting, painting, writing, dancing and was filled to the brim with talent.

It was nothing short of amazing being in the middle of all the coolness and when I sat down at my computer today I thought about Pat and his blogging comment and decided to share a little bit about the event and put a plug out there for Elevator and their mission of being a “centralized support of individual artists & creative professionals.”  If you’d like to know more about Elevator then reach out here http://elevatorarts.org/about/