Claire Shiely

Artist Statement

I grew up on a small farm where I was taught the basics of animal care: how to feed them, keep their spaces, and treat their injuries. However, my love for animals made dealing with their losses all the more painful every time one of them passed. Processing this as a child was even more difficult. In my art, I draw upon these experiences to create absurd/surreal images depicting the fragility of life to convey the value of appreciating all living things.     

I use both my dominant (right) and non-dominant (left) hands to draw and paint. I started this practice to relieve the strain on my right hand. Using this method creates variations in the quality of my lines that interest me.  When using my left hand to draw, I give up a certain level of control, and my marks get more wobbly and uneven. I enjoy this process because it relates to how I felt as a kid in these situations; a lack of control. Most aspects of life are beyond our command, which can feel awful. My work reckons with my own sense of control.