You have discovered the best way to get to know me...

Art is love. Art is hate. Art is a strong reaction to something that inspires an uncontrollable emotion, so uncontrolled that you have no choice but to capture it somehow. It could be a river, it could be a bowl of fruit, it could be a picture you have had in your head since you were little. One day you picked up that pencil or paintbrush for the first time and you stopped at nothing to get it on the canvas. Art is subjective and based on our personal experiences. I have already had the experience that made this art and now it is your turn to take from what you see here and have your own, possibly similar but likely completely different, experience. Just as it was meant to be.

A lot of Shandai's recent work is made not only with paint but found household items like string, newspaper, tin foil, ripped up maps etc. causing pieces like "Without Us" and "Courage", to have a thick texture that can only be truly experienced in person to get the whole effect. Click on Blog and Links or Contact the Artist to find out where and when you can get the full experience.

 

About the Artist

Even though she was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Shandai is proud to have experienced most of her childhood in small town Camrose, Alberta. It was there she first discovered her artist child within (whom she affectionately refers to as Lovika). It was this little voice inside of her that inspired her to break out of a rather hidden and unconventional childhood to attain a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double concentration in Studio Art and Theatre from Augustana University.

Now, through a series of incredible life-changing events she has found herself living in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the midst of an amazingly artsy community that she cannot wait to dive head first into.

"But first, let me get my toes wet," she says, "I hope you feel strongly about what you see here, be it love or hate or any other strong emotion, and if you do I hope you pass on the link."

In addition to creating art, Shandai is finding opportunity to appease her performance bug by singing at open mic nights and dancing with her Irish ceili troupe, Trasna na tDonnta. She has also recently found herself the means for inspiration as opposed to the vessel by modeling for local art co-ops and photographers. Her memoirs are being written as you read this.