A professional artist and art instructor based in Colorado, we’re excited to welcome Shelby Lynne as the newest addition to the Dynasty Brand Specialists!
Shelby specializes in fantasy portraiture, interweaving natural elements with fantastical to showcase the unique story of her subject. Endearingly, her motto is "When in doubt, add a dragon."
Along with working in watercolor, oils, pencils, and colored pencils, Shelby teaches art to adults and children in her studio, sharing the wonders of art and creativity. She also shares her talents online, through her Shaking Bird Art social accounts and YouTube page.
We interviewed Shelby Lynne to learn more about her journey as an artist, why art education matters, which projects she’s recently found most fulfilling, and the Dynasty Brushes she reaches for over and over again!
Congrats on becoming our newest Dynasty Brand Specialist! Can you tell us about your journey as an artist and how your background has influenced your creative approach to what you make?
Thank you so much for the opportunity to be included as a Brand Specialist! It's an honor and a pleasure to officially be joining the Dynasty team! To answer your question, my journey to becoming a full-time artist has been an interesting one. Growing up in a military family, we spent nearly a decade living in Germany where I was constantly inspired by the museums and other artistic and historical sights. The experience shaped my enthusiasm for both Classical Realism techniques and art history, which was further strengthened when I returned to the US and was able to take classes at the Schissler Academy of Fine Art in Loveland, Colorado. There, I finished my art education in a Classical atelier atmosphere, learning to paint and draw in the ways of the old masters.
I made three attempts over the years to launch a full-time art career, failing twice before finding my stride. I learned the hard way that, to succeed as an artist, I had to also become a businesswoman. This meant taking small business classes, lots of trial and error, watching YouTube tutorials, reading how-to books, and other things to teach me what I needed to do.
Gradually, I opened my studio for both in-person and online students, began taking on portrait and pet portrait commissions, started exhibiting paintings in nationwide exhibitions, and found opportunities to plug into my local arts community. And still, there is a lot to learn and to try. It's been a lot of work, but I've loved the journey.
What aspects of your art do you find most fulfilling?
There are so many ways to answer that question, it's difficult to know where to start! I think what I find most fulfilling about my art is the ability to connect with people's lives and emotions in intimate, meaningful ways. People often come to me to paint memorials for the passing of loved ones or to create unique gifts that speak to the personality and experiences of the recipient, and the thoughts of love and tenderness that go into these designs touch me deeply. It makes the work feel especially worthwhile to have my art entwined with these cherished memories. It's an honor!
On the other hand, I also find the connections made with both clients and students profoundly fulfilling. I've met some amazing people and many of them now feel like family. It gives me so much joy to be able to make people happy with my art and to share my knowledge and excitement for the art world with them.
Are there any specific projects or pieces of artwork that you’re particularly proud of? What made them stand out to you?
Two fantasy portrait commissions from last year spring to mind, in particular. "Denizens of the Forest," and "Leader of the Pack." Both were created in watercolor. Not only were these a lot of fun to create, but they solidified in my mind what I'm most interested in doing with my career and the direction I want it to go in. Namely, to bring people's likenesses to life with a fantasy story. Consequently, I've begun moving my career toward a niche of Fantasy Portraiture.
My enjoyment of fantasy was fueled by the many castles and medieval influences I experienced while living in Germany, along with a great love of books, especially, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
For the first few years of my art career though, these passions were put on hold as I launched myself into the pet portrait industry, which is easier to break into for emerging artists. Now that I'm more established, I feel confident to pursue my true passion: telling stories through paintings and drawings. As such, I've begun devoting more time toward developing a portfolio that more clearly represents the kind of art that I'd like to be doing more of.
We are so honored you’re a fan of Dynasty Brush! Please share which Dynasty Brush series is your favorite and why.
I have a two-part answer to this question! I first began using long-handled Black Gold paint brushes for oil painting when I was sixteen years old, and they have outlasted and outperformed every other brand I've tried. With competitive prices, too! I still have all my original brushes even after all these years, using them both personally and with students, and they perform as well today as they did on Day 1.
As for watercolor paints, I began using the Water Lily series of paintbrushes three years ago and have never looked back. The amount of water and paint they hold when fully charged is amazing, and they keep their shape like a champ. I recommend both of these series of brushes to all of my students and followers. Dynasty never lets me down!
Along with being a professional artist, you’re also an art instructor. Please tell us more about what you teach and why you believe art education is important.
I teach both Classical and Modern methods of drawing and painting using pencils, colored pencils, watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, and more! Although I teach all ages from 5 to adult, the majority of my students are usually children between the ages of 8-13, taught either privately or in groups. There are so many reasons why art education is important: not only are these children learning how to draw a flower or shade a sphere correctly, but they're also getting experience with real-world concepts like problem-solving, critical thinking, observation, and hand-eye coordination, among other things. I also enjoy introducing other educational disciplines into the lessons to make the experience as meaningful and memorable as possible, such as science, philosophy, history, biology, or anatomy. This keeps the lessons relevant in the minds of the students even if they don't ultimately grow up to become artists.
In short, art encourages people to think outside the box and broadens their perspectives. Many of my students come from troubled households or experience developmental disabilities, and art is well known as a therapeutic method to help brains overcome stress responses and promote calm. I enjoy coming up with lessons that use art to illustrate strategies for dealing with difficult emotions and healthy ways of coping. Creating art can help students regulate negative thoughts and feelings, give them goals to reach for, and promotes self-confidence. Scientific studies are also showing that drawing and painting can reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and other disorders. Consequently, art education will always remain relevant and important for both children and adults.
We admire your online handle: Shaking Bird Art. Can you tell us the meaning behind it?
Absolutely! My nickname has been Bird for many years. Mostly because I tend to be shy, un-intimidating, and rather obsessed with wings and winged creatures. When I was in my mid-teens, I saw the movie "Dances with Wolves" with my mother and sister for the first time. We were delighted and inspired by all the descriptive names for the Native American characters, such as Smiles a Lot and Stands with a Fist, so we decided to create meaningful names for each other, too.
It was decided that we should add "Shaking" to my existing nickname, Bird, since I'm always shaking . . . either because I'm scared of something or freezing! The name was so apt that it has remained my official nickname ever since, to the point where it seemed only appropriate to make it the name of my business.
Besides painting, are there other mediums you work with?
Besides painting, I also work with and teach graphite and colored pencils, charcoal, ink pens, and pastels. I also sometimes mix mediums, such as watercolor and colored pencils.
What advice would you give to new and emerging artists?
It's okay to fail. It's okay to make a mess. Make messes! Keep practicing! If you stick to it, eventually the messes will begin to resolve into something more. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts except to keep practicing. Consistency is key. Immerse yourself in the art world. Go to the library and check out whatever art books you can find. Read other artists' blogs and ask them questions (I love it when people reach out to me with questions!).
Also, follow artists on social media (if you have it) whom you admire and study their approach, watch YouTube tutorials, go to museums, and take classes. Most importantly- enjoy the process and have fun!
Where can fellow artists and fans find you online?
You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, along with an art advice blog on Vocal Media and a shop on Ko-fi! Read her bio on Dynasty Brush's New Artists.
Facebook: Shaking Bird Art
Instagram: @shaking_bird_art
YouTube: Shaking Bird Art
Vocal: https://vocal.media/authors/shaking-bird
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/shakingbirdart
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