IN THE HANDS of many people, a pen is a tool merely used for writing. In the hands of young Barbadian artist Shane Eastmond however, it is a tool to create an incredibly detailed, multicoloured tapestry powerfully founded on thousands of ink strokes.
His art is born of his pen and liberal uses of colourful acrylic paints.
But looking at the 23-year-old Rowans, St Thomas resident working on an unfinished piece in his studio, it would be hard to believe that his art life started much like many children of his age did; drawing anime characters.
“Like everybody else growing up, the first thing you started doing was drawing Dragon Ball Z characters,” the former Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School student told EASY magazine.
“In the classroom, I saw everyone draw stick figures but I understood that people had hands with fingers and feet and skirts with pleats and just the fine details I understood them when it came to drawing.”
At the time however, Eastmond said he had other options on his mind such as to be a footballer or a veterinarian.
But unbeknownst to him, he and the world of art were on a collision course which would ultimately culminate in his decision to pursue a degree in art at the Barbados Community College.
There the young aspiring artist who honed his craft under the watchful and helpful eye of tutors and experienced artists, explained that he came to realise that there was more to art than the photo realistic forms.
Striking the page with the pen in his hand, Eastmond said he began to explore the beginnings of his unique art form. His first his work was mostly black and white as he and the art form grew.
As he became better versed in his style however, colour crept in, exploded rather, into his pieces.
“This is my hummingbirds then, this is them now. That’s the kind of growth that I’m talking about where I’m able to exaggerate my ideas more,” he explained, showing EASY before and after drawings.
The artistic side of things is always a full-time artist’s bread and butter.
“What’s great for me right now is the business side of things,” Eastmond as he laid several pieces of art around the room.
“A very important thing for you to figure out if you’re going to have a career in art is the business side of it. Yes, you love to express yourself, but it needs to work for you.”
Confident and speaking boldly, Eastmond said firmly that he was not here to sell himself short and insisted he knew the value of his work, something artists should know when selling their pieces.
“You’re going to have to find that courage. Toot your own horn, because there are going to be times when no one really believes in what you’re doing or it’s hard to see how it’s going to work,” he said.
Eastmond’s hard work had taken him to the Absolut Art Wars and shows such as Art and Soul and art events at the Red Door Lounge in Second Street, Holetown, St James.
And with this experience under his belt, he is ready to add the label of event planner to his repertoire.
“Now I’m already setting up things to do it on my own. Create an event where people have the opportunity to really enjoy the space around the work,” the ambitious artist added.
With him branching out from his work on the canvas, the sky is the limit for Eastmond who also professes his love for other areas such as fashion. (AD)
