F.SHOGREEN ART
The Art of Francois Shogreen
As we age, we embellish our early memories with enhanced feelings of nostalgia. Colors are more intense, flavors and smells are more delicious. We create fond memories of events, seemingly mundane, simple, and perhaps insignificant for most people yet they etch themselves quite deeply into our psyche.
We’ve applied our Technicolor perceptions on occurrences which were either of little importance or too dark to process at an early age.
Colors, theatricality, the innocuous nature of children’s toys and the innocent façade of feminine youth lend an affable surface to something that lives deep within. Something we don’t allow ourselves to approach, we shroud the complexity of our past in a more luminous prismatic coated yearning for what was lost.
STORY OF AN ARTIST
Born - November 24th, 1979 in Walnut Creek, CA
As a child I resided in Walnut Creek until 1988, and then moved to Costa Rica, which is when I really started dedicating myself to drawing. I returned back to California after 2 years living in Costa Rica, and lived in Barstow, California until 1992. Upon returning to Costa Rica in 1992, I viewed the artwork of Oscar Salazar, a Costa Rican artist, whom my cousin Max knew personally. After evaluating the course of progress evident within Salazar’s artwork, I was inspired to achieve the same. This realization prompted a personal resolution to dedicate myself to honing and refining my skills related to drawing the human body. Within three years, I mastered the accurate depiction of the human head and figure.
My influences stem from the works of master artists of the Renaissance and subsequent periods. Through extensive research into their techniques, I was able to discern the level of artistic achievement that was possible.
Upon returning permanently to the US in 1994, I have resided within the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I attended the Art Institute of Dallas in and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Computer Animation in 2002. I entered the Gaming Industry for a short period of time, working for the game company, Dark Room Studios, where I worked for three years on a game titled, “Lawmaker”. I later worked for the game company, Terminal Reality, as a character artist for “Ghostbusters the Video Game” and “Rapstar”. Finally, realizing that the gaming industry was not promoting my full artistic potential, I decided to dedicate myself entirely to creating fine art.
WORKS
“I am still learning.”