Artist Shelley Grice Found Passion In Painting
Ever since preschool, Newport Beach local Shelley Grice had always been infatuated with arts and crafts, regularly returning home from school with a gaggle of creations to hang around the house. But it wasn’t until the 8th grade that the young artist discovered her true passion: oil painting. After learning the color wheels and how to mix paint, her first painting was a beautiful white lily on a red velvet cloth.
Her plan was to give it to her dad for Christmas. However, two weeks before the holiday, he passed away in a sudden accident.
Although she didn’t know it at the time, this tragedy played a huge role in her career path, pushing her to go the business route instead of pursuing art. After graduating from USC, she got a job at an accounting firm as an auditor, but soon realized, through much self-reflection and inner work, that she wasn’t following her dream. “I realized that never being able to give my dad that first painting prevented me from getting the affirmation I needed as a young girl,” Grice explains. “This lack of approval is ultimately what made me choose the career that he was in (accounting) because I had this assurance that if I did, he would have been proud of me.”
After years of self doubt and trying to fit into a corporate role to gain approval, Shelley finally took the plunge to pursue a career as a full-time artist working out of Newport. She has found clarity in knowing that painting is where she feels unapologetically herself, each stroke helping her enter a state of flow that allows her to feel connected to the being of who she is at her core and also, at the same time, a deep connection to her dad who she now knows would be proud of her no matter what.
We recently sat down with the artist to get a glimpse into the stories behind the incredible pieces she produces…
Where do you pull inspiration from and how would you describe the style of your artwork?
I quit my job as an accountant almost a year ago. After being diagnosed with epilepsy, I questioned everything about how I was living my life and who I was living it for. I found myself in this battle between who I thought I should be and who I know my truest self to be. This diagnosis gave me the courage to take the leap from fulfilling other people's expectations to fulfilling my own authenticity. I pull inspiration from a wide variety of things, however I would say the biggest contributors are my own experiences. I am currently working on a series of duel self portraits called the “Duality Series.”
I have a piece of me playing chess with myself titled “Mind Games.” Essentially, it was inspired from the time when I was torn between quitting my job as an accountant and becoming a full-time artist. It was a chess match between accountant vs. artist which also translates as expectations vs. authenticity. I felt like I was in a constant chess match with myself, trying to see five moves ahead and trying to predict what my future would look like down both paths.
The artist clearly won in my life’s scenario. After realizing that we are often our own toughest opponent, I promised myself to spend the rest of my life putting authenticity above expectations and to make sure authenticity always wins the chess match.
Another recent influential experience occurred just recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Walking around with masks and gloves on, bumping elbows instead of shaking hands was hard to accept as the new normal. To depict this period in time I did a painting titled “The New Normal.” I remember in business school having one entire class session dedicated to how to properly shake someone's hand. Reflecting back on that makes me laugh now as I wonder who determines the social etiquette of how to properly bump elbows.
Aside from my own experiences, I pull inspiration from my favorite artists such as Hernan Bas, Chloe Wise, and Louise Bonnet. My renderings most resemble that of Wise, who leans towards hyper realistic portrait paintings. I also really enjoy painting fabrics as I love the folds and creases they allow you to work with. Lately, I have been especially into sheer fabric, not only because it is a large part of my own wardrobe but especially because I enjoy the challenge it presents when layering colors on top of one another.
How have you used your talent to brighten up the OC community?
This past year I did a mural of late artist Keith Haring that was featured on PCH. I chose to pay tribute to Haring because he was a fearless leader in addressing socio-political issues in his work during the 1980’s. Not only was he an incredible artist with an easily recognizable visual language, but also an advocate for social change and awareness. His way of engaging with the public has always been an inspiration for me so I saw it appropriate to pay tribute to him in my first opportunity to truly engage with the public.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What are you most excited about in the near future?
In the near future I am excited to continue working on my “Duality Series” in between completing commission paintings. I am painting this series to reflect on my life and to better understand myself, my emotions, and my thoughts. I am also starting my first tribute painting of my dad which has been super emotional but incredibly liberating. To resurface the grief I felt 10 years ago has allowed me to revisit the feelings I couldn't process as a 14-year-old girl.
Ultimately, I will go wherever my curiosity leads me. I want to do a residency abroad for a few months at some point in my career. I have found that through all the change that has happened in my life, following my curiosity is the only compass that will point me to where my heart wants to go. I believe there is conviction in curiosity that is so earnest and innate to our being that it allows us to explore our mind and our heart at the same time.
To view more of Shelley Grice’s art visit her Instagram at @shelleygrice.