Conversations with Eli Schamane

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eli Schamane.

Eli, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been involved in art in some capacity my entire life. My siblings and I were raised in music, books, theater, film, and art, and it shaped and essentially created who I am today.

I don’t call myself an artist in the sense of a singular medium – I find that it’s easier to say I am an artist in the overarching sense of the word because I genuinely believe that art is multifaceted – it’s not a singular discipline and when we look hard enough, we can see art in everything we do.

Over the years, I have explored the many different angles of my artistic identity and have dabbled in every medium I can get my hands on. I have an unfinished manuscript that will – hopefully – see bookshelves, I am a musician and singer and I have the pleasure of performing every single week. I used to act. Now, I find myself happily diving deep into the world of digital artistry. I used to believe myself to be a sketch-book-only kind of person, and now I can look back at a large and varied portfolio that shows growth, story, and ultimately, me.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think anyone can boast a smooth road. We all have our flavor of damage and while it’s certainly not fair, we’re each burdened with the challenge to journey through that damage and to see who comes out on the other side.

I have found that, because of the deeply intimate nature of art, the struggles that have most challenged and impacted my trade have been the personal struggles in my life. The loss of a job, the hurt of a partner, the move from a childhood home…I, along with every other person in existence, have experienced these types of pains and it has, in one shape or another, influenced and informed my outward artistic expression.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have had the pleasure of an incredibly varied journey artistically and my focuses have ranged from logo design to leading marketing campaigns, to helping with the design of websites (I had a short affair with HTML and CSS with the absurd hope and dream that I would be focused enough to pursue a career in UX/UI. That lasted all of six months).

Currently, I have made it my focus to do a deep study of digital art. My subject matter has continued to shift with the ebb and flow of my life, and with the spooky season right around the corner, I have found myself falling into a delightfully macabre and just plain weird phase. My pieces have been angsty, dissonant, and grungey, and I am reveling in this new chapter of my artistic life.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I have always had a deep-seated love for Northern Colorado. I’ve lived here my whole life and am still finding new things or places that I want to explore.

The art scene here is spectacular. I love the variety of art, and the incredible depth of history of our performing arts venues and our theater companies. There is powerful advocacy in the promotion of local art, be it performing, musical, or visual.

I am always on the lookout for a new brewery, or somewhere with really good food (I am food-centric), and, no matter where I go, I can always find a place where I haven’t yet been.

As far as what I least like about our city/state/region? I’m not a big fan of snow – which sounds ridiculous considering I live in Colorado. I adore the rain (somewhat rare here compared to other locations) and the cold weather, but I could do without the snow.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s vital to our ecosystems, and when I’m up in the middle of the night and looking out the window, and it’s a fresh blanket of pure snow and there’s no one else around, I can feel the magic in those moments, and I can recognize its true beauty.

Contact Info:

• Website: elisartanddesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisartanddesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elisartanddesign

Image Credits
Eli’s Art and Design