TennesseeMemphis College of Art As a mother of four, many of Shelley’s series feature children or a memory of a place or a moment. As it is in life, many never see the layers of personal experience and past acts that culminate to form who a person is. Frequently, the surface is a mask hiding those experiences, but the past continues to resonate and shape the present. Each layer of her paintings is its own. The final work is a combination of experiences and emotions whether they be abstract or defined; ethereal or palpable. Shelley’s process involves mark making, laying down vibrant and joyful colors of paint, and sometimes adding collage to create contemporary portraiture, abstract, and landscape scenes that carry depth and dimension. The process involves continually building up layers using charcoal, acrylic, oil and scrapings until the final painting emerges. My art is a visual representation of my personal experiences with a focus on capturing the essence of a place or memory through incorporating still life, landscape, and figures. I aim to create a body of work that evokes a sensory experience for the viewer. My art is a reflection of my surroundings and memories, creating a journey for the viewer to spark their own memories and stories