Rising Stars: Meet René Shoemaker

Today we’d like to introduce you to René Shoemaker.  

Hi René, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I wandered into Athens, Ga in 1976 on my way traveling up the east coast. Athens felt good; it seemed like I could be happy there. I wanted to go to college but didn’t have a clear path to get there, so I began working at the Vet School at the University of Georgia. After working in the state of Georgia for a year, I applied to the art school at UGA. I was accepted into the Fabric Design program and learned many skills (and opened my mind), but it wasn’t until after I graduated with my BFA in 1981 that I went back and took a class in surface design. It was there that I learned the mesmerizing technique of painting on silk. I was hooked! 

I began working at the Main Library at UGA and continued to create art while raising my two children. My husband Harvey and I built our own house in the woods of Oconee County, GA. In 1992-93 I commuted weekly to Columbus, SC to obtain a master’s degree in Library and Information Science. After graduation, I accepted the position of Library and Gallery Director at the School of Environmental Design at UGA. Surrounded by like-minded creatives teaching Landscape Architecture and Historic Preservation, my sensitivity to the architecture, spaces, and designed places that make people feel good and respond with appreciation grew, and that understanding influenced my art practice. 

In 1998 I spent a summer in Italy with the UGA art school’s Study Abroad program in Cortona. This was a turning point in my artistic life. I was surrounded by artists, and although I was there to catalog the library, I knew I was equal to the artists who surrounded me. I returned to the U.S. with a new understanding of a sense of place and what it was to be a professional artist. 

I then began exhibiting my artwork in solo and group shows. Each step, each success, led me to a new challenge and new goals. I haven’t stopped since. 

After my summer in Italy, I set an intention of becoming a full-time artist the moment I retired from UGA. I am happy to say in 2010, I retired Faculty Emerita and jumped immediately into the then-unknown entrepreneurial journey. My new career was not just about making art, which I loved as much as ever. Now I needed to build a business and continue to create my identity as an artist. 

Now I live in Aubusson, France for part of the year, but my business is based in Athens, GA. I suppose that makes me an international artist! 

My love for Athens, GA, has not wavered. In fact, I recently created a series of work, “The Doors of Athens,” celebrating the small businesses that make Athens unique. That work continues to be exhibited in galleries in Athens and beyond. I’d love to create a series for your town, too! 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Never has it been a smooth road. Working by oneself can be soothing but is also challenging. Having time by yourself to think, dream and create is useful, but it can also be lonely, and everyone needs feedback and support! I love my community(ies) and feel that they feed my soul. 

Making art is a time-consuming process, and once I find myself in “flow,” I lose track of time and never want to come back! 

Building a profitable business around art has been a challenge because there is always so much to learn about business, marketing, and profitability. 

But the highs of having exhibitions, talking about my work, teaching, and continuing to share ideas about what I do definitely outweigh the lows. I am a very positive, proactive person! 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My specialty is painting on silk. I have focused on that art form for many years as it is fairly unique, and I have created a strong following based on that. My love of architecture, form, and color is conveyed well through this artistic technique. I can create art in small or large sizes, and my silk paintings can be framed, hang freely, or be fashioned into apparel. I love learning and continue to build my art—and life—skills. I relish sharing what I’ve learned in my life with others. 

My greatest moments of achievement have been a) opening solo exhibits at the Columbus Museum in Columbus, GA, and the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel, MS; b) exhibiting solo shows in New York City, Paris, and Aubusson, France; and c) teaching printmaking in France using the French language. 

What sets me apart from others? My vision, communication skills, and love of networking. And my unshakeable perseverance. 

We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I worked in a service station in the Florida Keys for many years pumping gas, helping run the business, and learning mechanic work. 

Pricing:

• Commissions: $1,000+
• Paintings on silk: $500-$3,000
• Fine art reproductions (prints): $40+
• Greeting cards: $35+ / set
• T-shirts: $28

Contact Info:

• Website: reneshoemaker.com
• Instagram: rene.shoemaker.art
• Facebook: reneshoemakerart
• Youtube: @reneshoemaker2305

Image Credits
twinlens.com
Kitty and Craig
René Shoemaker
Becky Ford
Rinne Allen