The only time I really wish I had some "Best of Shows" or "Solo Exhibits" is when I have to write an artist bio. The truth is I really consider someone likeing my work enough to pay for it to be the ultimate award. I am fortunate enough to have sold some of my artwork. People contact me on a fairly regular basis with opportunities to do illustrations, logos, commissions. Probably not anyone famous ( that I'm aware of ) or any big corporations. I haven't worked with any big publishing houses or exclusive high end galleries. No. My patrons are just other art lovers and creative minds looking for something nice to hang in their home or someone to help them self publish on a budget.
I often get the idea that I will get my act together, get focused. Pick a genre, medium, market etc... and then attack it with a professional vengeance Will I join the National Watercolor Society? Or maybe I will submit some work to the Society of Illustrators? This year I made the effort to send in my $25 jury fee along with my artwork on disk to the local gallery here in Bay City Michigan for their all area show. I got rejected. So now what?
I love art. I love my paint and brushes. I love my computer and graphics programs. I love other peoples art. I love my wife, she's an art teacher. Art is my life.
There is no throwing in the towel.
I used to feel uncomfortable when people called me an artist. There was just something inside that said, 'You haven't earned that title yet.' . I'm getting older ( not old ) and I've come to realize that I am an artist. I earned it when I started drawing Garfield the cat in the second grade. I guess what I mean to say is if you took art away from me I would loose my identity. I would no longer be Sean Seal. They say that it's dangerous to define yourself by what you do. There is no question in my mind though that when God created me he made me an artist. A great artist once told me that something we had in common was that for us painting was like breathing. It's just something you have to do. I really think that cuts strait to the heart of what I'm trying to define.
So here is what I do have.
I have a Bachelors in Art with emphasis on "Illustration & Drawing" and "Computer Graphic Design" from Indiana Wesleyan University.
I get freelance work online. Some recent projects include book cover illustrations, logos, digital imaging, children's book illustration, card art for games, concept art for video games.
I do engraving on headstones. I work for a monument company 40 hours a week doing just about anything you can think of that has to do with granite memorials. Including running their website: HuronGraniteWorks.com
Occasionally I sell a painting.
Last but, most important. I have a big glorious God who loves me and blessed me with tons of natural ability and a beautiful loving family. Thanks God.
