Eion Shanks Art Exhibition

Eion studied at the Dunedin School of Art, Oamaru Campus.

He has was worked as a stonemason and builder, when not creating. He has also studied acupuncture and the philosophy behind it.
Shanks says his style has not changed over the years, he still paints mostly on plywood with a palette knife and brush.
`I find the natural surface of the woodgrain energetic and inspiring. I also paint and draw on paper and make etchings [prints].
He sometimes uses images from his etchings in his paintings.
`My paintings are essentially landscapes painted ‘en plein air’, or studio-created images from dreams about my life. Or a combination of both.''
Shanks describes his work as ``internal and external view of life''.
`(They) are either stolen or enticed out to show themselves from their place of hiding. They are my journey as I see it.''

Red Bird Gallery has the pleasure of exhibiting Eion’s work. The pieces are bright, vibrant full of movement and texture. His subject matter is personal sometimes political often with a slightly humorous dark side.