Sean Royal
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I was born and live in Carmichael, CA. As an artist, I’m mostly self taught, but over the years I’ve taken classes at Sacramento City College and American River College. I studied painting, design, sculpture, and welding. Over the last 15 years I’ve shown work in solo and group shows across California, including South Lake Tahoe and San Francisco, as well as two successful shows in Arizona. My work has won awards at the California State Fair, KVIE Art Auctions, Northern California Arts, Inc., and the Tubac Center for the Arts in Tubac, AZ.
As far back as I can remember, I’ve felt a need to make things. I never questioned it, I just kept on making things…..paintings, sculptures, music, whatever. I believe the drive to make art is one of the most important elements in an artist’s life, because at the end of the day, however talented you are, it’s work. As much as anything I’ve ever done, it’s work. Some people think of it as a gift, and maybe it is, but sometimes that gift feels like a neat looking fly buzzing around your face, distracting you from the rest of the world and needing constant attention.
Being purposeful in my work is something I strive for. I like the work to feel deliberate and thoughtful. I’m not as concerned as I used to be with trying to make everything close to perfect…I like showing the work within the work, even if that includes small flaws that come about while it’s being made. It’s also exciting when an idea transforms into another, and improvisation leads me in a new direction. Improv is a big part of my creative process. I’m not worried about trying something new, potentially messing it up, if the piece feels like it needs something. Frank Zappa said, “Without deviation, progress is not possible.” I try to remember that idea when I’m working, it helps me try new things. I also like to start some of my work by setting limitations for myself. Narrowing the options before starting a piece can free up certain aspects of my creativity and bring a cohesive quality to the work.
It seems I’ve spent most of my adult life switching between making visual art and playing drums. I’ve always felt that making music and visual art are pretty much the same, so for better or worse, I’ve approached everything I’ve made in the same way. I think it’s mostly problem solving, adding or subtracting elements, learning from the experience….and most importantly, being in the moment and trying to enjoy the process.
