Photograph: Artists Llea McGee and Keshawn Collins (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Contributing Writer
Although they both have fulltime occupations, two emerging Opelousas-area artists say entering their respective worlds of creativity often brings them fulfillment while knowing that somehow, the artwork affects the lives of others.
“We do this because we love it and we are happy that what we do sometimes can make someone smile,” said Ilea McGee, who collaborated at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretative Center with Ke’Shawn Collins Monday night for featured presentations of their artwork.
The two-hour event hosted by curator Patrice Melnick attracted a well-sized crowd that viewed the paintings and sketches by Collins and McGee, who both received art training at different St. Landry Parish public schools.
Described as emerging artists, McGee, who operates a hair salon and Collins, employed at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, featured paintings whose canvases were hung along the museum hallway and in a large viewing room.
Collins credited his mother for helping him build confidence in his artwork, while McGee said in her remarks that it was inspiring to be able to display her art before a local audience.
“We do this because we love it and it makes someone smile,” McGee said.
Collins said he often enjoys retreating into his artistic world, where he usually gets to “enjoy the moment. If you like doing it and believe in it, then you should be able to enjoy it and make it happen,” he said.
Melnick said it was important for those attending the event to realize that having two artists employed at other jobs have still found time over the years to create their art.
Shawana Johnson, who attended the exhibit, said she is overwhelmed by the versatility of Collins’ work.
“There is such a wide range of things here and you are attracted to the colors immediately,” Johnson said.
McGee’s work appeared distinctly more abstract, said Johnson.
“What I’m seeing is (McGee) has taken ideas from Louisiana and locally and painted them in her own way. She uses cypress swamp scenes for instance and in several of her paintings somehow makes them different by using various colors and shadows,” Johnson said.
Ilea McGee
McGee said she began taking art more seriously as a Beau Chene High student who took classes with Sandra Lanclos, an art teacher at the school.
“Working in classes with (Lanclos) really expanded my mind. I was working at the time with a lot of pen and ink drawings and drawing cartoons. What (Lanclos) did was get me out of my comfort zone and inspired me,” McGee said.
McGee recalled her time as a child where she would pick up pens, pencils and other drawing materials.
“I guess I was about four-years-old and I would draw things like fantasy objects. My art comes from what I see and also what I hear. Music especially inspires me. It’s not one kind of music necessarily, but all kinds, from classical to heavy metal,” McGee said.
Those mental images McGee forms are often reflected in the colors presented in her art. The sounds and melodies cause me to form shapes and colors. I draw a lot of fantasy characters and things that I guess resemble images that are other worldly,” she said.
Ke’Shawn Collins
Most of Collins’ exhibits featured celebrities and contemporary musical artists whose likenesses are displayed in vibrant colors.
Collins also showed acrylic paintings of animals, primarily jungle and predatory creates like leopards, tigers and coyotes.
Much of his talent became evident Collins said, while he began attending the Magnet Academy for the Cultural Arts.
“I guess you could say that what I learned at MACA really sharpened the edge. I thought working with the teachers there really got me involved and increased my motivation,” Collins added.
Collins said he enjoys making the subjects of his artwork colorful something which he thinks separates his paintings from other artists.
Some of Collins’ art has been completed rapidly, enabling him to describe himself as a speed artist.
Testimony to that was evident on Monday night as he displayed the painting of a leopard which he said was completed at 6 a.m. that morning after about four hours of effort.
