Artist Statement

Sean Karemaker moved to Vancouver 6 years ago to work in the video game industry, what he found outside the offices on the streets of Vancouver became far more interesting to him. He began to work on a series of single panel comics about his experience-observing people in Vancouver. Sean called the comics Astronaut Journal. Over time the comics evolved into full size graphic novels, the work became popular in the underground comics scene and began to attract the attention of galleries. Sean’s work continues to evolve and change. Surreal imagery and compositions are used along with common, recognizable events and emotions of the human experience the effect is meant to be disarmingly personal. Sean Has recently been focused on large story based compositions that express love and love lost, A fear of growing old and feelings of Nostalgia based on his experiences of living in Vancouver.

Sean has exhibited at The Pendulum Gallery, The Gam, Gallery , Gropps Gallery among others. There are upcoming shows at the Seymour Art gallery, and the Aiden Gallery. 

Sean Has recently started doing volunteer based teaching. On a recent trip to Celaya, Mexico he taught A group of over 100 kids living in a orphanage along with Mexican and American artists. Sean has also taught sculpting in a community house in kitsilano.

www.seankaremaker.com
www.facebook.com/seankaremakerart

Would you like a venue to show and sell your work in the Main Street 
neighbourhood? Are you interested in joining a friendly group of artists? Do you work in a 2-D media? Is your work highly marketable and interesting? Then we want you!

Arts Off Main gallery is currently seeking submissions
for a new artist/partner. We are a group of nine partner artists responsible for
the running of the gallery. Each partner has a designated area in the gallery
for showing their work and is free to select and display whatever they
choose.

We take turns staffing the gallery, about 2-3 full days per
month each. There is a minimal monthly rent to pay for a convenient Main Street location and a  buy-in cost in exchange for 100% of the sale of your work. 

We are looking for someone who works well with others and has a 
collaborative approach. Monthly meetings at the gallery allow us to catch
up with each other and make collective decisions on the gallery's
operations. We also use email to discuss a lot of topics.

Our aims are to offer reasonably priced, good quality artwork and gifts as well as to participate in the community. We've raised donations for the
Vancouver Food Bank for years and joined in Main Street merchants association activities.

Application Process

• All submissions will be juried by the existing partnership



• Art work should be interesting and of high  quality



• 2D work only is being accepted at this time.



• Only submit artwork that you that you feel would be a good fit to sell
  
  in the gallery. This is very important as we like to achieve a balance between
  all artists' work and need to know exactly what you plan to sell. We aim to
  offer our clients a variety of styles, media and techniques. If you're unsure of
  what work to submit, please visit us to see what we currently have for sale and
  the price points.



• Only submissions sent by the online application will be considered. The
  application form can be found in tab Call For Artists|Seeking
  New Partner



• Please understand that we cannot respond to every submission. Only
  
  artists who will be offered a partnership will be
  contacted.

Interview

Artists whose work is
approved by the partnership will be invited to bring in some of
their work
and meet with the Partnership Committee. This will give the
gallery a
chance to see the actual work and for the artist to meet some of the

members and  ask any questions they may have.

A few
facts:

• Arts Off Main is a co-operative gallery of nine artists who show and sell
  
  their work through the gallery.



• Each partner brings a unique aspect to the gallery.



• Partners pay an initial fee to join, pay monthly rent and are responsible to
  
  staff the gallery 2-3 days a month.



• Partners receive 100% of the sales of their work.

Read more about
us. We look forward to reviewing your work!

Deadline for applications:
Sunday, March 31,
2013

Bio

I obtained my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Mount Allison University in 2008 and my Postgraduate Certificate in Web Design from Sheridan College in 2009. I worked as a designer in Toronto until 2010, when I relocated to Vancouver to begin a new artistic practice.




Artist Statement

My work explores the processes of deconstruction and assemblage. The works are created by repurposing various traditional and digital creative techniques. My experience as both a commercial graphic designer and traditional artist allows for technical combinations that are unique, heavily layered, and intriguing. I engage modern imaging techniques to prepare subject matter. Source photos are slightly altered in Photoshop to create subtle effects, distortions and colour combinations. Using a series of expressive and uninhibited paint, collage and texture applications, I create a loose and abstract structure upon which to assemble detailed ink drawings. I selectively interpret and reworks various layers until they are harmoniously integrated. Old halftone printing techniques are recreated with stencilled dots of acrylic paint, emphasizing the use of various techniques.

Ultimately, the most satisfying component of my work is the manipulation of various materials and layers until they reach that special moment of completion that balances expression, representation, abstraction and detail.

www.jonshawpaintings.com