Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Thurman.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I have been taking private art lessons from the ages of 12 to 17 under Michael Connell. My next and current mentor is Lindsey O’Shields. I graduated from MPCS in Kennesaw, GA in 2013. I attended the University of North Georgia, Dahlonega and received my Bachelor of Arts in Digital Arts in 2017.
Even though I was mainly trained in traditional art my whole life I had always worked on computers and created digitally from a young age. I saw how digital the world has become and felt like getting a Digital Arts degree seemed the ‘most sensible.’ As both an art nerd and a technology nerd it seemed like the perfect marriage of the two. I knew I could create great traditional work, but digital requires a lot of equipment, software’s, and training- so it worked out perfectly in my favor! I’m very happy with how things have been going well since figuring out a way to make the two works together!
Please tell us about your art.
I had always identified myself as an artist, but I wanted more than that. I wanted to serve others and my community. I didn’t quite know how artists, let alone my young self, could do that!
I was scared to commit to the full-time life of an artist. I had always been told that I would be ” a starving artist” or that “no one cared about art!” But one of my roommates at the time (2014) was working on her Painting degree. Her works are beautiful! I asked her, “Is this really what you get to do every day?!” And she just smiled and nodded. I was ready to take the terrifying plunge of being an artist. She helped me immediately change my major from Business to Art! Thanks Mary!
I loved creating works for my classes and being surrounded by the ‘artsy-types’ of the University and surrounding areas. But it still wasn’t answering questions for me. I had found what I had wanted to do, but not the ‘why?’ It took years of figuring myself out and going through tough lessons to figure out what was driving me to be in the studio every single day for 8+ hours!
Years passed and it was time for my Senior Exhibition. I knew that I wanted it to be portraits. But then I still had to wonder, “why portraits?” Why did I obsess over people so much? As I was working on the plans for which photos and art mediums to choose it hit me as to why I wanted portraits – It’s because I love the people in them. It didn’t matter if I was using a camera, a pen, a pencil, a tattoo machine, a computer, or whatever! It was about the fact that I was capturing the human experience. I found my passion. I wanted to capture the history of our current lives. We have so many thoughts, emotions, communities, and experiences – but who was there to appreciate them? I want to be that cheerleader or confidant for everyone. So, I want to use my art to show appreciation to the people that allow me to be in their lives. So, for my Senior Exhibition I made my main point be about how as artists we are affected by the ones around us and in turn, how our art affects them. It’s a constant give and take of one another – whether conscious or unconscious.
Ever since then I have been pushing myself to create works that are not just for me, but for everyone else. If I am able to create a better life for others then I know that I would have lived a great and satisfying life.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
– Get out of your house! So many of the opportunities that I had were because I had the courage to get out of my house and just walk around. Talk to strangers everywhere you go. This is how communities become and stay strong! I know that as a digital artist there is a lot of electrical equipment and dark-room usage. But this shouldn’t stop you from trying to find ways to do stuff outside of those places. I’ve noticed that photography has helped me with this the most. I show up to places and take photos of things that people didn’t even ask me to come photograph! I will get offered money for my photographs at these places because people just see me which a camera! I’m talking about just going to a random coffee shop and plopping yourself down with your laptop even if you have nothing to work on! Go to a park and walk around. Having a camera is a great conversation starter. Literally just make any excuse to get out of your house! Call people, text them, whatever way you can get in touch with others- do it!
– Make business cards ASAP! Even if you think that you’re not ‘developed’ or ‘good enough’ to have these, still, go make them. Having one on hand to pass out at any moment makes a HUGE impression on people. I’m so serious about this one! I used Vistaprint for mine. Even if you’re applying to jobs that aren’t related to the small resume on your business card; if you give your interviewer a business card you could be seen as being more put-together and could potentially get a higher pay grade for this!
– Go and ask questions! It’s hard to get out of your comfort zone, I totally get it. But once you try to get out there feels amazing. I’m a huge extrovert but I still struggle with some social anxiety. Especially if I only talked to one person that whole day, I’ll go mad because I didn’t get to blabber enough! Make friends with other artists and ask them about art stuff – they want people to talk to about art stuff! Ask them about what it’s like to be your own boss and how to run a business. They’ll happily share wisdom. We’re contemporaries, not rivals. The happier the art community, the happier the whole community.
– Imposter syndrome is real and literally everyone has it! That big shot artist you’re nervous to talk to? They’re shocked that you’re nervous to talk to them and they definitely don’t see themselves as a ‘big shot’. Become friends with them. Go and hang out with the ‘cool’ people, they’re really all right and welcoming! Confidence goes a long way.
– Get a daily planner! Try to do one thing every day that helps you succeed whether it’s big or small. Try to stay busy. Being busy makes me happy. I know this might not be the case for everyone, but this is just what I’ve learned about myself. I am quite a forgetful person because I am always thinking of other things that I should be doing. Or I’ll be too busy working on something in the moment and it causes me to forget everything else coming up. It’s a good daily habit. After a month of using it you’ll be able to look back and see a clear log of things and you’ll really thank yourself!
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
On Instagram I’m @baythebun, that is the most reliable and up-to-date source of all of my works and business! My fancy “official” page is my Facebook “Shelby Thurman Digital Artworks” (but does anyone really check Facebook anymore? Because I don’t)
I can be best supported by Venmo, PayPal, cash, or check! Spreading the word about what I do via online or by word of mouth is another amazing way to support me!
I currently work at a Photography studio but I make time to work on my freelance activities that include (but are not limited to): photographing, illustrating, photo editing, video editing, animating, painting, mural painting, inking, drawing, tattooing, tattoo designing, modeling, prop designing, set designing, and more! Let’s just say I’m a Jane of all trades.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/baythebun/
- Phone: 404-431-1169
- Email: thurmanshelby9@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baythebun/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelbybaythurman/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC06pzoxFzIO_AIWTYp9EmPg
Image Credit:
All images/works were created by and belong to Shelby Thurman.
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