The Intricate Details, Portraits and Elegance of Shana Levenson
Hyperrealism is a style extraordinarily skilled in the way an artist is able to capture even the smallest intimate elements and movements that are often overlooked. Shana Levenson possesses an organic capability for accentuating the delicate and feminine details in her subject, focusing primarily on body shape, lace, and jewelry. One thing that we love about Shana, is her willingness to share her process by providing others the opportunity to learn from her directly through private workshops around the world. We caught up with her to talk a little about her workshops, her most memorable moments and thoughts on being an artist.
Tell us a little about you, and what led you to pursue hyper realistic figurative painting?
“My name is Shana Levenson. I currently live in Albuquerque, New Mexico with my two children, my husband David Kassan, and our two dogs. I would consider myself a figurative realist painter who tries to capture the essence of the person that I’m painting.”
How have your workshop teaching experiences shaped you as an artist yourself?
“I love bringing students into my studio space in Albuquerque to teach workshops as well as the students that I mentor who come weekly. I learn so much about how to approach each individual artist with where they are in their journey which has definitely made me more patient in my own journey. It’s also been great being able to take the students to Santa Fe to look at the galleries and to show them that there are so many different galleries that might fit who they are as artists.”
What do you find yourself enjoying the most when painting?
“I enjoy coming up with my concepts and finally getting to create them when the time comes as well as trying to challenge myself with something new each time I start a new piece. My focus is to continue to grow and get better with every painting and to try to not overthink my ideas… meaning I don’t want to psych myself out if I come up with something that seems unusual. If I think it, I paint it and don’t second guess. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Do you feel New Mexico fosters a creative community? What are some of your favorite spots around Albuquerque that you recommend all artists should visit?
“I think Santa Fe is a pretty special place and harnesses a creative energy for so many people. I love going to Santa Fe and just walking around and breathing in the air and taking in the art and jewelry and food. Before I even moved to New Mexico, every time I would visit Santa Fe, I felt relaxed right away. There’s something in the air that is calming.”
How long does it typically take you to finish a piece? When you receive a commission, what have you noticed people requesting the most?
“It’s hard to say how long it takes to finish a painting. My larger pieces can take me a month or two and my smaller ones can take me a week or more. It all depends on my flow within the painting I’m creating. I don’t do too many commissions but the ones I get are usually a lace painting (either they request a white or black) or I’ve been getting a lot of mylar balloon commissions which are loads of fun for me.”
What have been some of your most memorable exhibition experiences so far in your career as an artist?
“So many of my exhibitions have been memorable because I always feel so honored to be a part of an exhibition!! My first exhibition was in Louisville, CO. It was one of my VERY first exhibitions in 2014 with one of my larger paintings that I had completed for my thesis for my MFA at the Academy of art in San Francisco. I won 2nd place and then later on eventually sold that painting to a couple who saw the painting when they went to the exhibition. It was a painting of mine called “Fairy Godmother” and it was the first time I realized that I can sell work that I create that are stories about my life but seem to connect to a greater audience. I love being able to attend so many of the exhibitions I’m in and all of them have been memorable for me because I’m in awe that people come to see my work. It truly is an honor to know that somehow my work inspires others to be painters or collectors who want to come see the work and buy it for their homes. Either way, I pinch myself each day knowing that I get to wake up and go to my easel and escape into a story I’m creating with oil paints and a brush.”
