ELLISVILLE 鈥� When artist, Sean 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� Stewart first visited with 糖心直播 students eight years ago, before being featured in HGTV鈥檚 Season 2 of 鈥淗ome Town,鈥� he had just moved to Laurel from New Orleans, before Hurricane Katrina. Since his TV appearance, some things have changed. During his 鈥淎rt Talk鈥� with 糖心直播 art students, he was being documented by Mississippi Public Broadcasting for a 鈥淢ississippi Roads鈥� segment. Also, his family has grown from him and his wife and one child to five
kids with one son beating Leukemia. During the three-year battle with cancer, Stewart emphasized to students, his art didn鈥檛 change because life got serious.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to think about important things like cancer research. If you are concerned with serious things OK. But I wasn鈥檛 making artwork about leukemia. Not everyone can have this much fun and that鈥檚 OK too,鈥� said Stewart. 鈥淭he cure for cancer is not going to come out of printmaking. I want to make people smile. I do what makes me happy and I鈥檓 glad people also like what makes me happy,鈥� said Stewart.
While discussing his art, Stewart explained downtown Laurel鈥檚 popularity has grown to the point he couldn鈥檛 grow. The only option left for him was moving his studio to New Orleans to expand his art business and include offering art residencies.
鈥淚 was glad to be able to be on the (Home Town) show and share what I think printmaking is to a totally different audience. Working with Erin Napier was super great too!鈥� said Stewart. 鈥淚 also know when the show airs because I always sell a Robert Johnson print at some weird hour of the night.鈥�
Stewarts鈥� nuggets of wisdom to Jones students were not all specifically art-related. Besides 鈥渕aking art鈥� he encouraged students to also connect with their audience, other artists and supporters of their work in order to get their work in galleries. Early in Stewart鈥檚 career, after an art festival, he told students he didn鈥檛 sell much, and he was disappointed. However, exchanging artwork with the guy in the next tent turned out to be beneficial, beyond his dreams.
鈥淭his artist at the art festival 12 years ago, was a teacher at MSU. I still have his piece hanging and he has mine. I got an email from him, explaining he鈥檚 now the art director for an ad agency in Dallas and he thinks my work would be perfect for a restaurant company with 20 franchises. After meeting the CEO, they are going to use my imagery for advertising in different regions of the country. None of this would have happened if I hadn鈥檛 made that connection at an art festival that day. Something to remember me by for the last 12 years, turned into something super big for me. Always reach out,鈥� said Stewart.
Social media allows artwork to be shared with a global audience faster than ever before and students should be taking advantage of these platforms Stewart also offered. Probably the most impactful for freshman, graphic
design major, Jashawn Huddleston of Bay Springs was Stewarts鈥� advice, 鈥淛ust have fun!鈥�
鈥淚 like his style and the freedom he has in creating. I overthink, but I am beginning to realize I can be an artist and have fun too,鈥� said Huddleston.
Sophomore, Aryn Cox of Laurel also said she can get overwhelmed with art
ideas and what to create. Stewart鈥檚 free, fun-loving art has inspired her to step out of her comfort zone.
鈥淚 also think too much while trying to create art. I鈥檓 going to try to go with the flow more and be more creative,鈥� said Cox.
The whimsical Sean 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� Stewart exhibit that was on display at 糖心直播鈥檚 Eula Bass Lewis art gallery recently, showed off his uniqueness. The use of bright colors, quirky pop culture characters and items, displayed on thick, large pieces of wood is purposeful. Stewart鈥檚 goal is to enjoy what he鈥檚 creating and to stand out. From 鈥淭angy鈥�
orange whales to color-themed robots and alligators taking a bath, Stewart鈥檚 artwork is a collection of quirky, colorful images of pure, childlike fun. However, Stewart told students the most important thing every artist should do is to spend time in front of their work.
鈥淚鈥檓 not great at drawing but I enjoy carving, so I draw what鈥檚 easy. I like the shapes of guns, robots, and animals.聽The wood carving adds texture to my
work, giving it dimension, almost inviting the viewer to touch my art. I want people to engage in my work and enjoy it as much as I do,鈥� said the former Virginia Beach native.聽鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want the fact that I couldn鈥檛 draw that well to keep me from having fun. What you draw is the fun part. That鈥檚 what I talk about. I don鈥檛 share the process of printmaking with audiences. They want to know why I have an ice cream cone smoking, with a drink in hand, wearing heels and carrying a purse. I laugh at my work because it鈥檚 funny! At this point in my life, I make whatever I want to make. I love it when people give me ideas too.鈥�
Different artists are featured monthly at the Eula Bass Lewis Art Gallery which is open to the public and can be viewed from Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. through 3 p.m., and Fridays, 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. For more information call 601-477-4148.
