“The purpose of art is to wash the dust of daily life from our souls.”
Mayhem Art Mission Statement
MAYHEM is art created by May Shepherd, a Naturalist and an ‘Artivist’ at heart.
“The name Mayhem is a creative twist on my name, May. My practice aims to explore the profound connection between the viewer and the natural world.
Some days I have my conscientious hat on, and on others I want to feel free and light which is why I love my collaborations with people for commissions and murals.
Whether through light-filled studies of beauty, or technical works aimed at raising awareness for animal rights, my mission is to use art as a catalyst for empathy.
Through my work, I strive to give a voice to the voiceless and provide tangible support for organizations dedicated to animal protection, ensuring that every piece, whether an appreciation of beauty or a call to advocacy, serves a greater purpose”.
Art Made by The Hand & The Heart
The flexibility to create what I want depending on how I feel is important to me. It means that nothing is ever forced.
It’s an Artists job to disrupt, therefore you could call me an Artivist.
This is the most Compelling part of my work. Being Consequential is about conscience, thinking about the Consequences of one’s actions, decisions and choices.
It’s all too easy to hide behind the masses instead of realizing that change starts with you and I. In the 90’s I loved Michael Jacksons “Man In The Mirror” written in 1987 and it’s becoming more relevant every day.
Each work in this category is straight from the heart as it’s a way for me to process everything that happens in the world around me. Not all bad, some good, because I realize what a miracle it is to be born and what a privilege it is to be alive.
Some people talk to let it all out, others write it down, and I must make an image, it’s as simple as that. I am consumed by the subject whilst I am making the art, which is why I like to create in complete quiet solitude. My Nan once said to me, “God tests those with the broadest shoulders”. I guess that I have a never-ending supply of material…
I find abstraction the most Indulgent form of my creative work. The work is always a battle of wills as the Creative Gods jostle to use you as a conduit. At least this is what I’ve heard and like to believe. Show up and they will find you!
I believe that abstract works are an abstraction from a lifetime of experiences and emotions. They allow for total freedom of creative flow.
It can be very addictive because it’s exciting. I don’t plan the piece, I don’t make any sketches, or choose any colours or brushes etc, I just walk into the studio, make a coffee and pick something up.
Even myself, as an artist once struggled to see the depth in true abstract works of art. It wasn’t until I started to paint them myself that I finally understood.
I now believe that painting abstract art is the most difficult form, because they are made from pure energy.
What I learned when I started to make abstract paintings is that you must follow the process and trust the flow of being in the zone. The energy pours out and the hours just vanish and at the end, I’m usually depleted. When you stand in-front of an abstract piece of art, you feel the energy of the artist. It’s in the strokes, the colours, and every mark on the canvas.
Painting a portrait is the most Satisfying form of art that I create. When in an instant you don’t see the face in paint anymore, but the person or animal up close staring right at you, or you feel their presence. This amazes me every time, and I know if I press on, it will come.
Often, I don’t need to know someone personally to see their essence and feel their aura. I am hypervigilant and hypersensitive, and I can feel people’s energy and sense their mood acutely when in their presence. Animals rely on this heightened sense for survival, and I like to think I am part animal!
I love painting someone’s portrait, and by someone, I do mean human or animal. You can look into an animal’s soul just the same as you can a human’s, in fact they are often much easier to see.
Photos are a beautiful artform, and it’s a skill to capture the essence of someone in front of the lens, but with a painting, I feel like the subject is in the room.
We are all a creature of Mother Earth, and we are Nothing without nature. Unfortunately, it seems Nature is Everything without us.
A song that has powerful meaning to me is Michael Jacksons Earth Song as it sums it all up. “What About Us” written in 1988.
Every species has evolved to have a symbiotic relationship to the other. I thought that I had a reasonable understanding of this until I went on a 6-month Eco training course in Africa. After the course my 50-year-old eyes looked at the world very differently. Just like school is compulsory, I think that Ecology and Sustainability should be high on the school curriculum “We have one home”.
There is nowhere that I would rather be than deep in nature. Whether it’s in the forest, or in the ocean amongst the seaweed. When I look at trees, I see individuals and the tree spirit as clear as day, and yes, I’m a tree hugger. Don’t knock it until you tried it! Look for the oldest widest tree around, wrap your arms around it, rest your face on it, close your eyes and just breath for at least ten minutes with no disruptions. Tell me what you feel.
A Mural is always a labor of love. Public murals are the most ideal platform to express a story as the art reaches a much broader audience for longer.
Such a large blank canvas to work with is a joy and a challenge. The joy is to make the space more beautiful than it was before, to tell community stories, promote social change, preserve history, build identity, and connect with audiences.
The challenge is to produce something that the local community is proud of and appeals to all ages and tastes.
I once had a Graffiti expert take me on a walking tour of East London and I found the stories behind all the murals fascinating. Every single one is so much more than a mural. He also pointed out hidden little worlds of creation that you would never know were there all around you. I find solace in these little gems amongst the chewing gum spattered pavements.
I plan to work on more exterior/interior murals in the future as the collaboration gets me out of my studio and it’s a great workout!