I'm a figurative painter from New Orleans, Louisiana. I graduated from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts in 2009. After studying at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston for a year and spending an exchange semester at Queens College in New York, I returned home where I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of New Orleans in 2014. 

My paintings are vibrant and textural; utilizing acrylic paint, oil paint, gold leaf, and sometimes glitter to create sharp contrast against brightly lit skies. My work seeks to investigate the human experience and mysteries of the after-life. I attempt to connect the dots between personal memories, dreams, and ancient mythology in the stories my paintings tell. I strongly rely on personal photographs as source material to create my surreal portraits.

10% of all sales of original art will be donated to a rotating group of local mutual aid efforts. 

Describe your art in three words. Intimate, Surreal, Detailed

Describe yourself in one word. Introspective

What do you love the most about creating art in New Orleans? What particular part of your immediate environment, in your neighborhood specifically influences your work? I’m influenced by the people and the natural environment around me, I want my paintings to feel like New Orleans by including familiar plant life and vibrant colors. 

Describe your creative process. Are there any rituals or rites of passage you exercise before you begin a new piece? I collect ideas, sketches, and photos that I constantly refer back to while working. I will often have an idea for a while before I start a painting. Sometimes I’ll start and finish multiple paintings in one day. Some paintings I’ll work on for months before I feel that they're finished.

Where do you draw inspiration? I draw inspiration from all around me. The people that I love, flowers, costumes, sunsets, nature, brightly painted buildings, other painters, and old family photos.

Who are your artistic influences or gurus? Henri Rousseau, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Kerry James Marshall, Marcia Marcus, the Bay Area painters, and many others. 

Where can we find you when you are not creating art? My studio is in my backyard so I’m almost always home. If I’m not making art I’m tending to my plants, working on the house, playing with the outside kitty, or cooking.

All works listed online are available to be viewed at Where Y’Art Gallery by appointment. Other works can be found at www.shelbylittle.com.

Please allow 7-14 days shipping for standard orders. All packages are shipped within the Continental United States through the USPS via Priority Mail with tracking and insurance. For international shipping prices, rush orders or commissions, log in and send me a private message through the messaging tool on my profile page.