Shima Shanti

What Is What Really Is

2023

Shima works in the ancient and alchemical medium of encaustic, painting with beeswax and fire. Her impressionistic paintings of sea and sky are inspired by the rhythm and flow of water conveying a deep sense of peace within the natural world. In her studio, Shima experiments with the mercurial elements of beeswax. Layering bold brushstrokes of molten wax and pure pigments she creates a rough-yet-refined texture. Then with the flame of a torch, she smooths the wax to a satin finish creating deep luminous spaces that draw the viewer beneath the surface. Adding the elements—layering, fusing, watching the beeswax and pigment combine become her meditation. When she sees what she feels in her heart she knows her work is done. Like all impressionistic art and especially encaustic painting, creating her work requires letting go of every last bit of ego; allowing Spirit to guide her. It has taught her to treasure the imperfection and spontaneity of life. Shima and her husband, Jim Kelly live in the lakeside hamlet of Del Dios near San Diego. Timeless joy of lost hours in the studio and the simple pleasure of outdoors balance the business demands and travel of her artist’s career. Growing up in big sky Montana forever connected her with nature, giving her an innate sense of color and composition. She never expected to become a collected encaustic painter. However, years after moving to the coast of California, and after an established career in the corporate world, Shima felt that unrelenting desire that all artists have to create.