by Stew Mosberg

Some artists find a comfortable niche for their talent, while others prefer to explore all mediums of expression without focusing on just one. Such a meandering path may make it difficult for an artist to define his or her style; for local illustrator Shan Wells, that’s exactly the point.

Born in Cortez, where his grandfather was a state representative, Wells grew up in Durango, but a few of those formative years were spent in California while his father studied ceramics and drawing. That ceramics degree eventually led his father to open The Stone Jug, a pottery gallery in Durango.

Just the facts What: “State of the Art: Political Humor” When: Now through Tues., Nov. 14, Mon. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sat., 12 noon - 4 p.m. Where: Fort Lewis College Art Gallery

Being exposed to art so early in life was the likely impetus for the younger Wells to become an artist. It was that goal that eventually took him to the Art Center College of Design in California, where he studied children’s book and editorial illustration. Seeking an alternative approach to art, he ventured to the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, where he focused on sculpture and eventually earned a masters degree.

When asked why he traveled half way around the world to study something he could be taught at home, Wells explained, “I wanted to get out and learn another system of art making, with different priorities (than) American pedagogy.”

Although he did gain an alternate perspective, it came with its own set of problems. “I succeeded there,” he says, “but it has been difficult getting4  folks to understand my work here. (New Zealnd’s) system is much more interested in poetic meaning than the American version.”

Following his formal education, Wells expanded his skill set to a variety of disciplines and can now lay claim not just to the titles of cartoonist and illustrator but writer, blogger, graphic designer and videographer.

Taking a position at the FLC Theatre Department in the summer of 2011, where, not so coincidentally, he is part of the “State of the Art: Political Humor” group show, Wells is now responsible for publicity and public relations, plus the website, posters, social media management, theater programs, and radio and movie advertising. In addition to those tasks, he handles some bookkeeping along with most of the nonacademic aspects of the Theater Department.

Recently, Wells was also engaged by the nonprofit FLC Foundation to be its senior graphic designer and to manage video interviews and marketing promotions, write articles and annual reports, and create brochures, postcards and posters.

Thoroughly immersed in both marketing and the creative side of art, Wells is also married to an artist and teacher. Currently, the couple’s two children attend Animas High School, where they are exercising their artistic talent with an emphasis on music. Not long ago, Wells himself, taught art at Pueblo Community College.

Wells acknowledges the great multi-media artists of the early 20th century such as Duchamp, Picasso and Man Ray gave rise to his creative inspiration. Explaining why he doesn’t stay fixed on one medium which might bring him fame and fortune, the artist says, “Even if one ship came in, I think I’d still be interested in making art across the spectrum of expression.”

Pressed to pick just one art form, Wells said, “I think sculpture would be my favorite; creating a well-made piece engages my artistic skill and intellect in the most satisfying way,” then adds, “followed closely by political cartooning ... it’s hard to choose.”

Wells said he feels a special affinity for Duchamp and the Dadaists, the New Realists, and Jean Dubuffet. “I admire them for their intellect and fearlessness of expression.”

He attempts to bring that same quality to his satirical characterizations. “Combined with a Jon Stewart and Monty Python willingness to skewer any sacred cow,” he says, and then self-deprecatingly adds, “I fall far short of their wit, however.”

Wells’ work has appeared weekly in the Durango Telegraph for more than 10 years, and he was also the initiator and designer of the historical photography imagery that appears along the sidewalks in downtown Durango. Recently, Wells’ was among the top three finalists for the roundabout on Florida Road.

Not content to stop there, he also blogs and frequently contributes to the Huffington Post. But, like many writers, he has found “HuffPo” less than optimal. “I am still blogging for them although since they were bought by AOL, I have been censored on many occasions, most often when I bag on Trump or the NRA.”

His work also is featured on websites Artizans, based in Canada, and Cartoon Movement, a European organization.

Wells’ art hasn’t gone unnoticed, and he has been the recipient of several grants. The prestigious Pollack Krasner award for example, was given to him for sculpture and drawings that focused on the land and environment. He also received two consecutive grants (2002, 2003) from The Colorado Council on the Arts (CCA) for his action drawings based on the way animals create three dimensional forms. “I wrote my thesis on animal creative expression,” he says, “including bower birds, termites and bees. I think of the drawings as documentation of three-dimensional space, or occupations of space.”

He went on to win a rarely given second CCA grant for a series of works that dealt with specific issues raised during 2002’s Missionary Ridge Fire.
Just this week, Wells’ involvement with Cartoon Movement led to a call from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interactions Institute. The organization is seeking to learn how professional cartoonists create works based on news content to identify difficulties and propose solutions. The study will also research how these cartoons can be reused in different contexts outside of journalism. CMU’s request testifies to Wells’ ongoing impact on the genre and continued path from small town boy to worldwide artist.

See more of Wells’ work at www.shanwells.com.