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Artist Spotlight Mr. Scott Segerblom, PainterBorn in California and raised in Virginia, Scott Segerblom is a self-taught artist who is now living in San Francisco. With his formal training in architecture at Virginia Tech, he applies his design skills to his residential architecture in Marin County and to his painting - both in oils and acrylics. Below is a list of exhibits in which Scott has participated. He has been recognized for his work on several occasions.
Juried Art Exhibits
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After college I was going through a particularly difficult time in my life - struggles at work, relationship problems and difficulties with my family. I had been away from my Catholic faith (what little there was) for over 10 years, and really didn't have any place to turn for comfort or healing. One Monday morning, while sitting in a traffic jam on my way to work, thinking that things could not get any worse, a sense of peace and joy came over me. This feeling was so profound and real that I began crying with relief. I knew that everything I was struggling with in life would work out, and there was nothing for me to worry about. I knew this was God. After this fateful day in the car, my life slowly changed: my faith continued to grow stronger, and I found a sense of peace in my life that I did not have before. Along with this spiritual growth, I experienced a tremendous shift in my art. I developed a passion for painting that still sustains me today, and even my professional work in architecture improved radically. From this conversion experience (in my faith and art), I've come to believe that God is the source of all the good in my life, including my creative abilities. I recognize that God has given me a tremendous gift in art, and I exercise this gift with sincere gratitude. 2. How has your creative work helped you to get closer to God? Painting is an opportunity for me to slow down, to empty my mind of all distractions, and to live in the moment. It is a kind of meditation where I can contemplate the beauty of God's creation (the source of my inspiration as a landscape painter) while enjoying the physical experience of painting: the tactile qualities of paint, brush and canvas; the aroma of oils, paint thinner, and a fresh cup of coffee; and the calming sounds of classical music on the radio. This experience is often very healing. It helps me to focus on the present and to express my emotions in a healthy way. The more I paint, the stronger sense I get that I'm doing what God intends me to do. The mystery of who I am becomes less daunting, and I get a deeper appreciation for the person God made has me. This in turn allows me to get closer to God and to know Him a little better - for we are all created in His image. 3. How has your creative work helped you to serve God? We've all enjoyed at one time or another the rejuvenating effects of experiencing great art - whether it's viewing a beautiful painting, listening to uplifting music, attending the ballet or even enjoying a meal at a fine restaurant. It is God's grace imparted through these art forms that touch our souls and bring healing, joy and wonder. I've had people tell me tell that my work has inspired them in a profound way, so much so that they've purchase a painting to enjoy in their home or to give as gift to a loved one. It is because of this feedback that I believe God is using my art as one channel of His grace. This brings me a genuine sense of privilege and humility, because I know that without God's collaboration, my work is barren. I now approach my art in a very different way; painting is no longer a source of income or celebrity, but more a service to my brothers and sisters, thus a service to God. 4. Do you feel there is a connection between God and creative art? Very definitely! The connection is inspiration. If I were left to my own efforts in creating a painting, as was the case early on in my life, the results would be far less satisfying and fruitful as they are now. Before my faith conversion, I painted because I knew I had talent, and I thought it would be a good way to make money and win approval. I struggled to come up with ideas worthy of the time, energy and cost needed to complete a painting, and as a result, I did very little work. Since my conversion, and the growing understanding that my work is not solely for my personal gain, there seems to be an unlimited source of inspiration and energy for my art. The closer I get to God, by being open to His will and being aware of His constant presence, the more easily ideas come to me, and the more confidence I have in expressing them. Even the mundane events in life become an impetus to paint. Whether it's the beauty of evening light on a cliff, or the tangle of branches of a cypress pine, or even the toothless smile of a homeless man as he shuffles by on the sidewalk, I feel an urgency to record that experience on canvas and share it with others. 5. Do you think being Catholic and a creative artist brings special responsibilities? I think that being a Catholic brings special responsibilities, and being a creative artist is one way to fulfill those responsibilities. Our charge as Christians is to live our faith genuinely - to seek God's will in all that we do, to love God with all our hearts, and to love and serve our neighbors in the way He has equipped us to serve. To fulfill this responsibility is to discern the gifts God has given us and then to use them as God prompts us. In doing so, we not only serve our neighbors in the most effective way, but we also glorify God by exhibiting the trust and courage to say 'yes' to His call. |