Home > Shawn Ardoin Art 
Every quarter, we feature the beautiful artwork of a
talented Hawaiian artist on the cover of The Official Concierge Guide To Oahu.
This quarter we are very proud to feature "Fish Town #11" by Shawn Ardoin.
Shawn Ardoin is a passionate artist. He is passionate about fish. He is passionate about the simple shapes of circles and squares. He is passionate about strong, rich, bold color. Combine these passions and the unique art of Shawn Ardoin comes to life on canvas.
Having grown up around water in the Louisiana swamps and along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Ardoin has always been intrigued by marine life and the shapes of nature. During his studies at university, he became interested in two-dimensional designs and expressions using pure and vibrant color. He began developing his style during these years, working with the abstract forms of circles and squares. Later, while working for Peace Corps and living in Southern Africa, Ardoin began associating colors and shapes with the feeling of tropical environments: warm, easy-going, and happy. From here his fish were born.
Ardoin's work is fun, stimulating and contemporary, displaying bright, bold palettes of color. His simple, symmetric designs awaken his audiences, inspiring a sense of freedom and genuine delight. Some are reminded of happy childhood innocence. He takes the simplicity of using just one fish in its basic form, and then expands into the complexity of inter-twinning the fish. Although his work is abstract in nature, Ardoin’s art provides a sense of balance in a chaotic world.
His primary foundation is acrylic, sometimes incorporating a clever use of mixed media, which causes his work to explode with texture. Each material is used to enhance or represent a circle or a square. The work is versatile and in some cases can be displayed either vertically or horizontally. People don’t seem to tire of looking at Ardoin’s paintings. They are dramatic compositions that demand constant attention.
As Ardoin says of his approach to creating a painting, “I begin with the end. I envision the final composition as a solution to an equation. The solution is achieved when I have found a final balance and harmony of shapes and colors”. It is then he begins his next equation and creates anew.
-Ardyth Brock
To view more of Shawn's artwork, please visit his online gallery at www.shawnardoin.com
