Shan McLoughlin, owner of Tidebreak Art, shares her story.
Growing up on the South Coast fosters a deep connection to the sea within its coastal inhabitants. So it’s not a surprise that living by the water has inspired my artistic pursuits from an early age.
Transformative hues of blue and green crayon marked my small hands as a child and these paint-stained fingers have lasted into my adult life. I have always loved everything creative – charcoal drawing, paints – especially if there’s an element of blue.
Calming and relaxing blues adorned my bedroom walls as a child and, inevitably, shaped my future. I’ve always been drawn to different cerulean seascapes around the world. The no-longer-standing ‘Azure Window’ in Malta, the pure blue waters of Iceland, and the calming coastline of Peru; the ocean has taken me on an exciting journey filled with overflowing memories.
I have always pursued my creative side; however, having been told many times that this venture can ‘only be a hobby’, I also followed a career path in education. Creativity took a backseat and my job as a teacher soon became my focus.
Teaching high school students over the past eight years has been a rewarding experience and one that I am grateful I pursued. With a career and my free time centred upon travel and holidays, creativity moved a little further back in the metaphorical car. I’ve learnt a lot during my travels and when I spent time working and volunteering in Borneo (on the Malaysian side) my horizons were further broadened. Learning about conservation and assisting in the rehabilitation of animals was truly eye-opening and inspiring.
My artistic work today is affiliated with ‘Take 3 For The Sea’ and I donate a portion of profits to support clean waterways and oceans.
A lesson I’ve only recently learnt is that art can’t be defined or confined. Returning to painting in my late 20s, I realised my passion had grown. Collaborating and conversing with other creatives over Instagram or in person (depending on lockdown) opened a world of artistic possibilities. I have worked hard over the past few years to make my dreams a reality, and it has been an incredibly worthwhile endeavour.
Transforming a hobby into a business was both exciting and terrifying! I found it difficult to juggle so many ‘to-do lists’ so I stepped back, started teaching part-time, and designated specific days for creativity. Of course, ‘scheduling’ creative time was a bit of a nightmare to start, but that’s what it was – a starting point.
It’s a year later and I feel I have found a comfortable balance. I divide my time between teaching, writing, supporting marine conservation, and searching for inspiration on beach walks with my partner, Tom, and our dog, Archie. As well as, obviously, the countless hours lost in an ocean world of acrylic paints.
Being able to grow my business, Tidebreak Art, from my creative passion has been a fulfilling and rewarding journey.
My paintings are ocean inspired and seek to capture a sense of coastal calmness. Peaceful shades of blue are captured in these pieces of original art and can add a unique touch to any home décor. Canvas originals and fine art prints are available on my website and every purchase supports the protection of our oceans and marine life.
