Fine Artist

Stephen Shooster, aka Shoosty, is a fine artist and writer born 1958 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Before joining the family’s small telephone answering service business, he earned a BFA from the University of Florida. A self-taught computer/telephony engineer, he both initiated and built a call center that serviced some of the finest companies in the world, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Modern Museum of Art (MoMa); The Art Institute of Chicago; S.E. Toyota; Hermes; Wolford; Zara; Crate and Barrel; Vineyard Vines; The Kentucky Derby; and more.

His work ranges from digital to paper, and, most recently, silk. He displays multiple themes and styles, concentrating on music, landscapes, conceptual art, and bugs. His work on bugs has earned the most attention. Shoosty Bugs seem to be taking on a life of their own.

Shooster is an avid writer and has authored over 20 books. He says his artistic process begins with writing, which he describes as “thinking on paper.” Among the titles are Artist’s Statements through the Years, a collection of all of his artist statements from the beginning; The Shoosty Catalog Raisonné, a three-volume collection of every piece of art he ever made; The Horse Adjutant, a true story of a survivor of Auschwitz during WW2, and Herman Shooster, his father’s biography.

Stephen’s art is influenced by his early life experiences, his career in technology, his extensive writing and exploration of the Holocaust and mostly his inquisitive nature. His commitment to Freedom and his belief in art as an expression of that Freedom are key influences in his work.

Stephen believes that art history teaches us who we are as a civilization. He sees art as a profound expression of Life, a challenge, and a mission of discovery. He believes that Art is the ultimate expression of Freedom, and in making it, we honor Democracy and those who have fallen.

“If you draw every day, in time, you will discover yourself.”

– Shoosty 2024

If I had to sum up his work with two words, they would be:

Chromatic Fusionism is a term he coined to express the combination of the science and humanities surrounding Art.

Shoosty™ 2022 – 2023 represents the comprehensive catalog of the artistic endeavors by Stephen Shooster, who operates under the trade name Shoosty™. Volume III constitutes a continuation of two prior volumes, collectively encompassing every artwork he has ever created thus far. This practice is referred to as a Catalogue Raisonné, a rare undertaking in the art world. Historically, such catalogs were meticulously crafted for only the most renowned artists, often by a collaborative effort involving art historians. Shooster says there are no rules for success as an artist, but we do have scientificy using it, we can draw a line marking milestones, and eventually, notation, and we will have momentum.

Chromatic Fusionism: Art Meets Innovation

The history of art is a vibrant tapestry woven from movements that inspire and influence each other. While some movements, like Impressionism, reveled in aesthetics, others, like Bauhaus, championed a more functional approach. Chromatic Fusionism, an art movement, bridges this gap by fusing artistic expression with practical application through the power of technology.

A New Canvas: Printing Reimagines Art

Technology offers exciting possibilities for artists; Chromatic Fusionism embraces its potential. Today, Artificial Intelligence is the rage; while old-school and handmade digital artists dig into their turf, Chromatic Fusionism extends all of these designers with industry. A revolution in printing is occurring at the same time art is evolving. With networked integration, we can extend our designs in a way we never dreamed about applying them to a industry in a scalable fashion. We have the ability to create high-quality/low-cost printed materials sourced worldwide making high quality art affordable to a much wider population.

Imagine experiencing both visually and viscerally art surrounded by color-saturated designs that create an immersive and unforgettable experience. Imagine they are your clothing and accessories.

Beyond the Gallery Walls

Reconciling artistic expression with mass production is a challenge. Chromatic Fusionism tackles this by leveraging the power of printing to make art more accessible. Gone are the days of limited-edition prints with low volumes and high costs confined to museums, galleries, and wealthy collectors. Chromatic Fusionism is art for the people. It envisions a world where high-quality art becomes an integrated part of everyday life. Imagine vibrant prints on scarves, clothing, and galleries. By wearing the art, you become part of the movement. 

A Platform for Artistic Expression

Chromatic Fusionism is not just about making art accessible; it is about empowering artists. It allows artists to showcase their work and connect with a broader audience by providing a platform for wider distribution without sacrificing creative vision. Imagine multiple exhibitions running simultaneously, all showcasing stunning, high-quality silk prints representing an artist’s unique vision. 

The Long Tail of Creativity

Traditionally, the art world has been limited by the physical constraints of production. Chromatic Fusionism disrupts this model. The “long tail” of digital creation allows for endless possibilities, all saved in digital files. We can choose an image like a playlist on a music app. It is delivered to a dropshipper that prints, manufactures, and ships directly to the client. The costs associated with warehousing and the waste of mass production are greatly reduced. This data trove of art can also be transformed into books, digital galleries, and various products, all readily available to a broader audience at the touch of a few buttons.

The Wearable Art Movement

Chromatic Fusionism is not limited to wall art. It includes fabrics, accessories, projections, car wraps, VR, AR, gaming, and more. This paradigm embraces wearing the art to the gallery. Doing so makes you part of the exhibition—the best part! We are trying to foster a deeper connection between art and everyday life, allowing people to integrate artistic expression into their daily lives.

Conclusion

Chromatic Fusionism represents a new chapter in the story of art history. It embraces artistic heritage, technological innovation, and modern manufacturing. By harnessing these elements, Chromatic Fusionism has the potential to make art more accessible, create a platform for artistic expression, and foster a deeper connection between art and the everyday world. Join the movement.

Wear the Art / Become the Movement™

Shooster coined Frenetic Drawing a few years ago to explain his method of sketching musicians as they play.

Frenetic Drawing thrives on spontaneity and energy. It can’t be done in a quiet room. It is a form of speed drawing that embraces the moment’s immediacy. The heartbeat of frenetic drawing lies in its synergy with live music. When the band strikes its first chord, his pen starts dancing. The rhythm and emotion of the music establish the tone of the work.

Shooster draws as often as possible, especially when he is on a tour. You can find him frequently at museums or temples, drawing during the day or at a bar in the evening surrounded by live music. He frequently incorporates the daytime drawings into his night work. Other times, he may incorporate something he is studying. The point is that whatever is in his mind mixes with the music, and his hand captures the whole thing.

This method of sketching has rules, but they are not hard and fast. The first is the start-stop rule. The drawing begins when the band starts and stops when the band finishes. This temporal constraint fuels the frenzy. 

Second, he accepts mistakes as conceptual ideas. The imperfections become signatures of the experience. Frenetic drawing revels in serendipity. Each “mistake” contributes to the raw authenticity.

Third, conceptual exploration. Let whatever is in your mind mix with the drawing. Accept spontaneous ideas. Just let go, make marks and study them later.  

Drawing sharpens your mind and enhances focus. Your hand may move fast, but your mind will slow in contemplation. 

Shooster has years of experience doing this type of Drawing. He almost exclusively uses Pilot V7 precise needlepoint pens. He claims they are the fastest pens he has ever found. It is crucial to use tools that keep your pace moving.

The outcome? A visual symphony—an amalgamation of music, movement, and creativity. Frenetic drawing captures the pulse of live performance, translating sound waves into ink blots.

Armed with a pen and paper, my hand dances to the rhythm embraces the chaos, and each moment that echos the band’s melodies, as well as my artistic spirit, feeds my imagination. – Shooster

2023 Example of Frenetic Drawing, Signed Shoosty, 12″x12″ ink on paper. Depicting the Yokohiro Isso Band

Vector painting is an artistic technique where the digital artist creates images using volumes of vectors—mathematically defined points. Unlike traditional raster-based painting, which relies on pixels, vector painting allows for precise, scalable, and high-quality artwork. 

Vector artists construct shapes, lines, and curves using mathematical equations. These vectors are coordinates that define the position and direction of each element. Because they are based on math, vectors remain sharp and clear regardless of the image’s size or resolution. The computer handles the math. The artist uses elegant tools designed for visual thinkers.

One of the key advantages of vector painting is its scalability. Since vectors are resolution-independent, the artwork can be resized without losing quality. Whether you’re creating a small icon or a large billboard, vector-based images maintain their clarity.

Vector graphics produce clean, precise lines and shapes. It’s commonly used for logos, illustrations, technical drawings, and graphic design. The absence of pixelation ensures a professional finish.

The iPad Pro, equipped with powerful drawing tools and apps, provides an ideal platform for vector artists. Artists can create and manipulate vectors effortlessly with the freedom to work directly on the screen. A stylus pen enhances the creative process, allowing for a unified flow. It is an elegant drawing setup. Vector painting does not work well with a desktop computer and a mouse. You need a tablet and digital pen to achieve the relaxed freedom required to create hundreds of shapes that form a vector painting.

In summary, vector painting combines mathematical precision with artistic expression, resulting in visually striking and infinitely scalable professional artwork.

Matsumoto-jo_Black Castle, Vector Painting by Stephen Shooster, Scalable Vector Graphics, Signed Shoosty based on Japan excursion 2023