Get To Know Artist Maureen Sheldon

Apr 26, 2023 12:14PM ● By Rose Terami

Artist Maureen Sheldon and her Husband Eric Lorentzon at their art studio TransARTlantic Eksperimentum.

"A silk scarf by artisan Maureen Sheldon goes for anywhere from $200 to $500. Beneath their intricate design and striking beauty also lies Sheldon's creative inspiration, which stems from years of experience in the printing industry.

Sheldon's advanced print technology, art, consulting, and design business – called Agent Quinze – is named for a local women's dinner that she attended alongside 15 (quinze) other women, who Sheldon often thought of as "agents of change". A variety of career paths and accomplishments were represented at these dinners, and Sheldon "saw through these women how important it was to gather like this and share, support, and inspire each other," she says. "That positive spirit would reach further out into the world."

From there, Sheldon entered the printing industry around the age of 21. In 1987, Sheldon transitioned into the technology side of printing, working for a business management company that later became known as "Electronics for Imaging" (EFI). They were "the first in the world to take what you see on your color monitor and print it to a color printer," Sheldon says. As a lead product development manager, Sheldon worked with businesses and colleagues from all over the world to help create "the first language system for defining standards in describing a printed job for automation."

Sheldon left the corporate world in 2017 and has since continued to honor her creative personality while operating Agent Quinze."

Q: What is your full name, age, and town of residence?

A: Maureen Sheldon, 60, Etna, New Hampshire, and Capileira, Spain.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your work as an artist?

A: I grew up in Wilder, Vermont, and was influenced early on by my father, who owned a publishing and printing business. My dad would make our holiday cards, usually starting with a block carving, and work his printing skills from there. By the time I graduated from high school, I could see there was no use for TV as it would consume the time that I wanted to create. I have never had TV since leaving my parents' home. I was fascinated by cultures and traditional craft and fortunately, through my career and personal adventures, I am somewhat the culmination of these experiences in my expression and interest in what mediums I work in. I have traveled extensively for my career doing business all over the world; my husband and I are sailors, and we run an art studio in Capileira, Spain. These places influence what I might create as well the limitations of where I might point in one direction or another in the sense of both what mediums or tools are available as well what I might be inspired by.

Q: What kinds of things do you create as an artist?

A: It is really across the board in terms of what I create. We could perhaps split the question, as I create both a true, original artform, and sometimes that artform turns into a product. Sometimes I intentionally create a design destined for a product, and sometimes, it comes serendipitously.

Q: Why do you create art?

A: I have never asked nor answered that question of myself. It has been part of me since I was a little girl. What jumps to me in 2023 is that the act of creating is a meditative and peaceful place for me. There seems to be a lot of chaos about, and I am perfectly content alone in my own space working on various projects.

I think working with your hands, connecting your thoughts, and coming to expression is a very healthy place for us humans to be. I certainly enjoy the challenge of getting better with techniques and new methods, and I could never walk into an art store without purchasing a pen! Colors are addicting to me.

Sometimes I do create art to send a message. I think of myself as a fierce advocate for our wild spaces and wildlife. I have been a New England delegate for protecting wilderness lands, meeting the standards defined by the 1964 Wilderness Act that does not yet have protection. I volunteered for the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and held the Vice Chair of Board role at one time. We humans are not doing our job to protect our home and animal companions.

Q: Do you have any upcoming projects you're working on?

A: I have a few projects underway. The largest is my art studio in Capileira, Spain. There is a fully equipped print studio in this ancient Moorish village, the second highest in the entire Iberian Peninsula, sitting on the highest mountain. We have a unique property that has been operated by a lovely Danish couple for decades and in the last few years we have made the transfer. I offer a variety of artists' workshops throughout the spring and autumn seasons. https://www.agentquinze.com/collections/176919

My business, Agent Quinze–which is the name my textile products are sold under–has a new set of women’s tank tops available. I am teaching a printmaking workshop in Capileira in May. And I’m very excited to be working with Anichini for a trunk show this coming September.

Q: Can you tell me about the process of making one of your silk scarves? How do you come up with different design ideas?

A: This is also a hard question, simply due to how I work. I have thousands of photographs I have taken of a variety of subjects around the world. They are always a good source of inspiration. My husband and I are sailors and spend several months on the Atlantic; in this environment, you are inspired differently. I have a whole series on ospreys and a large collection of images on metal prints that depict scenes of the Maine coast.

www.agentquinze.com/workszoom/3118104/seguin-island-mooring#/

My technology career was such of advancing digital printing across all substrates. This was a combination of chemistry and advanced printer technology. I was fortunate to be part of this evolution and it gave me an obvious inside track that is unique. I know where the equipment exists in the world to fit my needs when my artwork transitions into a product, such as the scarf.

I will take the Moon Garden Golden Noir as an example. This is a combination of a number of “originals,” two block prints creating the daffodils and long leaves, a monoprint of the light green leaves, and a photograph of using some blinds. Those were created, digitally photographed, and combined with digital tools resulting in what you see now in scarf form.

www.agentquinze.com/workszoom/5024166/moon-garden-golden-noir#/

Q: What info should people know about your scarves being at the Anichini Trunk Sale in September?

A: First, I am extremely grateful to Susan Dollenmaier and her team. They have been very enthusiastic about my pieces and very supportive. They have stated they have not had a trunk show in over two decades, so this is a big deal for everyone!

We share a love of textiles, traditional crafting, and cultures, so it is a great mix working together. For my art in scarf form, it is the perfect venue for display. I think of it as the art gallery of textile forms!

There will be a trunk show held on September 15; ANICHINI is working on the time and details. I will have a large diversity of scarves [upwards of 50 designs] available on silk habotai in two sizes as well as art in other mediums. It will be the best place to see such a wide set of designs. The scarves are beautiful, unique in design, and both utilitarian as well as fashionable!

Q: Is there anything else you'd like people to know about you and/or your business?

A: My website, www.agentquinze.com, offers access to a number of my products as well the workshop information for TransARTlantic Eksperimentum. That is the name of our studio and workshop offerings in Capileira. If anyone is interested in seeing how things start, come to one of our workshops and I can show you firsthand.

Mostly though, I hope that the imagery brings people some joy and happiness.

Maureen Sheldon Studio and Works of Art [5 Images] Click Any Image To Expand