Stories behind art are fascinating. Artists use their brushes, paint, canvases and tools to create stories like writers use a pen and paper. Here artists reveal the inspiration behind their masterpieces. It’s a rare opportunity to not guess but hear how the work was born, first hand.  

One Artist. One Story

Tricia Shamburger was born in Cape Coral, Florida and recently moved to Tampa to pursue Studio Art at the University of South Florida. Tricia’s formal introduction to drawing and painting began in her Junior year of high school. She auditioned for the Center for the Arts Program at Cypress Lake High School in Fort Myers in 2016 and was accepted. She’s a Creative Farm Art Market juried winner and was one of the winners at the Glow in the Dark art show hosted by Carrollwood Cultural Center.

Bacteriophage T4 by Tricia Shamburger. Oil on Canvas, 16″ x 20″

“The emergence of Covid-19 emphasized feelings of both doubt and determination as an artist. I was lost until I became inspired by the microscopic world. The invasive and intimidating appearance of the “Bacteriophage T4” virus can be misleading. This virus was and is still used to treat bacterial infections. More specifically, it attacks Escherichia coli bacteria (E-coli).

The journey and result of this work serve as a reminder that as a result of tough times there are intense emotions. Consequently, I believe that there is hope for artists who are experiencing hard times because they are the most precious; they lead the hand.”

Follow Tricia Shamburger on Social Media: Instagram @TriciaSham, Website https://triciasham.wordpress.com/