ARTIST BIO | Soul Shadows

Artists Bio and Statement

So, I'm Renee Evaline Angers and I'm an artist. It's taken me close to 40 years to be able to say that; I mean, realize it, say it, and be comfortable with it as a fact. When people learn you're an artist, the vast majority make ignorant, belittling, derogatory comments, such as "Oh, yes, my little nephew loves to draw too," or "It must be nice to be home all day doing whatever you want", and "So what is your real job?" It took me a long time to really understand where those remarks were coming from, stop allowing them to define me, and to accept how truly deserving of respect my work was and is.

So, yeah, I'm an artist. I was born an artist. I can't NOT be an artist. whether it is my sculpture work, portrait work, my tattoo work, my bling I create, The music I compose and perform, or the novels I write, it is all my passion.

I have no degrees, but I don't need any and I have proven that. I don't need to boast and flaunt BFAs and MFAs that would do piss all for me. My art comes from my heart and soul. Trained art and art that follows rules and is limited and directed and judged, isn't "art", it's skill. skill comes from determination, hard work, practice. BUT honestly, self-taught skill is skill struggled through and learned the hard way. it wasn't bought and learned in a comfy atmosphere with someone guiding you - For me it was a brutal and lonely fight. I am not scoffing those that gain their skill through schooling, I am saying it isn't the only way to gain skill. And sometimes, being flung into the cold dark bermuda triangle can season you in ways water-wings in the tepid shallow end can't.

I was Born in 1965 in Scarborough, Ontario , Canada. But really, who cares? I was one insanely cute baby though.

I started out with my love for music. I had a need to create music. I bought a bass and an amp when I was 18 and joined a band. I drew here and there and friends started asking me to do portraits and band logos. and then the 90's hit and I became fascinated with tattooing and in the next century, I discovered a love for writing.

In the 80's and 90's, it was music and I was in a band called Doomsday Dogs for 8 years as bass player, and composer/lyricist in many of the songs. I still compose and record to this day.

In the 90's, after my band broke up, I focused more of my attention to tattooing, portrait work and I began writing novels, 2 of which are published, and headed up a literary zine I called New Graffiti, taking on a line up of very successful and talented writers. as well, I worked for several local arts and entertainment newspapers and magazines as a columnist.

In 2012 I opened my own art and tattoo studio, taking my zine name, New Graffiti. In 2015 I moved my business and re-branded to Ink Artist Studio and enjoyed great success tattooing ... UNTIL COVID HIT.

Covid19 forced me to shut my doors and after a year without any money coming in, it inevitably destroyed my business.

Between 2021 and 2024, I re-branded yet again, taking the name of my portraits business--Soul Shadows--as an umbrella of sorts for all the subcategories of my work. My portraits still fall under the name of Soul Shadows, and my sculpture business falls under the name Beyond Dolls.

It's been a pretty long 59 years so far and I have become a lot more mature and wise than I ever wanted to be. I've suffered a lot of cruelty, bullshit and loss; a lot of pretty incredible pain in life. I know i'm not the only one. WE all have our trials. It's shaped me into the artist I am.

For anyone interested in my TATTOO WORK, MUSIC, and WRITING, feel free to browse ...

TATTOO WORK BOOKS/AUTHOR/WRITER MUSICIAN/COMPOSER

So, I'm Renee Evaline Angers. I'm two things in this life. I'm an artist. And I am one other thing that makes me very, VERY important in this universe. I am a Dog Mom. I was a Mom to Honey (2001 - 2012), Daisy (2009 to 2021), and Gumdrop, who is very much with me now. My girls have been my life. They give me purpose. Without them, there would be no art. There would be no me. I am grateful to all of them every day of my life. I dedicate every single piece of art I ever create to them.