Meet Sheila Parinas | Registered Nurse & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sheila Parinas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sheila, what inspires you?

Music, nature, and cityscapes around me often inspire my art. When I experience something beautiful, I have a strong desire to record and share a part of this with others. My experiences are often shared through writing, drawing, or painting.

I am also inspired by other artists. The freedom of self-expression, through written art, visual art, music, and theatre is fiercely important to me. When I enter in a new city, one of the first things I notice is the amount of art on public display. This tells me how a certain environment values art and diverse perspectives. Seeing murals, sculptures, and the promotion of local artists, musicians, and theatre gives a release, like a breath of fresh air. I will always support the local arts.

Please tell us more about your art/work.

Early influences started the seeds of my journey into music, written art, and visual art. My first formal training into any kind of art was through music. Encouraged by my mom from a young age, I grew up playing in classical piano competitions and festivals in Chicago. Through music I learned the beauty in patterns, notes, and the pauses in between. Then came my love of written art; I loved escaping into books. I learned to love the classics and poetry, and how they provide direct connections into the thoughts and minds of different eras and perspectives. Finally, my journey into visual art was heavily influenced by my late father, who had a clear appreciation of paintings and sculpture. He took me on many trips to see the Art Institute and encouraged me to draw and paint and learn about other artists. Today, I continue support local music and art. I served for a few years on the board of a local theatre company and learned so much about creating community and fostering the arts on many platforms.

If I had to describe my art, I would say my style is impressionistic, and my goals are to celebrate and share being human. Being human allows us entire spectrums of experiences. Capturing the wonderful ways light bends around and reflects in the world around us. The feelings and memories evoked from colors. The ways we are in constant motion. How music can connect everyone in one space, in a moment that will never happen in the same way again. The life lessons we learn from being surrounded by nature. The nostalgia we desperately try to immortalize.

We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. 

The factors that set every artist apart from each other is their personal journey. I like to think that thoughts, emotions, and personal philosophy get imprinted into the work that one does– whether it be art in the traditional sense, or into the work one does in general.

Receiving that moment of inspiration excites me. It’s electrical. If I am fortunate to possess the time and opportunity, I may begin creating something spontaneously. However, because I am often limited on time, I often resort to taking notes and catalogue ideas away. I have so many series of paintings in my head that have yet to be painted.

How did you get to where you are today professionally?

I am a registered nurse. I pursued my undergrad degrees in literature and nursing at the same time, and then earned a master’s degree in clinical informatics. I have been a full-time nurse for about 15 years now, and I hope to continue my studies to become a nurse practitioner.   Through my life, I want to continue gaining clinical knowledge and technical skills to further advocate for health care professionals and patients as health care continues to evolve. I love the sciences as much as the arts.

Was it easy?

The journey into my art was not an easy one. I began my undergraduate studies with the intention of majoring in industrial design. I was not equipped emotionally at this young age to handle the competition and critique that one faces at the college level and beyond. I put my art away for many years. Remarkably, this action also paved the way for my interests in formal studies of literature, the sciences, and eventually health care, which continues to be a very fulfilling career.

What brought me back to creating art was the way my community fostered the arts of any age, any level of skill. I patronized local community art shows for many years, and then started accepting invitations to participate. With each tentative step, I received a great deal of support and encouragement from my family and friends. This really helped me overcome impostor syndrome.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?

I have said this before in a previous interview:  There is an art and science to everything under and above the sun. If you are ever feeling lost, get lost in something you love. It’s ironic, but when you are so completely immersed that you lose track of time and space, you will know that you have found your way.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and your story?  

Nothing is black and white, and many truths can exist, and many conflicting emotions can be felt at one time. This world is a beautiful place. This world is a terrible place. This is all a part of being human. Nothing is as it seems.

In that same respect, empowerment is also not all it seems, and does not and cannot only come from within:  There must be some kind of support or influence from others. If you take anything away from my story, know that on this earth there is no single journey, our paths are all intertwined. Any of my accomplishments first began as goals or ideas that were first inspired through a connection felt with others, in an environment supportive enough to give me the opportunity.

My career in health care acknowledges the importance of life. My art is an extension of these values. And my journey in turn, is living proof that any gesture–great or small, can mean the world to someone else. If you are reading this, know that your life is important, your experiences are important, and you have the capability to inspire and create. You can make a difference by telling your story. And you can unravel worlds of knowledge by listening to the stories of others.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate this shoutout to Clara de la Fuente and Skot Wiedmann, my friends and fellow artists. Their encouragement, advice, and shared journeys continue to spur my own adventures. I also want to send a shoutout to all my family, friends, and communities who support me and my artistic endeavors.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parinas.art/

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/parinas

Twitter: https://twitter.com/informatinaut

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077455340893 (Parinas Art)

Image Credits
Skot Wiedmann (first image)