Shea Gegan, a Virginia Beach native and recent Portland transplant, is a self-taught artist who has been painting for seven years. His signature, "Swiss Cheese Beard," is a reference to his patchy facial hair. Parallel to his organic talent, Gegan uses materials found at hand: plywood, old paint, construction materials, thrifted art, etc. He recycles these supplies to create an artistic juxtaposition between bright color and dark emotion. The characters often portrayed in his work depict an empty demeanor which become ironic against the color palette. Inspired by graffiti and modern art, Gegan favors clean lines, bold words and signature characters. Each piece reflects his personal style and homage to his inspiration. In the past year, Gegan has been able to travel throughout the country, taking many trips with close friends and family, two of which involved driving from coast-to-coast. He moved from Virginia Beach, VA to Brooklyn, NY to Portland, OR all in the same year. This piece is inspired by his travels across country and the life changes that have come about in the past year. The name "Never Eat Sour Watermelons" is a reference to the mnemonic often used to memorize cardinal directions. Examples of work and contact information can be found at sheagegan.com.