Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Thompson.

Hi Shannon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I painted as a kid and took art as electives in middle school, high school, and college. It was just something fun that I enjoyed doing and learning about. It wasn’t until I had my daughter Sophia, 7, that I began to really delve into it more. I started to share my work on social media and people began to ask for commissions. I stopped briefly when my relationship with my daughter’s father ended. She was around 17 months. I became a single mom. I began to work and focus on taking care of myself and Sophia. It was actually a very liberating time in my life. I began to rediscover myself and what I like. I began to love myself fiercely and unapologetically. I learned a lot about boundaries and grounding. I also thought about my childhood during this time and how I lived in survival mode for a long time due to trauma. Fast forward to 2022…I’m painting again and a friend of mine tells me that I should sell my art at art markets so I did. In 2023, I got married to my husband Drew and we had another daughter, Skye, 18 months. That year, I discovered Gretna Fest and applied to be a part of their inaugural “Art Village” and was chosen! Since doing this festival, the commissions and work in general have picked up significantly. This year, I will be painting a mural at an apartment complex, creating pieces for a Doctor’s office in New Orleans, and giving a presentation to children at a local school.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

The road to being the individual that I am today and rediscovering myself has not been easy. There have been many painful life experiences like my father’s TBI when I was 11 years old and ending a relationship that mirrored what I grew up seeing while in survival mode. However, these very experiences have fueled my artwork just as much as the happiness and joy have. I am grateful for all of these things because they have forged my character. My painting journey, I can honestly say, has been a much smoother road in part because I am doing what I really love and what makes me happy.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I am an artist that specializes in oil and acrylic paintings ranging from portraits to landscapes, to the abstract. My emotions are what set me apart from others. They are what inspire me and fuel my work. Whenever I feel a very strong emotion, I see a vision. I put that vision on a canvas. I am most proud of my ability to feel love and my sensitivity. They are gifts that have allowed me to create beautiful & meaningful art.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?

I’ve learned to be and connect with myself. We learn a lot about ourselves when we are still and quiet. It may not be what we necessarily want to feel and it may be painful at times, however, being with myself brought me to who and where I am today.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @shannon.marie.art

Image Credits

A Touch of Blush Photography