We were lucky to catch up with Shannon McDonald recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Exploration and excitement are the start to learning your craft. What mediums do you like best? Try them all out. Part of the process of learning is finding out what you don’t like as much as what you like. Sometimes it’s using what you have accessible to you. When I was young, it was a pencil. Learning how to draw a circle. Small steps become big strides. While we all want to be the next artistic genius, it is important to learn the basics. Learn the color wheel, learn your F-Stops, learn to shade or code. Acquiring skills is the first step and also the most fruitful and frustrating. Find other like minded individuals or mentors. Other artists you can learn from or get feedback from. We don’t live in a bubble. Explore and have fun. If it seems like drudgery you are not going to excel. Eventually you will find your style, that is the joy of becoming an artist. You are in constant learning and evolutionary phases.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Shannon McDonald and I am the artist behind Pop Shop Universe. I started my artistic career in Photography, it was my major in college. After graduating I worked in several Boston fine art galleries and print houses. I still have a passion for photography but I was looking to get more hands on with my work. I was drawn to mixed media collage and painting. Creating works that are colorful and steeped in symbolism. I am passionate about design and saw the transformative effect it could have on people’s lives. As I created patterns for my own home décor items, I found others were drawn to my unique and vibrant style. It was then that I started turning my paintings into pillows. I am proud that I am creating a brand that brings people together, inspires creativity, and makes the world a brighter place, one pattern at a time.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Freedom. Freedom of expression, freedom in learning and freedom in finding artistic connections. These are all aspects that keep me creating. When I start my creative process I am translating something intangible such as a dream and finding a way to express that visually. Other times I just have to start with a color, a brush and put paint to palette. There is wonder and thoughtfulness in these acts, it is beautiful and liberating. My artwork has navigated me through such mediums as photography, mixed media collage and painting just to name a few. Each is its own unique expression yet it is the job of an artist to glean parts that work best for you for future work. There is immense learning as I act as a conduit for my work. What radical freedom that is and my largest joy in being an artist.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In my opinion the best support to artists in society is to offer art education and financial support. Fostering an understanding and appreciation of art at a young age is very important, in my opinion. Although age does not have to be a roadblock. It is all about creating and cultivating a space to share ideas and expand people’s knowledge. Art education creates beautiful opportunities for self expression, self exploration and broadening horizons. To understand some artwork you may have to understand what was happening culturally, economically or politically. This could be just general art education but also art processes. Thus education is the cornerstone to creating a thriving creative ecosystem.

Also, financial support to artists. This could be as small as buying an item at a craft fair. Donating to an artist’s Patreon. Artists cannot continue to create if there is no revenue. Sure, artists will still create but the funding helps to bring ideas to life. I implore all readers to support in any way you can. I promise you when art is purchased or if you provide funding to artists you provide value to this world. You also are part of the artistic process and I assure you that artists are so joyful when you support them. To be seen, to be appreciated, it matters to all artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.popshopuniverse.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/popshopuniverse/
• Other: my pillow are available to wholesale on Faire!

Image Credits
All images copyright of Shannon McDonald / Pop Shop Universe