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

Shannon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Nothing makes me happier than being an artist.

I spent over a decade as a fashion designer, a career my creative soul naturally led me into. I thrived there. I was good at it. I loved designing pieces that made women feel beautiful and confident. But the industry was cutthroat, demanding, and nonstop. Even at my most “successful,” I never felt truly happy.

When the time came to leave that world behind and stay home with my children, I faced a bit of an identity crisis. Society tends to measure worth by career titles, so stepping away felt like a risk. But for me, being a mom was more important, and in that space, I found something I hadn’t truly had before, creative freedom.

That shift allowed me to reconnect with the raw, joyful part of myself that just loves to make. I didn’t expect that becoming a parent would open the door to a whole new chapter as an artist, but it did.

Now, creating live event paintings has become the most fulfilling part of my creative journey. My family always come first, but this new path allows me to show up both as a present mom and a fully expressed artist. I’m still growing, still creating, but for the first time, it feels like I’m doing it on my own terms.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

COVID shifted my entire career in the best possible way.

I’ve been an artist my entire life. Drawing has been a passion since childhood and has always felt like second nature to me. After over a decade in the fashion industry, stepping away gave me the space to focus on what mattered most, being present with my kids and figuring out what a creative life could look like outside of corporate pressure.

During those early years at home, I discovered a kind of creative freedom I hadn’t experienced before. I could explore, experiment, and make things just because I wanted to. That’s when the idea for TigerwolfStudios really started to grow, slowly, in between naps and snack times, but with real joy and purpose.

With time and confidence, I began offering custom portrait work and small illustrations. I’ve never stuck to just one thing because I truly enjoy variety, from family portraits and landscapes to invitations, fashion sketches, and coloring pages. A lot of people find me because they’re looking for something specific and personal that they can’t find anywhere else, and I love being the person who can make that happen.

Recently, I joined Lumina Art Collective as a live event artist, and it’s become one of my favorite parts of this journey. I create watercolor guest portraits with a fashion style approach, full body, flirty, and fun. It’s such a unique experience for guests to watch the portraits come to life in real time. They’re always smiling and genuinely delighted by the process. I just love seeing their reactions. It’s a joyful way to blend my background in fashion with my love for illustration, and it brings such a fun energy to every event.

At the heart of it, I care a lot about making art that feels personal and thoughtful. I love helping people turn ideas into something tangible they’ll treasure. This business has allowed me to be both a full-time mom and a working artist, and that balance is something I’m really proud of.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Sad reality is, you’d think the people closest to you would be your biggest supporters, but often, it’s quite the opposite. People you know sometimes view you as “new” or not legitimate, or they expect a deep discount, like you’re not a serious option. Meanwhile, they’ll turn around and purchase from a complete stranger without question. I think it’s just human nature to assume someone else or something else must be better.

What I’d really love to see is for society to look inward first. Cheer on that random friend from high school, share a family member’s business page, like their posts, share to their stories, leave a kind comment, repost someone’s work. Most artists and creatives aren’t asking their friends and family to buy from them. We just want that genuine support and encouragement as we try to grow. With that said, it goes a long way when the people around us remember to turn to us first when we offer something they’re already looking for.

It’s especially hard to stand out in today’s overwhelming social media landscape. We’re like needles in a haystack until the right people discover us. So if you believe in someone’s talent or drive, help amplify their voice. That kind of support makes a real difference, and it helps creative communities thrive from the inside out.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

At some point, we all have that “I wish I had a crystal ball” moment. For me, I wish I had taken social media more seriously earlier on. I dabbled, but I dabbled too late. I didn’t realize just how massive of a role it would play in people’s growth. Social media holds so much opportunity, and sometimes I still get that “I’m too late” feeling. And now, it’s so saturated with people teaching all the “right” ways to grow that it can be hard to know who to trust or even want to listen at all.

People often tell me I need to narrow my niche to grow, but that just doesn’t feel right for me. Like, I’m a mom, but I’m also an artist. And I’m not just any artist, I’m a portrait artist. But I also do things like design invitations, create coloring pages, create realistic drawings, and paint fun watercolor portraits live at events. I don’t want to just share one part of what I do, even if that’s what people say I’m supposed to do. I love doing it all, and I want to share it all. That variety makes me, me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Tigerwolfstudios.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigerwolfstudios?igsh=amp0ejVyYmprZ2Vh
• Other: Aliciaanneart.com/shannonlinks
  Luminaartcollective.com

Image Credits

https://www.instagram.com/tatianarulinphotography?igsh=eW03am0weXRyejE3