Exploration & Expression
2021 Collection by Shannon Sorensen
Artist Statement - This year was a year of creative exploration and artistic expression. It was my first experience attempting to create abstracts, and I found myself enjoying energetic and colorful pieces, mostly inspired by flower gardens and vibrant travel destinations. Towards the end of the year, I focused a bit more on coastal themes and branching out in different directions.
I loved the meditative rhythm of creating with the smaller marks, often seeing figures in the final pieces. My practice is just as much spiritual as it is creative - to me, they’re one in the same - and I often found that a painting came to be, just however I needed it at the time. Sometimes colorful and cheerful, other times a bit quiet and soothing.
Most works were completed on canvas, cradled wood panel, or mixed media paper, using acrylics and neocolor artist crayons. I also used some recycled canvas from another local artist in town who no longer wanted the art they had created. I removed the canvas from their wood frames and divided it up into smaller pieces to create Touching Heaven, Follow the Sun, Healing Waters, Wildflower Dreams, Ladyslipper Woods, and Windows to the Soul.
ABSTRACT WILDFLOWERS 1
4x6 Acrylic on repurposed canvas, painted January 2021, at home in Newington, CT
This was my first “successful” attempt at creating an abstract. It’s a lot harder than you’d think, making something expressive, loose, colorful, and something you’re imagining but have to allow to take shape physically in front of you. I had two small pieces of canvas side by side, and was delighted to see them coming to life in the way I had hoped and imagined.
ABSTRACT WILDFLOWERS 2
4x6 Acrylic on repurposed canvas, painted January 2021, at home in Newington, CT
This was also my first time creating a diptych, two pieces of art created side by side, together but also standing alone on their own.
LADYSLIPPER WOODS
8X10 Acrylic on recycled canvas, painted January 2021, at home in Newington, CT
An abstract, expressive painting made with acrylic on canvas, inspired by my childhood memories of wandering and playing in the woods around my house. I grew up on a dirt road, with conservation land directly across the road from our home. I spent hours at a time in the woods, exploring, imagining, and wandering. The colors in this painting come from pine needles, green or burnt orange, and the delicate tones of these magical ladyslipper flowers I’d seek out while playing.
LILLIES ON THE POND
6x6 Acrylic on canvas panel, painted March 2021, at home in Newington, CT
Inspired by the calm, watery scenery of my parent’s property in Massachusetts, with a sleepy corner of pond full of soft pink blooms and vibrant green lily pads.
HEALING WATERS
12x18 Acrylic on recycled canvas, painted April 2021, at home in Newington, CT
A soothing abstract on canvas, inspired by the famous quote by Isak Denisen: “The cure for anything is salt water - tears, sweat, or the sea.”
OUT OF NOWHERE
8x10 Acrylic on canvas panel, painted May 2021, at home in Newington, CT
This piece is inspired by waves of grief, the journey I’ve been on since 2018, and the various levels of collective grief we have felt day after day since the beginning of Covid. They can come up suddenly and take you by surprise. It can feel powerful, heavy, and knock you off your feet. And sometimes, just as quickly as it arrives, it has passed.
BETWEEN DREAMS
9x12 Acrylic on paper, painted May 2021, at home in Newington, CT
An abstract expression of the space between vivid dreams, visits from loved ones, and wakefulness, and finding peace within that space.
CINQUE TERRE
9x12 Digital Art, illustrated June 2021, using Adobe Fresco on iPad, at home in Newington, CT
This was the first of a mini-series of wanderlust inspired pieces, of colorful places I hope to see in person someday. Cinque Terre has this otherworldly look to it that has always caught my eye and enchanted my heart.
PROVENCE
9x12 Acrylic on paper, painted June 2021, at home in Newington, CT
This was the second of a mini-series of wanderlust inspired pieces, of colorful places I hope to see in person someday. Provence’s fields of lavender and shapely cypress trees captivated my imagination.
COPENHAGEN
9x12 Acrylic on paper, painted June 2021, at home in Newington, CT
This was the third of a mini-series of wanderlust inspired pieces, of colorful places I hope to see in person someday. Copenhagen’s colorful structures along the waterways dotted with boats were the idea for this painting.
MYKONOS
8x10 Acrylic on wood panel, painted July 2021, at home in Newington, CT
I traveled to Greece with my husband and his family shortly after we were married in 2010, and I fell in love with the seaside beauty that is Mykonos.
The white and blue buildings and homes…the stony, narrow walkways…the warm coastline and vibrant energy of travelers mixed with residents…
Fishing, food, gazing at the sea, bustling through town…it’s a special place that I’m grateful to have seen in my life.
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MOUNTAINSIDE SERENITY
9x12 Acrylic on paper, painted July 2021, on vacation in Franconia, NH
This was painted during a vacation in New Hampshire, enjoying the scenery of the Franconia Notch area, picturing these magical mountains and valleys speckled with wildflowers, and that feeling of peace that you can only really find in the mountains.
IT RAINED ALL SUMMER 1
8x8 Acrylic on wood panel, painted July 2021, at home in Newington, CT
Inspired by the vibrant gardens in my husband’s parents’ yard after a summer rain, with daylilies, hydrangea, morning glories, pansies, roses, and honeysuckle.
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IT RAINED ALL SUMMER 2
8x8 Acrylic on wood panel, painted July 2021, at home in Newington, CT
Inspired by the vibrant gardens in my husband’s parents’ yard, looking out the window during a summer rain, with daylilies, hydrangea, morning glories, pansies, roses, and honeysuckle.
I PICKED THESE FOR YOU
16x20 Acrylic on canvas, painted August 2021, at home in Newington, CT
Inspired by a summer bouquet I picked up on a whim one day at Eddy Farm’s stand on Willard Ave. I took the flowers home and arranged them, and then sat down to paint them. Sunflowers mixed with daisies, zinnias and more, it was a colorful and whimsical array of blossoms. One of my favorite summer jobs when I was in college, was working for a local florist, delivering flowers to homes, events, special occasions, or just because.
Flowers bring so much joy and comfort, showing that the recipient is in the giver’s mind and heart. Hence, why I titled this one “Thinking of You”.
THINKING OF YOU
11x14 Acrylic on wood panel, painted August 2021, at home in Newington, CT
Inspired by a summer bouquet I picked up on a whim one day at Eddy Farm’s stand on Willard Ave. I took the flowers home and arranged them, and then sat down to paint them. Sunflowers mixed with daisies, zinnias and more, it was a colorful and whimsical array of blossoms. One of my favorite summer jobs when I was in college, was working for a local florist, delivering flowers to homes, events, special occasions, or just because.
Flowers bring so much joy and comfort, showing that the recipient is in the giver’s mind and heart. Hence, why I titled this one “Thinking of You”.
TANGERINE DREAM
8x8 Acrylic on wood panel, painted August 2021, at home in Newington, CT
As summer comes to a close and the air changes here in New England, I look forward to deeper tones, richer textures that speak of comfort and slowing down. Late summer and early fall florals of reds, orange and yellow make this abstract really juicy and playful. The painting extends around all four side panels.
WITHOUT YOU
8x10 Acrylic on wood panel, painted December 2021, at home in Newington, CT
I made this painting during the holiday season, while listening to The Beatles, and thinking of loved ones who have passed. Winter can be a difficult time to miss those you love, and when I was done with this painting, my mom commented to me that she saw figures, like spirits, gathered together, and that gave me some comfort.
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FOLLOW THE SUN
9x12 Acrylic on repurposed canvas, painted December 2021, at home in Newington, CT
Named for the song by The Beatles, and the particular tug of nostalgia you feel when looking at the ocean, or listening to an old favorite song. “For tomorrow may rain, so I’ll follow the sun…”
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TOUCHING HEAVEN
9x12 Acrylic on repurposed canvas, painted December 2021, at home in Newington, CT
I love being at the beach at low tide, and how the sand stretches on to the flattened water, which stretches on to the sky. At sunrise or sunset, the ethereal glow makes other worlds feel within reach.
MARMALADE SKY
6x6 Acrylic on wood panel, painted December 2021, at home in Newington, CT
I wanted to create a piece to go along with “Tangerine Dream”, but with its own personality. This piece is small but makes a statement. It’s bright, whimsical, joyful - one of my favorite “happy little artworks”. The painting extends around all four side panels.
SHIPYARD LANE
8x8 Acrylic on wood panel, painted December 2021, at home in Newington, CT
Inspired by Duxbury Bay, and a view from the shore of all the different boats parked off the shore.
ABSTRACT SEASCAPE
8x8 Acrylic on wood panel, painted December 2021, at home in Newington, CT
Using a wintery palette, this abstract depicts memories of days at the beach or a harbor, seeing boats off in the distance from the shore.
DOWN BY THE BAY
6x6 Acrylic on wood panel, painted December 2021, at home in Newington, CT
A familiar scene of warm summer days on Duxbury Bay in Massachusetts.