The World is Wide :: New Painting by Connecticut Artist

“The World is Wide”, a new post-impressionist dreamscape painting by Connecticut artist, Shannon Sorensen, inspired by Tolkien-esque fantastical landscapes that feel like a place we’ve known or seen. Within these worlds, great distances look close, new terrain and growth is revealed around every corner. Water flows and you’re not sure if you’re seeing fire or flowers.

 
 

Every time I am working on a painting, I reach a point where it needs to start taking shape and looking more finished. And some paintings progress quickly through this stage, while others, like this one, take a bit more time and work.

I started an 18x12” canvas painting on Monday, February 14, and it was full of warmth and felt very playful. The next day, I sat down again, and started adding some cooler tones, following the shapes and lines that I had established, and it felt good, but far from finished.

Over the next two days, I kept adding marks and layers, growing increasingly frustrated because I didn’t have any direction. At that point, I wanted to set it aside and give myself some time working on something new and fresh, because it was feeling overworked and stuck.

Evolution of a Painting

To store it in my small art space, I put a board up on my easel that another finished painting of the same dimension was still clipped to, and set the current piece under it while I figured out my storage solution.

I stepped back and just glanced at the two pieces lined up together on the board, blinked a couple times, and everything shifted.

One finished piece on top, displayed with this unfinished, overworked piece below it, it became clear to me that these two could and would work well together as a larger piece. The shapes started to make sense, and I was immediately excited to dig back into it again.

So here’s the finished piece, which I’ve called “The World is Wide”, inspired by Tolkien-esque fantastical landscapes that feel like a place we’ve known or seen. Within these worlds, great distances look close, new terrain and growth is revealed around every corner. Water flows and you’re not sure if you’re seeing fire or flowers.

The overall piece is 18” wide by 24” tall, two separate pieces of canvas attached and blended in the middle. I used acrylics, and both pieces of canvas were the last two pieces of recycled material that I had in my studio stash from another local artist.

Can you picture this in your home?

Prints and other home decor, lifestyle, stationary and accessories are available here.

Thanks for visiting! I hope you enjoy seeing my art, learning about my process, and feel inspired to explore your own creativity!

Shannon Sorensen is a full-time painter working from her home studio in Newington, Connecticut. If you are interested in showing her art through your gallery, place of business, or event, please contact Shannon with your inquiry.

Creativity and Mental Health

If living through a pandemic has done anything for me, it has helped me to be more aware of my mental health and wellbeing, and recognize the things that truly help bring me comfort, relaxation, and coping, when life feels otherwise a bit topsy turvy.

The first time I connected the dots between my creativity and healing was three years ago, following my pregnancy loss. I picked up a crochet project and spent four months crocheting a blanket for my daughter. With time, the repetitive nature of maneuvering stitch after stitch, row after row, brought me peace and calm. It kept my hands busy and allowed me to work through my thoughts and waves of grief.

I decided that it’s important for me to keep this conversation going as I share my work, because it really is the source of why I am on this particular path, and especially this past year and a half, I have witnessed so many friends and strangers turn to art and creative activities for comfort and healing.

So today, I’m sharing the things that I turn to regularly for comfort, meditation, to scratch a creative itch, or simply for relaxing and enjoyment.

Five Activities I Enjoy for My Creativity and Mental Health

Crocheting

I learned to crochet when I was about 8 or 9, sitting across from my mom as she taught me the basic stitches. I loved watching her work on creating blankets and other crafts, and remember sitting for hours after school working on granny squares and scarves.

In the weeks immediately after my miscarriage, I decided to make Lily a blanket. I had never finished an entire blanket and knew I needed something to focus on at night when the house was quiet.

I researched new stitches and picked out soft, colorful skeins from Joann’s. I started working on it, row by row, and found that I felt calmer and calmer with the meditative repetition of stitches. It wasn’t a complicated project. I could kind of tune out and focus on letting my hands do the work, and with each completed row, I felt happier, proud, looking forward to finishing something so special. And bonus, as it got bigger, it physically comforted me to have a soft, warm, and somewhat weighted blanket lying across my lap as I worked.

The other bonus to crocheting is that it’s a portable project. It’s easy to keep a current project in a tote bag to take with you in the car, anywhere you go. I recently started packing an “activity bag” to keep in the car, so I can crochet while I’m waiting to pick up Lily at school, or while she’s at dance class or Girl Scouts.

Painting

Obviously, this has been a monumental piece of my journey over the last 3 years. I enjoyed painting throughout my entire life, but recently, exploring the kind of painting I loved, made all the difference.

I have seen friends take up watercolor, drawing, doing paint nights, and finding real peace and joy with a brush in their hand. When you allow time and space to express yourself, removing the pressure and expectations of what you “should” be making, and do it merely for the physical and mental practice of playfulness, you may be surprised by how healing it really is.

With all things in life, it’s important to try all different kinds of things to find what you really connect with and enjoy. I know people who do not enjoy knitting or crochet and find it very frustrating. I know people who will not pick up a paintbrush. Perhaps it’s too daunting, or there’s no feeling of desire to paint.

Whatever you choose to do, or not to do, is a personal choice. There’s no right or wrong way to create or to craft.

Coloring

In 2021, I collaborated with my local Chamber of Commerce to host three Coloring and Cocktails networking events for local women in business. At each event, women from all walks of life, personalities and levels of artistry gathered and simply enjoyed coloring.

The wonderful thing about coloring, is it’s 100% enjoyment. The art/design is already there. You can freely choose your coloring tools, and tap into your inner child to playfully create.

Coloring has many mental and physical benefits, including relaxation, fine motor skills, creatively stimulating, increased focus, and giving your eyes and brain a break from screens (which I think we can all agree is necessary).

I have spent the entirety of the Covid pandemic drawing coloring pages. It started as an idea to make a page for my kids, back when we thought they’d only be home for a week or two. The more I drew these coloring pages, the more I enjoyed that process, too.

Here’s a link to purchase my very favorite coloring pages, which you can download, print, and color anytime!

Creative Movement

This is something new that I have been dipping my toes in, and I am loving it.

Creative movement is whatever I feel like doing with my body to re-center, move, and spend some time with my thoughts or listening to music. I try to do 20-30 minutes a day of something different that simply feels good. Some days it’s walking, some days it’s sitting and doing a guided meditation and deep breathing. Some days I put on my favorite Wicked Autumn playlist and dance freely (no choreographed dance workout videos over here), and some days I sit on our stationary bike and pedal for a half hour while listening to a podcast or, if I’m being honest, watching Instagram reels.

Engaging with my body each day keeps me in tune and grounded, not getting too lost in my thoughts and my to-do lists. It’s also a reminder to honor this vessel I’m living in, because I very easily could sit on my couch all day, or at my desk, and I know that when I take some time to move, I feel better. Physically dusting off the cobwebs and moving my body in new, different ways each days helps clear my head and invite in inspiration.

Crafting with My Kids

Before the pandemic, I can say with complete honesty that I didn’t enjoy crafting with my kids. Maybe it was their ages. It’s most likely that I was a lot more of a creative control freak. Whatever the reason, I’ve lightened up and have found that low-maintenance arts and crafts are a fun way for us to spend time together.

I love letting them do their thing and watching where ideas spark and take off. I love seeing them work together, or on their own. I try not to help too much so they can really experience it for themselves and grow their own skills.

My best advice is to get simple, inexpensive craft kits at Michael’s or Joann’s, if you’re like me and don’t like having to do prep work. I put a lot of my own creative energy into my painting, so when it comes to crafting with the kids, I like for someone else to do all the work, so we can simply enjoy it!

Some favorites include:

  • Canvas and paint kits

  • Coloring or painting simple wooden ornaments

  • Making jewelry with beads or rainbow loom elastics

  • Making our own picture books using blank paper or blank books/small journals from Michael’s

  • Origami is a recent favorite!

Oh, and no projects with glitter! It’s just not allowed in our house. We learned that lesson the hard way when Lily was little.

Bonus - Reading!

Is reading a creative activity? I say yes! Every new book you read is new to your brain, and will introduce you to new thoughts, ideas, stories, and perspectives. Like music and podcasts may spark inspiration in you, so does reading! And reading may create peace and relaxation in your day.

I have a to-be-read stack about a mile high, but I have been intentionally making time to read each day, either in the car waiting for my kiddos, or in the evening to wind down and relax my eyes and brain from all the screen time.

I know a lot of people love reading books on a device, but I just never got into that, and truly enjoy holding a physical book in my hands (and smelling the pages)! But my husband reads a ton on his Kindle app, so it really is a matter of figuring out what you like!

What activities do you prioritize? Is there something you’ve been wanting to try? Remember, any time you do something new, or a new way, you’re using your creativity. It doesn’t matter if it’s the way you apply paint to a surface, or the way you make yourself a cup of coffee. You might try a new crochet stitch or pattern, or you might rearrange your closet. You can dance in your living room, or choose a different route or path for your walk.

I’d love to hear what is sparking inspiration in your life lately. Leave a comment or connect with me over on Instagram.com/shannonsorensenart!







Creativity Pep Talks :: A New Weekly YouTube Series

Creativity Pep Talks, Weekly Wisdom and Guidance for Creatives, Shannon Sorensen, Connecticut artist, Youtube Series

Hey there, creative friends! Happy Monday to you! It’s snowing (again) here in Connecticut, and I am over it! I thought it would be rainy today, and I was so pumped for the snow to melt.

But alas…more snow.

[insert sad trombone noise]

I’m not totally crushed, though, because I have exciting news to share…

I launched a YouTube channel!

That’s right! My senior yearbook was right when they did a spread of “Where will they be in 20 years?” and mine was starring in her own sitcom.

Maybe it’s a bit more legwork being a one-woman show, but I am incredibly happy to be sharing my journey in this new format.

Creative Living with Shannon Sorensen offers a glimpse into my life as a full time working artist (and working at home…and working at home with kids), offer creativity pep talks for exploring your creativity and doing more of what you love and enjoy, and inspiration!

You’ll get to watch me work on paintings and drawing coloring pages, with my insights into the work, the process, what inspires each piece, and some little technical details.

I will sit down for a weekly series called “Creativity Pep Talks”, offering wisdom, guidance and encouragement to get your week started.

And I want to share behind the scenes, places I love that inspire me, little Q&As, tutorials, and whatever else this channel might become!

Here’s my first creativity pep talk episode - I am using Art Oracle cards to draw wisdom and guidance from great artists - their work, their struggles, their lives - to translate into some present day encouragement and inspiration.

Don’t forget to subscribe, and let me know in the Youtube comments what you think!

Embrace The Powerful Lioness :: New Art and Creative Studio Update

Hey, friend, what are you missing this week?

Three things I miss, in no particular order, are: ice cream from our favorite local shop, trips to the playground with the kids, and our weekly family breakfast outings. We're in a pretty good groove, but those little things I miss will be that much sweeter once we can enjoy them again! Especially the playground. My kids are restless to get out more and run around. Thankfully, sunny, warmer days are ahead!

A couple weeks ago, a dear friend of mine gave me an incredible message - she challenged me to look at areas of my life where I'm playing it small, shrinking myself into neat little boxes for the sake of feeling comfortable and safe.

It was a really powerful conversation that left me spinning. I'm so grateful for these friends who aren't afraid to ask these questions that feel uncomfortable at the time. That's how we get to the good stuff, by digging our hands into the dirt, to feel around where we're rooted and make sure we're giving ourselves the space to not only grow, but blossom and be magnificent.

And she told me "You've been playing the part of a mouse, but you're a freaking lioness."

(she didn't say 'freaking')

And I felt it in the depth of my soul to be true.

I have been telling myself that if I want to be an artist or otherwise creative person, I have to be ok with making art, but not money, to stay small and unknown and struggling. I have been telling myself for years not to “bother” people with trying to sell my work and my services.

I let that voice run free in my head for so long, I started to believe it, and live it. Yikes.

I was scared to sell! I thought that talking about my services would annoy people. I told myself that if they wanted to buy something or hire me, they'd come to me when they were ready.

Typical Libra. :P

Like a marshmallow Peep in a microwave, I was making a real mess of myself on the inside.

So, I decided to get off the struggle bus, and start actually telling you more about what I'm working on, let you know what's new for products and services, and let go of that mouse-like fear.

Bless and release.

Moving forward, I'm a powerful lioness. I encourage you to ask yourself that same question my friend asked me. How are you playing it small and holding yourself back? What have you been telling yourself to keep yourself small and safe and comfortable?

With staying at home the past two months due to Covid-19, unable to do my typical photography work with newborns and families (and losing my main source of income - terrifying), I've had a lot of time to think about the work I've done for the past 10 years, and how I want to move forward, with so much uncertainty in the world. I love being a photographer, but the simple truth is that right now, the world is different, and I can't work the way I have for so long.

So, I joined Patreon!

Patreon is a platform for creators to do their creative work and get paid, by offering exclusive content and rewards to their biggest fans who invest in a monthly tiered subscription.

Why support a creator on Patreon?

Chances are, you've had access to an incredible amount of free content from creators you follow and love. From Youtube videos to podcasts, blog posts and art, creatives want to share their work. Art is healing, and inspiring, and entertaining. For many, they're passing on knowledge and free education. For many of us, the arts are tied to the very blood pumping through our hearts. It keeps us going, especially in difficult times.

You might already be investing monthly in content that you enjoy and consume: Disney+, NPR, Netflix, organizations that work to make the world better...When you love something and want more of it, you pledge and invest!

By pledging a monthly membership to a creative's Patreon feed, you're choosing to support the work they've already put out into the world, and the work that they are currently making, and will make in the future.

And for about the cost of one fancy cup of coffee per month, you can become an Official Patron of my creative work!

What will your investment go towards? Three main creative projects:

My first goal is to produce one new episode of Creative, Happy Life every week. Entertainment, inspiration, knowledge and education that takes time, planning, and work to produce.

My second goal is to make more art - digital and physical - to inspire you and brighten your day! I plan to use Society6 as my platform for selling, but even if you don't want to purchase something there, your Patreon membership supports the creation of the art!

And my third goal, and maybe my biggest goal, is to write a book. I have a particular story in mind, and honestly, besides that, I have no idea what I'm doing. But this goal in particular will be a process I share only through Patreon, with progress updates, excerpts, maybe a read aloud here and there, and an exclusive inside look at the process from start to finish. I haven't started yet, but the time has come!

Becoming a Patron is an investment in the process.

I have started with offering 3 tiers to choose from to make a monthly pledge, each with a unique set of rewards.

Check it out, and consider it an investment, not only in me and the work I have been doing and sharing for 10 years, but the work that I will create going forward. Patreon gives creatives more time and freedom to create, which is a beautiful thing!

Supporting Working Artists and Why I've Joined Patreon

Over the past eight weeks, I have been thinking and planning on how to move forward as an artist, especially at this time where we need to be staying home, and being careful about keeping a distance from others. With all non-essential businesses closed, the photography community has been rocked, and many artists, myself included, have been working hard to figure out if this is a time to wait and see, or make some changes. We can’t shoot weddings. We can’t photograph newborns in the clients’ home.

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If you’ve followed my journey over the past 10 years, you know that in addition to photography, I have done a lot of graphic design work, painting, furniture refinishing, Etsy shops with t-shirts and art prints and crocheted items, and most recently, the launch of my podcast, Creative, Happy Life.

This time spent at home has forced me to think more immediately of what’s next, for myself and my family. I have relied on my photography for the past five years while working from home with young kids, and that income has now been eliminated. So many people are faced with uncertainty right now. I have had a hard few weeks grappling the idea of not knowing when I can get back to work as a photographer, and how the state of the world will affect the way we work going forward. Pair that with now having the uncertainty of schooling at home, and plans have not only changed, but priorities have also changed.

If I had a nickel for every “PIVOT!” joke or reference I’ve seen in the past two months…

The reality is, whether I can photograph clients again sooner or several more weeks from now, I need to find ways to use the skills and knowledge I have now to support my family while working at home.

I have decided to use this time to focus on three areas of creative work:

How do I plan to make this work? With Patreon!

Patreon is a platform for creatives to create exclusive content for their biggest fans. The creator decides what kind of content to make and provide, which can be anything from updates behind the scenes, exclusive writing and blog posts, a special look at works-in-progress, private communities to connect, make tutorials, host livestreams - there are a lot of possibilities!

This content is made available by paying for various tiers of access - becoming a patron of the artist.

How it works: You decide to be come a member, and make monthly payments to view and access the various tiered rewards.

I am currently only offering one tier, although some creators offer several at different monetary levels.

Official Patron - $5/month

  • Official patron status and access to the patron-only feed

  • Behind-the-scenes shares (intentionally different and more interesting than Instagram stories)

  • Work-in-progress updates on everything from paintings and illustrations to upcoming podcast episodes and writing excerpts

  • Private Facebook Community for live chats, Q&As and tutorial videos.

  • My unending gratitude

Why am I so excited about this?

At the core, Patreon is a way for me to connect and share more closely about my work and life as an artist.

With Patreon, fans choose to invest in a creator who’s work they already enjoy and want to support more closely. Artists and creators put out massive amounts of free content all the time, from blog posts to art, podcast episodes to entertainment. Chances are, you’ve enjoyed more free content than you’ve ever realized, whether it’s inspiring, educational, entertaining, or all of those things.

So why not keep putting content out for free? This is work! I love what I do, but I still have bills to pay and a family to support. You pay for the things you love; streaming services, clothes, subscriptions to publications, monthly or seasonal boxes of beauty products or art kits or craft beer…The list goes on. Public radio asks for your support. Restaurants and bookstores are asking for your support. We want to continue to provide you with the things you love, which we love to make.

As an artist, I hope to not only make art and content for you to enjoy, but also make a real living, and ask you to think of this as an investment in not only what you’ve enjoyed so far from me, but what’s to come! It’s an investment in me, for which I am grateful, and humbly step out of my comfort zone in order to ask for your support.

it is more important than ever to support working artists.

By becoming a patron, you contribute towards my ability to produce podcast episodes more frequently, to make more art for you to enjoy, and to have an insider perspective on my process, from ideation to final creation. As I start the process of writing a book and seeking publication, you’ll get a unique perspective as I share the process with you as a patron.

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I am excited to use my patron-only platform to create tutorial videos, and answer questions about art, photography, podcasting, and life as a working artist.

If you are looking for a meaningful way to support an artist or small business at a crucial time in the world, this is an easy way to do it, and it costs about the same as one fancy cup of coffee from a place that’s happy to take your “bucks”!

So how does it work?

You sign up, pay the monthly fee, and when I share content, it gets shared to you through email, through the Patreon site, and in the private Facebook group. You will pay when you sign up, and will be charged the monthly subscription fee on the first of the month going forward. Once you’re in, you’ll get a link to join the private Facebook community!

What can you look forward to as a patron?

Behind the scenes snapshots and updates about what I’m working on, and exclusive posts about life as a creative that I hope will inspire you to explore your own creativity.

I will be doing monthly live chats in the Facebook group where I’ll share more in depth updates about my projects, show you art that I’m working on, livestream while I paint, edit photos, and maybe even some podcast recording. Eek!

Live “ask me anything” video sessions where you can ask me literally anything! From life as a working artist to my favorite snacks and what I’m watching and enjoying for entertainment, I’m an open book for you within the Facebook community.

Tutorials and tips for shooting your own photos on dSLR or on your phone, how to take better photos of your kids, pets, travel, business and products, how to take better selfies, how to capture a day in the life, how to do a basic photo edit on your phone using free apps, and how to create your own presets.

A Facebook community for creative learning, support and interaction, and to get more regular direct interaction with me.

I hope you will consider becoming an official patron of my work! The sooner you join, the sooner you get to start seeing more from me!

Thank you for your consideration, friends!