January Recap :: New Art and Paint With Me on YouTube

Why does January always feel like it stretches out forever? I know it’s not everyone’s favorite month, but I do always look forward to this time of year. I enjoy settling into a more quiet rhythm of life. It feels like a non-stop marathon of THINGS TO DO between the start of school in early September through the flurry of the holidays. Time stretches out a bit wider and further in front of us through January. It might make you feel a bit restless. I invite you to settle into it.

Find Your Sacred Flow

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I love that this is the card I pulled today. Finding your sacred flow can mean a lot of things . For me, it means finding my pace of creating art, my pace of living, and honoring it. My sacred flow is slower than it used to be. It’s more flexible and lighthearted. It’s more playful. It’s allowing the creativity to flow through me, through art, through my words, and trusting that I don’t have to know where I’m going at all times.

This means…

Trusting my intuition.

Growing more comfortable with saying no.

Committing to my art and making time to play, explore and evolve.

Enjoying being myself, as I am in any moment, be it serious, silly, thoughtful, sad, curious, introverted, extroverted, energetic, sleepy…

I’m done with fighting against the current of my soul. I am moving with it, embodying my whole self, and enjoying the ride.

January Recap

For a slower month, January was full of good things. It started with prepping and hanging 12 pieces of art at Balance Massage and Wellness Center here in Newington, CT. My art will be on display there through the end of March 2022.

Click through to see the virtual gallery:

I made four new pieces of art that I am in love with for many different reasons. I painted my first big painting, which is 24”x36”. I made a new digital artwork for the first time since last June. Then I painted two smaller pieces, two days in a row. Each piece woke up something new and exciting in me. I am finding my style and voice as an artist, which is an incredible feeling.

Click on each image to pop out and see bigger:

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I hit record last week on my 4th painting, and got a new process video up on YouTube! I was hoping to do this with my big painting, but I wasn’t well prepared for how long the painting would take and how to capture that scale of a project. So I’m taking baby steps back into the painting video world, instead of biting off more than I can chew at this point. I hope you give it a watch, subscribe, and hit the thumbs up! I plan to do these at least every other week going forward.

In addition to all of that, I am planning on a shop update later this week, as I have about 16 new pairs of painted earrings almost ready to go! So keep an eye out for the date and time, which I’ll share across my social feeds, and get ready to shop some wildly funky new pieces!

Thanks for catching up with me here! Wherever you are, I hope you have a beautiful week!

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Shannon Sorensen is a self-taught contemporary abstract expressionist painter based in Newington, Connecticut, specializing in vibrant artwork that evokes feelings of places you have seen in person or in dreams, inspired by music, poetry, memories and meditations. Fine art prints of select works are available through her art store, and shop other printed home goods and accessories at Pixels.com.

Follow more of Shannon’s day to day creative living on Instagram.

Check out painting and creative living videos on Youtube.

Dreamscape 2 :: Digital Abstract Expressionist Art

A theme for me this year (and probably forever, going forward) is creating these colorful dreamscapes to music. I have always been a music lover, from simple appreciation to growing up playing the flute, piano, guitar, singing…nothing has ever moved me quite like music. That is, until I started painting.

Music and painting together? I’m in heaven.

So, these dreamscapes are a glimpse into what heaven looks like in my mind. Bits and pieces of places I’ve been, sunsets I’ve witnessed, landscapes that make my heart ache, filtered through the lens of the magic and melody of whatever is playing in my ears.

I seek to paint with movement, like a dance between brush and surface. I use color to evoke the mood and energy. When it’s done, maybe it’ll take you somewhere. I invite you to stay a while and gaze. Zoom in close. Let your mind wander and your imagination frolick.

The Creative Process

For this, I pulled my color palette from my last dreamscape painting into Adobe Fresco on my iPad. I used an Apple Pencil and created lots of layers, played with texture brushes and erasers, trying to mimic how I’d work over a physical canvas. I haven’t created a digital piece since last June (“Cinque Terre”), so I’ve learned some things in that time about how I want to create.

From there, I pulled it into Photoshop to add some surface texture as the final step.

Can you picture this in your home?

Prints coming soon! Subscribe to my weekly emails to be notified when they’re available.

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Across the Universe-Inspired Abstract Dreamscape by Connecticut Artist Shannon Sorensen

This piece was fun! It challenged me, and allowed me to get playful and try some new techniques and marks. I really enjoyed working on this size canvas, the largest I have ever worked on. It’s 24”x36”, and as you can see, it took up a substantial amount of my workspace. That was its own challenge!

I know I say this every time I finish a piece, but this is my favorite yet. It feels the most “me” in terms of the art I want to be making. It takes elements of all the work I did last year that I connected with and became “signature”, but also encouraged some surprises for myself and the viewer.

I did record the beginning stages of this painting, up until the halfway point, which I will share on Youtube once I finish getting it edited and cut together.

Here are the details, and you can pop out the individual pictures below to get a closer look at the details.

Dreamscape 1
Completed 1/15/22
Painted at home in Newington, Connecticut
Acrylic on canvas, 24”x36”

This piece was inspired by…the energy of colorful seaside villages, warm pink sunsets, listening to The Beatles “Here Comes the Sun” and “Across the Universe”.

I recently finished reading “Big Magic” by Liz Gilbert shortly before starting this painting. It was a great read for those who identify as artists and creatives, and it definitely gave me a push to further enjoy, play, and find freedom in the creating.

Can you picture this in your home?

Prints and other home decor, lifestyle, stationary and accessories of Across the Universe are available here.

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Printed Wall Art

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Journals & Stationary

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Throw Pillows

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Yoga Mats

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Tote Bags

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Jigsaw Puzzles

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Fleece Throw Blankets

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Beach Towels

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IPhone Cases

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

Subscribe to my weekly emails for regular updates, fun freebies, and creative inspiration!

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Shannon Sorensen is a self-taught contemporary abstract painter based in Newington, Connecticut, specializing in vibrant, expressive pieces that evoke feelings of places you have seen in person or in dreams, inspired by music, poetry, memories and meditations. Fine art prints of select works are available through her art store, and shop other printed home goods and accessories at Pixels.com.

Follow more of Shannon’s day to day creative living on Instagram.

Check out painting and creative living videos on Youtube.

Newington Connecticut Art Display

I am excited to share that 12 pieces of my art are on display, now through the end of March, at Balance Massage and Wellness Center here in Newington, CT.

It’s hard to put into words how it feels to see my art hung up like this - not stacked against various walls of my house - for the first time as a full time artist! I’m very proud of this work and hope you get a chance to go see it in person (and book a massage)!

In selecting which pieces to display, I considered the time of year (winter), and the setting (a wellness center that offers massage, reiki, yoga and other wellness services). I chose several pieces that I consider to be soothing in color and energy - smooth blues, seascapes, warm light. I also chose a couple pieces that are more colorful, cheerful and energetic, and hung them as the first pieces you see when you enter the space.

I hope you get a chance to see them in person while getting one of their wonderful services. In case you are not local, please enjoy this virtual gallery. This is the order you experience the works as you walk down the hall.

Many thanks to Cailin McBee at Balance for her help, and for this wonderful opportunity. She rotates local artists’ work into this space every couple months, which not only keep the space feeling free and interesting, but gives artists like me an opportunity to share our work in such a space and in front of fresh eyes. I’m very grateful.

Balance Massage and Wellness Center

135 Day St.

Newington, CT 06111

www.balancemassagect.com

Top: Marmalade Skies, Bottom: Tangerine Dream

Mountainside Serenity

For You Blue

Top: It Rained All Summer 2, Bottom: It Rained All Summer 1

Mykonos

Top: Duxbury Bay, Bottom: Abstract Seascape 1

Left: Touching Heaven, Top Right: Happy Little Boats, Bottom Right: Follow the Sun

Select pieces are for sale, contact me for pricing. Fine art prints are also for sale through my shop.

New Art :: Where the Storm Meets the Sea

Where the Storm Meets the Sea is an acrylic painting on stretched canvas.

Buy this art print.

Inspired by a day at Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA, last summer. We watched a storm emerge out over the coastline north of Boston. It didn’t pass over us, but we observed from a distance.

This moment reminded me of the feeling of grief, emerging sometimes slowly into our days…

Waves of grief can be so powerful. Dark storm clouds emerge. The air fills with static. Sometimes, it feels as if you’re outside your body, watching from a distance, waiting for the dark to pass. And when it does, glimmers of light appear. The waves retreat and calm. The sea feels peaceful again.

You can watch the process of this painting being made from start to finish, on my YouTube channel, or click below and enjoy!

New Art :: Mama Gaia

Wild and tangled beauty. She nourishes, she nurtures, she shelters. She is home.

Mama Gaia is part of my 2021 series Of Salt and Pine, and was created digitally using Adobe Fresco and Apple Pencil.

Art prints available here.

I enjoy bouncing back and forth between traditional and digital mediums. They both have their benefits and challenges. My favorite thing about creating digitally is I can do it anywhere - in bed, on the couch, sitting in the car while my daughter has dance class.

Digital also allows me to create without worry of making mistakes. I can build out as many layer5s as I want, which gives me the freedom to make adjustments as I go that paint does not give me.

However, that risk is the thrill that painting gives me.

There is always a give and take to every creative medium.

One struggle I am learning I have with digital art is because of the ability to adjust so easily, it takes me longer to create digital pieces. This piece in particular took over a week to complete from start to finish, with several iterations throughout the process.

One thing I love about this piece is that I designed it to be displayed vertically, as shown in the image, or horizontally, as an abstract expressive landscape.

I’d love to know, friends - how does she make you feel?

October Art Challenge Day One :: Connecticut Artist and Photographer

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Happy October!

I’m going to channel my inner Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford when I sing IT’S THE BEST TIME OF THE YEEEAR!

Fall brings all sorts of monthly art, writing, photography or otherwise creative challenges, and they tend to pop up this time of year, no doubt, because it is a time where inspiration and creativity flow. The air is cooling, people start thinking cozy thoughts about what makes them happy. And spoiler alert, creativity is a shortcut to happiness. ;)

I was looking for an October art challenge, but I wasn't drawn to anything (heh...), and when I thought about it for a minute, my art tends to be off the cuff, whatever is inspiring me in the moment. The challenge for me isn't following a list of ideas, but just the act of creating something new every day. I'm feeling more called than ever to create, create, create.

So, this month, I invite you to join me as I draw, paint, and make something every day! I will do live videos or first looks each day on my Patreon’s private Facebook group. It will be 31 days of pure creativity...I'm so excited for this. And I encourage you to find time to create, just for yourself, this month!

I began yesterday with some watercolor because I've had an image that’s been inspiring me. It was a bouquet of nasturtiums and the colors were golden, reds and really vibrant.

Buy a print here.

October is also my birthday month, and a time when I feel most inspired, and my creativity flows in abundance. It’s a season when I feel most connected with myself and motivated to paint, draw, crochet, or work on other creative projects like cooking, playing the piano, writing and decorating my home to make it a cozy, happy space.

This is my painting from yesterday, day one. I am loving this start to the month and wish you could see it in person. The darker pigments have this smooth sheen that catches the light *just right*.

Today for day 2, I drew the October coloring page that I do each month in a live drawing session for my Patreon page. My group members voted and the design is cozy fall Hygge themed. If you join my Patreon, you receive the monthly page free as a reward!

You can join my Patreon group anytime, and get to tune in and watch me create these pieces live each day. Like I said, today’s (day two) creation will be the monthly coloring page, which you also then receive as a member to be able top print and enjoy coloring.

Finally, friends, I want to I encourage you to let your own creativity flow. Make time each day to do what you love! Share it, celebrate it...you might be the spark that inspires someone else!

New Home, New Chapter :: Connecticut Artist and Photographer

I'm typing this from my new dining room...because we moved!

There are boxes and bags and piles of stuff everywhere. There's art that needs to be hung, and honestly, a lot of things are going to go straight into storage for now.

This is the first really peaceful morning I've had in a while to sit down and focus on my own work.

A couple short weeks ago, I had just finished prepping our basement as a preschool/playroom/home learning space when we got a call that our landlord was planning to sell our condo. It felt like our world got completely turned upside-down, but thankfully, we found a new place very quickly! The Universe did us a huge favor and we were able to stay in the same complex, the same school district - actually, the only address change is our street number!

In the grand scheme of things, I feel very lucky. We have an amazing support system of family and friends, and we are safe and healthy.

When big changes happen, it puts a lot into perspective. This move meant taking a lot of emotion out of the equation in order to let go of some things we had stored away for a later time. It was stressful in the short term, but in the long run, this will be a great place for us and the kids. They’ll have space to run around safely outside and our new place will serve us better during this time of home learning, working at home, home pre-schooling, etc.

Since I essentially hit pause on my work a month ago to deal with all of this, I'm itching to get back to my work - to paint, and to dig into the fall photo season. I am still booking fall family photo sessions! I will be in Massachusetts this coming weekend, the 26th and 27th and have two morning openings. I will also be in Massachusetts October 10th and 11th with morning sessions available!

If you're looking to book a session, simply hit reply to this email, or message me at hello@shannon-sorensen.com. I can't wait to hear from you! The chilly weather this weekend has me ready for boots and sweaters! :)

Have a beautiful week!

Peaceful Sunset on the Beach :: New Art

This week we are in Massachusetts, having a quiet staycation with Sean's parents before we gear up for the new school year and back to who knows what...

We aren't doing a whole lot, and if I'm being honest, that’s my idea of a real vacation. It’s a break from planning and obligation and the usual day to day worries. We are very lucky to have access to beaches, so we go early in the morning, later in the afternoon, or on days it's cloudy and no one else wants to go to the beach.

It's easy to practice social distancing when you enjoy the beach at odd times!

One of my favorite things we’re doing tonight is getting subs and chips from the local sub shop, and bringing dinner to the beach to hang out and let the kids play while the sun gets low. Then we’ll swing by our favorite ice cream shop in the harbor on the way home!

My art is largely inspired by where I live and grew up. My hometown, as well as Sean’s, are nice beachy communities south of Boston. Any time we get to spend around here is time well spent. My favorite time of day is early mornings and the end of the day, when things are a bit quieter, calmer, and feel peaceful. Beach sunsets always take my breath away. Sunsets in general, but especially at the end of the day with the sound of waves and the sand turns golden pink.

I spent an afternoon making two new pieces, inspired by that sunset feeling. They’re inspired by the same photo, and I challenged myself to create two completely different styles of art using the same palette.

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“Meet Me at Twilight”

“Meet Me At Sunset”

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“It Was All A Dream”

“It Was All a Dream”

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I appreciate you checking out my work! I have art prints available here, and I also sell my art on Society6, where it gets printed on fun products like home decor, furniture and iPhone cases!

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.

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:

• planning and producing new episodes of my podcast, Creative, Happy Life

• painting and making art to sell here and through Society6

• writing a book!

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

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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.

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!