Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanon Schneider.
Hi Shanon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started out as a landscape painter for years. They were abstract landscapes, not realistic ones; however, there was always that anchor of a horizon line to define the space.
About ten years ago, I began to dabble with abstract painting, and I found it so freeing. I was not restricted to the rendering of land and sky but rather could be free to create shapes and forms and color to define a composition. My painting still had to evoke some type of emotion or connection with the viewer, but the options were limitless with the abstract form. I find abstracts much more difficult to paint because there is no identifiable reference, no anchor. But the latitude to paint whatever shape or line with abandon has made the painting process truly exhilarating. The results are more intuitive and intriguing than a landscape can ever be.
My professional journey has been defined largely by being dedicated to painting every day. Art is much like many other endeavors; you must practice and practice to advance your skill. You have to be willing to try different things and fail miserably at times. You have to be willing to learn from others and then incorporate those small changes or adjustments in your own process, each time though being true to your own unique style and approach.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I see the creative path that I am on as a journey of sorts. It doesn’t have a true beginning or an end that I am really conscious of. It is filled with periods of forward movement and then often times regression. My art evolves and grows, sometimes stagnating and then at other times bursting forward with a new and fresh composition or feel. As an artist, I have to become comfortable with the back-and-forth motion of creating. That is not something that has always been easy for me. Each mistake opens the door for some type of discovery. Each success leads me to another way to approach a painting and to be at peace with “letting go” of a part of a painting that proves to be a barrier.
Creating art of any type requires a continued posture of introspection and critical thinking. It can be at times so frustrating but then at other times remarkedly rewarding. Pushing your own boundaries and stretching to embrace new techniques are instruments to taking your art to the next level.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am most excited about the movement that my abstract pieces have. I love that they create an avenue for discussion or interpretation. They embrace color and the excitement of shapes and line.
I am most proud of the body of work that I have created in the last five years. I have embraced the challenges and thrills of creating abstract work and continue to be excited to try new processes, techniques, and tools to create more advanced results with my work. I especially like how I have incorporated mark-making into my acrylic paintings. It has shown me an alternative to creating positive compositional changes without relying solely on paint.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
Taking on risks is really part of a person’s overall persona. Some artists are always comfortable with the status quo, while others always seek that edge. I would say that I probably fell somewhere in between those two endpoints. Risk is your willingness as an artist to take that leap. It is that voice inside that says, “try it”. Sometimes, as artists, we can be so focused on how our art is received by others when the most important thing should always be how we feel about it ourselves.
Taking a risk, while often uncomfortable and uneasy, often reaps the biggest rewards in terms of satisfaction for an artist. We all should push and stretch and reach for that part of our creative “stream” that results in taking our art to the next level. If our art isn’t changing and evolving over time, then we are not taking those risks, and we are missing those chances for exhilaration with our art.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shanonschneiderfineart.com
- Instagram: @shanonschneiderfineart
