MEET SHANNON

 the artist BEHIND THE FINE ART OF DANCE

I have been an artist since I was old enough to hold a pencil. Initially I taught myself to draw; then when I was in high school, I began to experiment with other mediums and discovered oil paints, my preferred medium. I completed my first painting on commission when I was only 17 years old.

My love of dance merged with my art when I was in my 20s, after taking dance lessons at my local Arthur Murray dance studio and participating in a few competitions. I felt compelled to draw and paint the dancers who inspired me, and discovered to my delight that the work resonated with others.

After deciding that I wanted to pursue a career in art, I moved to Toronto in 2014 so I could study at The Academy of Realist Art, an atelier that specializes in training artists to create realistic drawings and oil paintings. In 2015, I received a scholarship for my work during Level I of the program.

I have been showing my art professionally since 2018, and have participated in a number of juried shows in the greater-Toronto area, including The Artist Project and The One of a Kind Show. In 2018, I also showed my work in New York City through Dacia Gallery. My art has also been featured in several publications, including Creative Quarterly’s 100 Best Annual 2017 and Strokes of Genius 9: Creative Discoveries (Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing).

I officially launched The Fine Art of Dance in 2022.