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.

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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 :: 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?

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!

Kiera + Nate's Blue Hills Country Club Wedding

Kiera and Nate were married in August last year at St. Mary of the Hills Church in Milton, Massachusetts, and their reception followed at Blue Hills Country Club. Every aspect of their day felt like a celebration, which is always the best kind of wedding to photograph! Everyone had fun, was happy, full of joy and support and love for the couple. It doesn't feel like work, I can simply be a part of the day and watch it unfold and photograph all those special moments, reactions, and emotions. And come on, a bride that does the worm? This crowd came ready to party. 

Kristen + David :: Commander's Mansion Wedding, Watertown, Massachusetts

Fall is just the best. I may be biased because I'm an October baby, but there's just something so special and vibrant about the season. I love the crispness of the air, the gorgeous colors that erupt from the trees, and the rusticness of being outdoors when you have that smell of dry leaves and a neighbor having a fire in the fireplace. 

Kristen and David were married in early November at the Commander's Mansion in Watertown, Massachusetts. It was my first time shooting there and I absolutely loved it. They opted for an indoor ceremony and reception, and the layout of the mansion allowed for it to feel like an intimate party, with guests floating room to room, having a little dance, grabbing a drink, chatting in the hall, playing games upstairs. There was always something going on, it never felt like people were just waiting around for the next thing to happen.

Another thing I loved was the available space for both Kristen and David to get ready upstairs with their friends. It just makes everything so much easier when you don't have to travel from one location to another. More time spent taking pictures = win-win for both me and the couple!

Here are highlights from the day - enjoy!

Newport Rhode Island Engagement in Winter

Katie + Mike's engagement session was so much fun. I love Newport, all the boats, nautical little shops. It's a place with so much character, especially in winter when it's not so crowded with tourists. We made our way all over the place and embraced the cold and snow. Having grown up in New England, I don't shy away from winter. I love it!

Bridal Photography at Proctor Mansion Inn :: Wrentham, Massachusetts

These photographs were taken in November 2011 at the Proctor Mansion Inn in Wrentham, Massachusetts for Althea Tower's veil and bridal accessory line. We had a gorgeous fall day and I loved getting to play with the light that sparkled through the grandiose windows in each room. I could picture photographing an intimate, elegant wedding there - hopefully someday! There are dressing rooms upstairs, and several large rooms downstairs that would make for a cozy soiree. 

Our model for the day was the lovely Liz of Flutter Letterpress. If you're in need of invitations, cards or anything letterpress, she's your girl. Her work is so wonderful. There's nothing like receiving a piece of her letterpressed cards in the mail.