Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Ling.
Hi Shannon, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Sugar Land, Texas, where I was always involved in art classes and anything creative I could get my hands on. I stepped away from art for a while in college, but when I moved to San Francisco, I realized I needed something that got me away from a computer screen. I picked up watercolor because it was something I could do in my tiny bedroom without making a huge mess, and I loved being able to spend hours slowly working through a piece and using my brain in a completely different way.
When I moved to Austin, I kept making art and started experimenting with mixed media collage and small studies of plants, fish, and other pieces of nature that caught my attention. I’ve shown collections of this work in two group exhibitions at Golden Mean in Austin.
Outside of painting, I do a lot of hand-drawn illustration work. I’ve helped brands come to life through custom drawings and create a lot of bespoke pieces for everyday moments, from dinner parties at my house to birthday invitations and personal projects.
I also consider myself a professional tinkerer. I’m interested in creativity beyond what’s on paper and love figuring out how to bring ideas to life in different ways. Most recently, I helped create a dinner experience for the pesto brand Besto during South by Southwest. I designed the floral arrangements, created the menus and printed materials, and spent weekends thrifting all over Austin to find pieces for the space. Whether I’m painting, illustrating, designing, or styling a room, I’m always looking for ways to make something feel thoughtful, personal, and a little unexpected.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest challenge has been making time for art. When I was working at an ad agency in San Francisco, long hours and demanding projects often pulled me away from it. Looking back, those were actually the times when I needed it most. Art gave me a way to step away from the computer, slow down, and focus on something completely different.
It’s also been something I’ve leaned on during periods of personal struggle and transition. Whether I was adjusting to a new city or going through a difficult season of life, making art helped me stay grounded. In a lot of ways, art has been a constant that I’ve carried with me through change.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I primarily work in watercolor, creating detailed studies inspired by plants, fish, nature, and everyday objects that catch my attention. I’m drawn to watercolor because it’s often difficult to control. The paint has a mind of its own, and part of the fun is embracing the unexpected.
What I’m most proud of is that my creative practice extends beyond painting. I approach almost everything as an opportunity to make something. Sometimes that looks like a watercolor collection for a gallery show, and other times it’s a hand-drawn invitation, a custom illustration, or designing an entire event experience from the florals to the printed materials.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t see creativity as belonging to a single medium. My background in design, illustration, and art all influence one another. I’m constantly experimenting, collecting ideas, and figuring out how to bring them to life. At the center of all of it is a love of making thoughtful, personal things by hand.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is creating for the sake of creating. Art has never really been about making money for me. It’s about making something with your hands, getting out of your head, and giving yourself space to think differently.
I spend most of my professional life in front of a computer, so having a creative practice gives me a chance to slow down and engage with the world in a more tangible way. Whether I’m painting, illustrating, arranging flowers, or building something for an event, I love the process of taking an idea and turning it into something real.
I also think creativity is contagious. Some of my favorite projects are the ones that bring people together, spark conversation, or inspire someone else to make something of their own. My friends are all very creative in their own ways and we’re constantly inspiring each other through different mediums.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: shannonling.art
