Today we’d like to introduce you to Suqura Shannon.
Suqura, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Art has always been a large part of my life. It all began for me in my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. As a child, I discovered that I was great at drawing anything that I could see. Eventually, that translated into a love for makeup artistry as well. With an understanding of the similarities between makeup artistry, color theory, and painting, I became a self-taught artist.
At the age of 16, I painted my first mural as a part of a volunteer project at Shands Hospital. The process of bringing a sketch to life captivated me, and I wanted to keep creating. Throughout college, I challenged myself and perfected my technique through self-directed learning. Eventually, I discovered my signature style and my favorite subject to paint – impressionism and portraiture. I created several pieces of commissioned artwork and donated pieces to organizations like the French Alliance Association.
I graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 2016. With support and encouragement, I realized that I could turn my passion into a profession.
In 2016, I relocated to Houston, Texas, an art mecca. After networking with other artists and visiting different museums like the Museum of Fine Arts, I realized that I still had a lot to learn about the business and marketing aspects, and set out to do my research. Once I started sharing progress photos of my art and marketing myself on social media, I received more requests for commissions.
By 2019, I decided to officially start my own art business. I wanted to use my gift to create something personal that people can connect with.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ll admit that a few years ago, I was the only one standing in my way when it came to my growth — as an artist and becoming a business owner. I allowed my fear and anxiety to paralyze me. I was working full time in the cosmetics industry and wondered if I would have the time to consistently meet deadlines with a hectic schedule. To change my mindset, I surrounded myself with support, connected with other artists and did my research.
Furthermore, it took a lot of trial and error to find my style and get to where I am as an artist. I struggled with finding inspiration at times. There were moments when I would stay up until 5:00 in the morning painting ideas because I had to get it out while it was fresh in my mind. On the other hand, I had times when I could not come up with anything, even if my life depended on it. As a result, I challenged myself to draw/paint different subjects, and experiment with various mediums to determine what I liked to use and what I did not. Over time, I discovered a pattern in my work, which developed my art style.
Since my commitment to turn my passion into a profession, I’ve learned a lot about the business aspects — from selling, budgeting for materials, ads, shipping/packaging properly, managing inventory, etc.
Now that I have a handle on those things, I am focused on working towards building a following and gaining more exposure.
Please tell us about Suqura Shannon Fine Art.
As the artist and owner of Suqura Shannon Fine Art, I am recognized for my use of acrylic paint to create impressionist style portraits. Musical and fashion icons inspire me creatively. Now and then I love to create a conceptual art piece. My process of creating each piece is gradual and methodical. Each layer builds upon another in a way that creates depth, light, structure, and texture to convey a realistic effect. My artistry is technical and detail-oriented.
Most of my business is commission-based (custom artwork). I often receive commission requests for portraits of loved ones, pets, etc. I get to know my clients before ever touching a canvas. I like to uncover the story and purpose behind the subject so that I can capture their/its essence. By gaining personal connections and unique insights, I become a better artist with every piece and give every client a deeper connection to my art.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is of doing fun arts and crafts activities with my grandmother. She fostered and encouraged my creativity. I used to make hand-drawn greeting cards for her every year while in elementary school and middle school. I looked forward to the big smile on her face every birthday, Christmas and Mother’s Day.
The first time that I gave her a store-bought card was not good. She was appalled and nearly in tears. She said to me, “Suqura, what is this?!” I said, “It’s your birthday card, Granny!” She tossed it in the trash and replied, “I don’t want a store-bought card! I want YOUR card! It’s just not the same!” That was the push that let me know that I was on to something with my art. Even now, she still has every original hand-drawn greeting card.
Pricing:
- 16″ x 20″ Canvas painting = $200
- 18″ x 24″ Canvas painting = $250
- 24″ x 36″ Canvas painting = $350
- 30″ x 40″ Canvas painting = $510
- 36″ x 48″ Caanvas painting = $650
- 48″ x 60″ Canvas painting = $1200
- Deposit = 50% of price
Contact Info:
- Website: https://suqurashannon.com/
- Phone: (904) 887-2083
- Email: info@suqurashannon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suquratheartist/?hl=en
Image Credit:
James Griffin
Suqura Shannon
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
