We had the good fortune of connecting with Shauna Bailey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shauna, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
As an artist and business owner with ADHD, understanding the way that my mind works (and doesn’t work) has played a huge role in my success. I’ve always been aware that the typical routine is not one that works well for me, so instead I’ve leaned into the tricks and habits that do help me move forward, however unconventional they may seem to neurotypical small business owners. For example, I know I paint best in the afternoon, and plan best in the evenings, so I arrange my day to start with the tasks that take the lowest amount of energy and then gradually work up to the high intensity tasks. I’ve also learned that having every day feel the same actually does more harm than good to my overall productivity, so I plan ahead to space out painting and admin days with errands or other creative activities that help me “reset”. Consistency is a huge part of being a professional artist, meaning that you can’t just paint when you feel like it, but rather must chip away at the progress of a painting event when you don’t feel creative. I’ve found that little habits that help combat that artist block feeling can be some of the most useful tools I have. On days when I really don’t feel like I can conjure up my creativity, I’ll order myself a boba drink and put on a favorite movie in the background while I paint. There’s really no such thing as a “bad” habit when it comes to inspiring creativity and beating ADHD paralysis, as long as something helps you feel more productive, you’re on the right track.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what’s most interesting to me about my relationship with my art is that it has always been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have detailed crayon drawings of birds I drew using reference photos from my dad’s old dial up computer at age five. I have black and white pencil drawings of magazine pages I copied while on a flight to a family vacation at age thirteen. And I have my very first oil painting of a bar of ivory soap from an art class I took my sophomore year of college. Being an artist is such a journey, and it’s one that you really don’t see until you’re a ways down the road. I would have never in a million years anticipated that I’d be a professional artist for a living -when I chose Drawing and Painting as my Bachelors degree, it was simply because it was what I was good at, but I never planned on making it my career. And the same goes for when I started selling paintings to friends and friends of friends, I never really intended for it to lead anywhere. There are SO many different phases of being an artist, you go through era’s of appreciating different styles and mediums and master painters. I think the biggest challenge of it all is also a blessing, being an artist really isn’t something you choose – you’re born with this desire to create and then that eventually weaves it’s way into all aspects of your life.

As far as what sets me apart from others, I’m very big on capturing the mood or feeling of a moment or place in my paintings. This approach to subject matter is technically a large part of what defines Impressionism, but you don’t see many young artists applying it to their works these days, and especially not in the wedding painting industry. I got really tired of seeing wedding paintings that looked dead, or flat, or too much like a photo. I really believe that paintings should feel alive, have movement, push colors slightly past what you see in reality, or even better – capture what an incredible moment feels like when you’re really loving life. I try to bring that philosophy into all aspects of my life, I don’t believe in the mundane, I believe everything can be a little bit magical if you have the right perspective.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I recently moved to Downtown Long Beach and honestly I love the area, there’s so much to explore and see. My boyfriend and I are obsessed with Thai District, and I almost always take friends on down the street to Clay on First to get a little muddy while making ceramics. I’m a big fan of historical sites so I end up at Rancho Los Alamitos pretty often, if you haven’t been I definitely recommend checking it out – it has beautiful sprawling botanical gardens filled with greenery all native to California (plus there’s a real metalsmith there making tools out of iron, which is pretty fun to watch). I also recently discovered Rancho Palos Verdes, and honestly it’s probably the first place I’d take anyone when trying to impress them with California life. And then I’d take them to the Arts District in Downtown LA for a drink at Angel City Brewery, fresh sugar cane juice in Koreatown, and an incredible view of the 6th Street Bridge!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m so lucky to come from a supportive family. I’m sure I’ve certainly scared them a few times with my wild ideas and business plans, but overall they have always helped push my creativity forward and been there for me as a foundation to build my life on. I also have some incredible patrons and friends who have been with me for every step of the journey, investing in and collecting my art with more passion than I could ever imagine. And I’m lucky enough to have a wonderful boyfriend who gives me the best pep talks when I’m feeling lost. They all truly do continue to find ways to push me forward with love and support, and I really don’t know where I would be without them.

Website: https://www.baileyartstudios.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baileyartstudios/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaileyArtStudios

Other: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/bailey-art-studios-seal-beach-ca-2065493 https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/bailey-art-studios/68deb7671a148d12.html https://goo.gl/maps/Rw6BEEoysh9td7Kk9 TikTok: @bailey.artstudios

Image Credits
Lido Marina Village Maia Chloe Photography

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