Shannon Gurley O'Donnell
From Playing with Watercolors to Creating Poignant Portraits . . .
Shannon Gurley O’Donnell started painting in her early 20’s after making an offhand comment to a budding young musician: “If the desire is there, the gift is there.” Later, standing in her kitchen playing with children’s watercolors to illustrate her poetry, she realized how much she had always longed to be an artist. In that moment, sh
Shannon Gurley O’Donnell started painting in her early 20’s after making an offhand comment to a budding young musician: “If the desire is there, the gift is there.” Later, standing in her kitchen playing with children’s watercolors to illustrate her poetry, she realized how much she had always longed to be an artist. In that moment, she realized her words of encouragement applied to her.
Shannon’s paintings reflect her diversity. Her multi-faceted life and deep, spiritual nature imbue her work . . . the energy and essence of her love for life and for her subjects is tangible. College art classes, training at Scottsdale Artists’ School, and private art lessons enable her to capture her subjects on a physical as well as a more intuitive, emotional level. Shannon paints what she senses in addition to what she sees. Her paintings reach beyond – to a place of knowing . . .
Born and raised in Gallup, New Mexico, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1983.
Shannon has been awarded Juried Status by the Arizona Art Alliance and the Arizona Artists Guild. She shows regularly with Scottsdale Artists League, Arizona Artists Guild, AZ Art Alliance, and venues throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan area. She also exhibits in her beloved hometown of Gallup. Shannon is currently serving as President of the Scottsdale Artists League in Scottsdale, Arizona.