Meet Shannon Conway | Illustrator, Graphic Designer, Content Creator, & Streamer

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

Hi Shannon, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
This question is always a big one and the answer is always pretty straightforward…there was nothing else besides art for me. There was and still is no other path that I could see myself happy in. I have been creating as long as I can remember. My mom tells me I picked up a pencil when I was 2 and started drawing faces all over everything; my bedroom walls, toys, books, etc. I always had a drive to observe and to create.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I first started out as a graphic designer, I was working in a corporate setting. The quote “work on building your dreams or else someone will hire you to build theirs” is something that always lived in the back of my mind. I felt like I was doing artwork but I wasn’t really making art. I had been in a punk band for many years prior and throughout that experience I got to make artwork for our album covers, merch designs, website, etc. That is something I was really passionate about. We played with other bands who liked my art so I started doing artwork for them as well. It ended up building into a solid side business. It got to the point where I was working 50-60 hours a week at my day job to come home and work on my side gigs until I fell asleep. Weekends were dedicated 100% to commissions.

In 2021, I decided to take the plunge and quit my corporate job. I wanted to only concentrate on artwork that fueled my passion. I no longer had to spend 3+ hours a day in awful Chicago traffic. I could wake up at 8am instead of 4am and create whatever I wanted. The work/life balance while working a full time job and starting up a side gig isn’t the greatest. Taking the risk to go full time as a freelancer really helped in that aspect, but it was scary. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have the structure of school or a day job to make my schedule for me. I am what you would call a workaholic, so the working part wasn’t hard, it’s the stopping. Some days easily become those 12+ hour work days and over the last few years, I’ve learned how important it is to take breaks. I like to take my dog for a mile walk at least a few times a day to break up the desk work.

When you work at a corporate company as a designer, most of the work you do is standard brand work. For me, the brands were already created and it was mostly following style guides for layouts. Starting my own business allowed me to work with clients that I choose and on projects that really make me excited to be a part of. It can be scary not having the stability of working for a big company, but the types of projects that I have gotten the opportunity to work on have well made up for that. If I had to go back, I absolutely would not change anything though. Working for a larger company does teach you things, even if it’s what you don’t want to be doing for the rest of your life. To any new artist starting out who has goals of working for yourself, it is important to build your own business smartly. Even if that means a few years of having to work both a day job and a side job until your own business can stand on its own.

I think the idea alone of stepping away from a traditional 9-5 and working on your own dreams and goals is enough to set any entrepreneur apart from others. Just by having a dream and actively working towards it is enough to push you ahead. Consistency is key. There will always be ups and downs and days where you ask yourself why did you choose this lifestyle, but as long as you show up every day and keep putting in effort you’ll be good. Most people quit before their dream is given a chance to grow into something.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As an artist, I love the Lake! Spending time near Lake Michigan is one of my favorite things to do. The fresh air, nature, having a picnic on the beach or just going for a walk is something that really de-stresses my mind and gets the creativity flowing.

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?
My shoutout goes to Brian Wilkins of Create-At. I met Brian in 2021 when I was just starting out my full time freelance design career. His agency has brought together artists, creators, developers, and any creative-driven person really to work together to help every person involved grow to be the best they can be. His support is unparalleled and not only does he make a great collaborator for creatives, but he’s also a great friend.

Website: www.shancon.art

Instagram: instagram.com/shanconart

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanconart/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shanconart

Facebook: facebook.com/shanconart

Other: twitch.tv/shanconart

Image Credits
Photography by Ryan Barragan.