Shannon Deana Johnson is a mixed media artist and workshop instructor, inspired by nature and the creative process. The organic shapes, textures, and colors found in nature are a constant source of peace and wonder. She seeks to capture the essence of her experience with nature in her art and share it with those who view it. When painting, she allows the medium to do what it naturally does with gentle guidance. It is a meditative process and a balance between harmony and contrast, simplicity and accumulation, and stillness and motion. Flow, being in the zone, that mental state where one becomes fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus and enjoyment in the process is where painting takes her and helping others find it is the goal of her workshops. Shannon studied at the University of TN and received a BA in studio art. Originally from Southern California where she spent her childhood exploring the coastline and surrounding hills and mountains with a camera or sketchbook in hand. She now lives in Knoxville, TN where the Smoky Mountains and her own backyard are readily available sources of inspiration. A two-time recipient of the Bailey Opportunity Grant, Shannon exhibits her work at dk Gallery in Marietta, GA, and Pivot Point Gallery in Knoxville, TN. Her artwork can be found in collections across the country, continuing to inspire and connect others with the beauty of the natural world.