ABOUT

My Story & Work

Shaunna Newton, owner of SMN art|decor, a nature and landscape inspired artist with a background in horticulture, environmental studies, and landscape architecture. I utilize my experience with nature to explore human perception of boundaries within our landscapes. I primarily work in watercolor or acrylic mediums to better test process and materiality through layering techniques. I paint from memory and feeling, therefore, many of my landscape pieces are not derived from a particular place.

I am a Minnesota native currently living in Wisconsin. The passion for art came at a young age. Some of my best memories are painting with my grandmother at our family's lake cabin in Minnesota. I find that memories are the foundation of growth, identity, and self reflection of life opportunities and challenges. A few years back I was diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer. I have since underwent procedures and surgery allowing me to make a full recovery, but it was during that process I experienced temporary memory impairment from anesthesia. Short-term memory loss following surgery is common, but usually lasts for a few days. I experienced a memory impairment that lasted for several weeks. It took about a year before I finally felt like my body recovered. Without a doubt, life changing events like this add new meaning and perspective. Utilizing memory has inevitably become part of my story and a ritual in many of my more recent works.

Follow my professional journey on social media @smnartdecor