Rising Stars: Meet Shawna Stobaugh of Blue Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawna Stobaugh.

Hi Shawna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
Drawing and designing have been a massive part of my life from as far back as I can remember. It chose me rather than me choosing it. I went to school taking any classes I could in art and knew right away that’s what I wanted to do. My whole family knew this was a life-long thing at an early age.

I attended college at UMKC, graduated in 2003, and started my career in screen printing. Then, I moved to a scrapbooking company and an advertising agency. Found a great job I loved in Pink Paislee, another scrapbooking company, right here in Kansas City in 2010. I loved that it was a small company, and I could do many things—design, Illustration, Marketing, Logos, Catalog, Packaging, etc. I enjoyed being close with the owners at the time and left so at home. I was able to attend CHA Mega Shows and gain knowledge of the whole industry. I grew in my design sense and illustration style; constantly surrounded by other artists, and design was so fun. When the company grew and moved to Utah after a buy-out, I found a home in that long-distance freelance job with American Crafts. That relationship lasted for over nine years. I was grateful for every moment; I learned much from other artists and mentors. I worked on amazing artists’ products like Heidi Swapp, Maggie Homes, Amy Tangerine, Jen Hadfield, Paige Evans, and Vicki Boutin. Soaking up all their unique talents inspired me.

I am one of those people that want the hustle and busy work life. After such a long stint in other companies, I wanted to try it. While technically, Nonna Illustrations & Design has been a company since 2007, I needed more time to dedicate to my illustrations, products, and style. It’s been a year since I have been going at it alone, and I enjoy the freedom and ability to make things my way and on my own time. I keep time open for designing logos, branding, and packaging but also save time available for myself to grow as an illustrator.

I can create new illustrations, surface patterns, logos, branding, packaging, stickers, pins, prints, and many growing products to sell constantly. I am about to start a new venture taking them on the road to different craft fairs, pop-up markets, and such this winter. I look forward to meeting other artists and creators on this new adventure, reaching more people, and sharing my artwork with them. My goal at the end of the day is to share a little piece of my world with others. Make someone smile or laugh. Art should be cherished, enjoyed & shared. I am lucky to have made a living out of what I love.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not a smooth road at all. We all have our challenges and hardships. My business doesn’t come with steady paychecks, loads of free time for my family, or a safety net; I am an artist, mother & wife, marketing guru, self-promotional wizard, and business manager. It’s a lot. Keeping up with new content and platforms has been such a huge hurdle. Right, when I learn it, it changes to something different.

Looking forward to finding a home with an art licensing agency is my next goal. I would like to see if that can take some of the work off my plate so I can focus on the illustrations more. I am still working towards my goal daily and taking baby steps to get to them. All we can do is trust in ourselves. Trust in our talents. There’s a reason I was given this gift. I will not allow it to go to waste. Having a fantastic group of family & friends that show their support goes a long way. Even a comment on a post or sharing a product makes my day.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I mainly illustrate and make products with my illustrations. I enjoy that the most. My style of illustration is whimsical and playful. Many of my subjects are things that are in my daily life. Whether it’s a fun candy, my daughter got at a party or a sweet kitty we saw at the pet store. I gather subjects I like to draw. I just completed my first book and am readying it for publication. It’s a book featuring a Pink Poodle named Punky Poodle, which I call my daughter a little pet name. I love bringing personal things into my artwork and adding touches here and there throughout.

I am mainly into flowers and florals. Drawing those always makes me happy. They remind me of my Grandma’s house as a girl. It could let me disappear into the memories of her garden and watching things grow. I also love animals and wildlife. I am proud of my illustration style evolving and developing into something I am familiar with and feel good about. It was only sometimes the case. I struggled with my style for many years, and now I have a clear feel. As a mother of 2 (Siri, 9, and Theo, 5), I would find myself looking at their children’s books and admiring what each artist was bringing to the table. Their colors, shapes, textures, and the way they made such effortlessly looking artwork. I learned right away which looks and styles I loved. Which artists were my personal favorites? Mary Blair, Nicholas John Frith, and Emma Yarlett, to name a few. I strive to make my artwork feel as lovely and playful. They’ve got loose styles that shift from tidy to messy and back to clean. Knowing what you love only helps you grow.

What sets me apart from other artists is the pure enjoyment I get from creating and knowing that I put my heart into everything I do. I don’t do it for the money, the job, or the paycheck. If it doesn’t feel right, I redraw it again and again until it’s perfect. As an artist, the voice in your head that says, “there! Now it’s perfect!” always wins over. I take my time to be sure all the fun details are just as they should be, Textures and backgrounds in illustrations, and I even instill personality into my art. An illustration can take me an hour or 3 days, but once I am done – I know I’ll be proud of it.

What quality or characteristic is most important to your success?
Staying true to myself and my dreams is hands down the most important thing to my success. If little 9-year-old Shawna could see what I have accomplished, I think she’d be impressed, and there’s always room to grow. Success isn’t about money, the number of followers you have, or how much attention you get. Did I create something I am proud of and happy with? It’s easy to get caught up in social media and how many likes you get. But what you think matters the most. Exploring, learning, and growing are all valuable for being an artist, and those help me be true to myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nonnaiandd.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonnaiandd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonnaillustrationanddesign
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/shawnanonna
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp5CL7UBRj9KCu1mFJoc98A
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nonna-illustration-and-design-blue-springs
• Other: https://dribbble.com/shawnanonna