Born in Washington, DC. Now a Baltimore City resident, with a few stops in-between... just looking to create along the way.
Shannell Thomas is a passionate and experienced creative instructor, dedicated to fostering artistic expression and nurturing the creative spirit in every individual. With a background in various art forms and a penchant for sharing her knowledge, she has become a beacon for those looking to embark on exciting creative journeys.
I am an independent visual artist and art instructor in Maryland.
As a Multidisciplinary Artist and single mom, time has had to become fluid for me in order to create. My latest works consist of images capturing moments in my life along with prose concerning homelessness, The Patriarchy, living as a gender-fluid person in the 80s and 90s in DC and Baltimore, and the characters that come along with that life. I am actively seeking publishers interested in such works, and galleries and pop-ups that may be interested in said subject matter. Corporate sponsorships are also, of course, welcomed and appreciated.
My painting experience was guided by my middle school art teacher Shirley Brannock. Mrs. Brannock helped me get involved with the Dorchester Center for the Arts when it first opened. I was one of the youngest oil painters who learned to love the magic of a paint brush. Thanks to her, I received a high school scholarship and met other artists, their mediums and it allowed me to expand my horizons. Sculpture, carving, silversmithing, and glass work. I have recently taken up watercolors and enjoy the challenge of painting with less paint and the movement of the water.
Lesley Estrada is a Chicana artist, born in Washington DC and raised between Mexico City, Mexico and the DC area. She is the owner of a small business, “Piper’s Pintadas”, an online art shop soon to include party and workshop bookings. Born into a family that was surrounded by art and living in an epicenter of such diverse cultures and artists in the DC area, she was exposed to art at an early age. Her mother operated one of the first Female Latina owned International PR firms, A.B.L. Associates, in the late 70’s in Washington, DC.