About Painterly Life

The Painterly Life podcast celebrates creativity and creators because creativity really does matter! It’s the one thing that sets us apart and makes us unique. We all have different perspectives and ideas; we can create something extraordinary when we use our creativity to express ourselves. Our guests demonstrate that there’s always room for creativity and that it makes a difference in our lives. So go ahead, come on in, and get inspired; you never know where this will lead.

The guest stories shared on Made to Make are powerful because they reveal that challenges are a universal part of the creative journey. While the podcast features honest conversations about these setbacks, the true inspiration comes from what guests do to move past them, embodying the resilience it takes to keep going.

Navigating the long-term uncertainty, doubt, and change inherent in a creative life is not achieved through “overnight success” or “perfect routines,” but through the act of doing. By taking small baby steps in the direction of your dreams, you engage in the “real work” that leads to breakthroughs and persistence.

Whether you are a professional maker or someone who doesn’t yet believe they are creative, you are invited to create and join this community. As we look for future guests who are upbeat and excited about sharing their creative process, we remain focused on the deeply human pull to make things, regardless of the obstacles.

To help us continue producing these inspiring conversations and covering the costs of podcast hosting and creation platforms, please consider supporting the show:

If you have a story of resilience and moving forward that you’d like to share, please reach out to shannon@shannongrissom.com to be considered as a guest. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe on social media to help others find their way forward.

About Shannon

Shannon Grissom with guitar and paintbrushes

My mission is to give your soul a hug. 

Whether I paint a traditional portrait or a band of sock monkeys, my work has always contained a spiritual component. It’s not enough for me to get a likeness. I won’t stop until the subject’s spirit leaps off the canvas and positively speaks to you.

Background

I was a late bloomer. I didn’t discover painting until I was 33! However, I was hooked and driven once I realized I wanted to be a professional artist. I’d get up early each day to paint for a few hours before the start of my day job. This demanding schedule was worth the effort. By 1999, I left my day job and began to create art as a full-time business. And thus began the amazing ride…

At 44, I began production of the television series, Give Your Walls Some Soul. The inspirational how-to painting show grew from an audience of one station to over 50 stations across the country. It was seen in over 10 million households, winning numerous awards. It is still airing today.

At 46, I published my children’s book Monkey Made of Sockies. From that book came a line of licensed merchandise, a coloring book, and the popular Monkey Made of Sockies golf club headcovers carried on tour by several LPGA pros.

Over the years, I have become an award-winning artist, television producer/host, author, and songwriter. My artwork is licensed and sold globally. My oracle cards, the Sock Monkey Oracle, is a joyful marriage of my metaphysical and creative life.

Stuff Happened

But then I hit a wall when her family members experienced serious health challenges, and I found it difficult to create. During my “brownout period,” I was uplifted by family, friends, and fellow creatives.

Paying it Forward

This inspiring podcast, featuring creative people, is my way of paying it forward.

By celebrating the journey of painterly folks, my mission is to encourage listeners to follow their dreams no matter where they find themselves.