Shannon C Lensography

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 21 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #1,361 in Me, #159,611 overall

Web Designer and Artist

I've created this lens not only as a showcase for all my Squidoo lenses (yes I'm a squidaddict!) but also to share a little about me, my career, my art and a few other things. As time goes on I'm sure I will be adding new stuff to this page as I've got many lens ideas swimming around in my head.

Copyright © The drawings in this lens are my original artwork and may not be used for any purpose without my permission.

I'm a freelance web designer 

and I love it

I work from home and love the challenges of my career. The best part of what I do is helping businesses with their marketing by creating a website that's functional and aesthetically pleasing.

I enjoy getting to know my clients and their unique business needs and I've been fortunate to work with some great people.

Career Milestone

I started my career creating websites for goth clothing companies and rock bands. This was fun as I was able to stretch my creative wings, however it didn't provide a good stable income for me as the niche was small.

" The feed back from clients have been tremendous, as they marvel at how professional, and user-friendly our site is... I whole-heartedly recommend her services to anyone looking to update their site, or make sure that their business gets noticed."
Ricki Sahota CEO Twinberry Farms

Then one day I approached a family friend about doing a website for his new company Twinberry Farms. He was hesitant at first as my websites at the time where not what he was looking for, however he took a chance on me and it paid off.

Twinberry Farms was one of the most successful websites I have done and changed the path of my career, opening new doors and a flood of new clients.

Since I have been hired to create two more sites by the Twinberry people including their new venture Eat Local Food.

For examples of my work and to contact me for web design services visit: www.shannoncdesign.com

Sharing my industry knowledge 

Lenses I created to help businesses with their websites

featured lens 10 WORST things you can do on your business website

I am a Freelance Web Designer and created this lens to help people avoid the mistakes many make on their business websites. If your site is selling a product or service then you want to make sure your site is user friendly.  The last thing you...

featured lens 10 Best Things You Can Do on Your Business Website

I'm a Freelance Web Designer and created this lens to help you make good decisions about what should go into your business website. Over the years I've come to see what my successful clients all have in common, especially when it comes to how they wa...

featured lens How to get a custom website for your business on a budget

I'm a freelance Web Designer and created this lens to help you in the process of getting a website for your business. Including the planning stages, how to shop for a Web Designer, how to get an accurate quote for your website and insider tips! Ther...

featured lens Is your website user friendly?

I'm a freelance Web Designer and created this lens to help you improve your website so it can be more user friendly. The more user friendly, the longer people will stay on your website and the more likely they are to bookmark it and send to their fri...

featured lens How to Create an Attention Grabbing Homepage

Your homepage is the front door of your website and curb appeal is everything. The purpose of your homepage is to give an overview of what visitors can expect to find in your site. If it doesn't grab their attention they will hit the back button. Th...

Latest from my blog 

Get helpful information and tips for your business website

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I started in fine arts 

and I draw and paint every chance I get

I graduated from high school in 1992 with an award for highest achievement in art and a $1,200 scholarship.

Immediately after high school I went into art college. My first experience in college at 18 years old was walking into class to see a naked man standing in front of me...he nodded, I sat down and pulled out my pencils and started to draw him, trying to look all cool and professional so as not to reveal how awkward I felt. I got used to it fast, and soon loved feeling like a real artist with real models to work with.

Off to the big apple

At 21 yrs old I maxed out my credit cards and headed for New York to continue my art studies. The first 2 days there I ventured out of my apartment in the east village only 2 blocks. It was terrifying at first with so many people, so many cars, so much noise I was totally overwhelmed. However it only took a week and I was able to go anywhere in Manhattan by myself...this was a huge achievement for me. Before long I was taking the subway uptown, where I attended the Art Students League part time. Then took the subway downtown to work full time at an art supply store in China town. I only spent 5 months in New York, however I felt like a real New Yorker and was at home there. That experience changed my life and really showed me what I was made of.

My most memorable New York moments:

1. Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art where I saw Van Gogh and was in awe by his work. Next was strolling through the Egypt exhibit feeling like I was in the movie Manhattan by Woody Allen.

2. Sitting in Central Park listening to the crazy people muttering to themselves. When I listened carefully, many of them were reciting some of the most beautiful poetry I've ever heard.

3. Being yelled at on a daily basis and actually enjoying it. The people of New York will tell you off in the most creative and amusing ways.

4. Riding the subway - other than the first 2 days I was never afraid in New York except riding the subway. I wasn't afraid of being mugged or anything like that, it was sitting on a speeding, rickety train nearly going off the track around corners while the lights flickered on and off. However what cut my terror was the always colourful driver over the loud speaker.


5. Apartment hunting- getting up at the crack of dawn to see a "room" for rent which was just a bed in the corner of a 500 sq ft apartment with a curtain around it for $600 a month to share with 4 other people that was rented out just before I got there.

Recent Art 

What I'm up to now

As a web designer my art has naturally evolved from using oil paints, brushes and canvas to a wacom drawing pad, Photoshop and Sketchbook Pro.

I haven't given up traditional art. I've recently discovered a new type of paint called water soluble oils I sampled a little and it works great and I plan to start painting again this summer.

View my digital art gallery

'Crow Love' 2007 by Shannon Chiarenza

I can take critisism 

A nod to my critics

I've had my work absolutely ripped apart, each pencil stroke and colour choice examined and scrutinized. I've had some brutal critiques that have even sent me into tears (and believe me that takes a lot). Looking back I'm grateful to every single person that has done that. Most of the time it was sincere and not meant to be personal, just them saying I can do better. Thanks to my toughest critics, I work harder and always look for ways I can improve.

A dose of self confidence

Now I don't take criticism personally and in my line of work that is essential. I think as you get older you realize that everything is relative; what one person thinks is brilliant another will think is garbage. So I've swallowed my pride and know that it's not about me, and not everyone is going to love my work. What matters is that I put my heart into everything I create.

New venture 

Ciao baby t-shirts onesies and bibs

One day over coffee my friend (who'd recently had a baby) mentioned how she would love to see baby t-shirts in other languages. This gave me the idea for my cafepress store where I sell my original designs on t's, onesies, bibs and other items.

NOTE: I've left Cafepress due to policy changes I didn't agree with. I'm looking at Zazzle now and I will have my store back up in no time!

I love to read 

and would rather buy books than new clothes

I've always loved books; the smell, the stories, the history. Before I went back to school for web design I prepared myself by spending an entire summer on my back porch suntanning (daiquiri in hand) reading Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, D.H Lawrence, Turgenev and a host of other authors. I immersed myself in their worlds and by the end of the summer I'd read over 20 books.

Did reading help my studies?

It sure did, it helped my comprehension, creativity, verbal skills and memory. So if you need to prepare for school, read, read, read!

I make really good cookies 

and I mean really good

I love baking and have been trying out all kinds of recipes since I was 13yrs old. One recipe I have altered and perfected over time is my double chocolate chip cookies. I have yet to come across someone who doesn't like them and usually a batch of 30 cookies is gone within the day.

Many people have told me to sell them however I would rather share. I created a lens with the recipe so all can enjoy and impress their family and friends. I also enjoy planning small gathering with my friends and coming up with a good menu to serve. Below you will find the recipe and my lens on planning a retro themed party.

My cookie recipe and party planning lenses 

featured lens The Best Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe!

I created this recipe almost 20 years ago and have perfected it over time. I have been told to sell these however I've decided to share :-) This cookie recipe I posted on allrecipes.com about 3 years ago to rave reviews. These cookies should be soft,...

featured lens Plan a 50's diner style party

Make your party memorable and fun with a fifties themed party. In this lens you'll find several items to make your party authentic plus useful information and links to help you plan.

I love hoop dancing! 

Started a few months ago and it's so much fun

featured lens Anybody can Hula Hoop!

Hula hoops are addictive, fun and once you start everyone wants to join in. I bought the tools to make my own hoop after doing a search to find a proper hoop for adults and discovered the best way to get a hula hoop was to make your own, especially...

My tribute to classic horror movies 

featured lens Horror Movie Classics

Grab some popcorn, sit back and reminisce on all of the movies that you would never watch while home alone at night. This lens is dedicated to the movies that scared the crap out of us as a kid.

Space for future lenses 

So many ideas...so little time

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