Meet Shannon Lucas Westrum

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shannon Lucas Westrum. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Shannon, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

My confidence and self-esteem have developed by making it my mission to keep trying new ideas, techniques, art forms. There is no-one whose work in basketry is the same as mine. I have a style that is all my own, developed through practice of techniques with beginners, experts, traditionalists and ground-breakers. Having a solid base to work from allows me to create new outlets and stand out of the pack.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a basketry artist who is experimenting with the fusion of tradition and modern styles. Though basketry is my primary medium, I consider myself an advocate and promotor of traditional craft in all its forms. As a 2025 McKnight Fiber Artist Fellow, I have been given the opportunity to show my work on a more national level.

My work is a blend of cultures, traditions, and technical skills. After spending years asking questions about culture and tradition and how to represent them in my art, I began the pursuit of learning traditional European weaving techniques and materials. I have worked with basket makers from the United States, Spain, Scotland, and Denmark. I have also taken a pilgrimage to Ireland, working with Joe Hogan, a traditional Irish basket maker turned modern artist, followed by an arts residency at Shankill Castle in Kilkenny, IE.

I am currently working about 1/2 time as a basketry instructor, with the assistance of Arts Education Grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, with the other half of my time designing pieces for my upcoming exhibition at Textile Center in Minneapolis, MN.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

My creative journey started first, with my curiosity -my rather insatiable desire to understand how things are made and to make them. Even as a child, I would seek out experts to teach me techniques for any creative activity that intrigued me. Second, my inability to sit still, I am always moving, working to build the next best thing. I don’t like to be idle, so I fill the time.
The final quality that I believe is most beneficial to my creative journey would, ironically, be that of a teacher, a parent and craft instructor. It has pushed me to learn more, practice more, understand ways other people learn and see new things. When working with new audiences, every situation builds my knowledge and my vision.

My advice to folks in early in their creative journey would be “Always be learning”. Learn from the students, the teachers, the buyers. Seek out experts and continue to tale classes, workshops, follow artists on social media. Keep reaching. Everyone can teach you something new, whether they’ve had awards and shows, or are just beginning.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

I have spent most of my lift accommodating my ADHD. I am constantly overwhelmed by my lists of what is next. How do I find the blocks of time I need to grow my work, how do I hit all the deadlines, timelines, contracts, orders and obligations. Years before I was a full-time artist, I read all the books, and attended all the seminars, on growth, development, sales and organization. The best technique I’ve ever learned was the “Three most important things”.
I keep two notebooks, one is the “big list” everything I need to remember or work on, this week or next year. The second is the “Urgent” weekly list. I scroll the big list about once a week. Anything that needs to move to Urgent goes on the new weekly list. I can then look to the weekly list every day and pick the 3 most urgent. Those three become my daily goals.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photo Credits: Jesse Westrum

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