5 Minutes With The Finatics

This post comes from our Australia contributor, Miann Scanlan. Follow along with her on Instagram @freepeopleaustralia!

I felt the pull when I entered Shannon’s colour-filled world full of breathtaking sea-scapes, surfing, stores of meditation, and beautiful mandalas; I knew we were connected, someway, somehow.

Growing up in a small beach town on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland surrounded by my mum’s sewing machines, dad’s art stations and brightly colored pastel wetsuits scattered about the house, I’ve always been drawn those who seem to have carried this creative theme through to adulthood. Which is why I was instantly drawn to Shannon’s vibe and lifestyle when I stumbled upon her instagram just over a year ago.

Fast forward to last month when we were collaborating with local Byron shaper Dead Kooks on a surfboard for the Byron Bay Surf Festival, I just knew we had to incorporate Shannon’s magic.

We recently spent a few days together at the Byron Bay Surf Festival where Shannon worked to create our very own one-of-a-kind Free People x Dead Kooks surfboard and we stole a morning away, lazing under the trees at Wategoes, to catch up on all things surf, style and spirit.

finatics2

I grew up in a small beach town on the Sunshine Coast. What is your hometown of Malua Bay like?

It has a wonderful community vibe filled with people who share a love of the ocean and a love of life. At Malua Bay, I am surrounded by pristine beaches, perfect sunrises, endless uncrowded waves, daily dolphin visits and good vibes. Here I can do all the creative things I want to do and express — like my artwork and my spirituality — and have people really appreciate it, which is a really amazing thing to find in a small town like this. I travel all throughout the year, visiting many different beaches across Australia and across the world, but it is always nice to come home to my local beach and soak up all of its bliss. I am truly blessed to live here.

You’ve always been influenced by the surf culture, what about it inspires you most?

 I grew up in a family that shares a love of the ocean. Not only am I inspired by the feeling of riding a wave, but everything that comes with it like waking up and catching a beautiful sunrise on my way for a surf check, meeting like-minded people with a love and appreciation of mother nature and the good vibes and healthy, happy lifestyle this brings. finatics3

Have you always been an artist?

I have always had a passion for art. I spent more time drawing than I did doing the important things like assignments and homework. I loved it so much, I decided to explore it a bit more and study art for my final two years at high school. I learned some cool things but it wasn’t until I finished high school that I really discovered my real passion for art and began developing my own style. After falling into my own little world of surf art and getting a bit lost in it on the way, I realised that this is what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life! I thought “Imagine that, sitting on the beach while painting fins and boards, soaking up the sunshine while doing what I love and calling it my job?” It all seemed very unrealistic to me, but it is finally all becoming my reality!

finatics5

Why mandalas?

Mandala means ‘sacred circles’ in Sanskrit which are a symbol of harmony, unity, the cycle of life and the universe. Mandalas are traditionally used in meditation and healing. I love mandalas as each is different and unique, and when creating one, I incorporate my own personal meaning.

Is there a dream surfboard you’d love to paint?  

It would be a dream to paint a surfboard for Bethany Hamilton. Not only is she an inspiration to surfers to keep on keeping on, but she is an inspiration to all people all over the world to pursue their passions. I really enjoyed collaborating with Dead Kooks board for Free People at this year’s Byron Bay Surf Festival, and I’d love to do more of this! finatics6

What was the catalyst that drew you to meditation and wellbeing?

I started doing yoga at a very young age and always found that my favourite part of each session was the shavasana. I did some personal research and started incorporating techniques I read about and began meditating every day, embracing everything positive that was surrounding me. Each day I found that my mind was less cluttered, I felt clear and relaxed but full of energy. Meditation was changing my life in the best possible way. The more I practiced this way of life, the more I wanted to learn about it and grow myself. It was as easy as breathing for me to live this way, and I thought to myself how amazing our planet would be if we all lived this way. I wondered how I could share this happiness with everyone around me. So I searched high and low and I found a course that suited me perfectly, and began studying to become a meditation instructor and a holistic health and wellbeing life counselor. Now I get to share this goodness with everyone through Waves of Wellness.

Run me through what you do with your clients?

For about eighteen months I’ve been working as a holistic life counselor and I center my sessions around helping my clients create a positive lifestyle through developing their own holistic wellbeing practices. Self-empowerment is the keystone to healing, I believe personal growth can only occur when people are provided with the knowledge and encouragement they need to heal themselves. We work through everything from positive living, stress reduction, creating balance in all areas of life, and overall wellbeing. My sessions are quite often one-on-one beach meditation classes at sunrise. This is a beautiful, relaxed and natural setting for my clients and I to start the day. finatics10

Do you incorporate art and creativity as a therapeutic practice?

For me, art and being creative is very therapeutic. I encourage my clients to find something they enjoy doing where they can practice being present, and use it as a way of relaxing and finding happiness within themselves.

What drew you to start The Finatics?

I first started painting fins just over a year ago, when I was home sick with the flu for about a week, and found an old set of broken fins and decided to paint them. I posted them on instagram and surprisingly got a lot of positive feedback and had people asking if they could buy a pair. I painted a few sets for friends and eventually had more and more people asking me to paint some for them. I decided to run a stall at a local market and since then interest has grown to a point where I am painting orders every day! I put so much love and soul into The Finatics. Both my greatest professional and personal achievement thus far is making a career out of something I love! I absolutely love both art and the ocean, and to be able to combine two things that I feel so passionate about and create my hand painted surf art for the Finatics is a blessing. It’s amazing to see people who share the love of the ocean representing my art on their boards in the water.

fin7

What’s next for you?

I’ve always been drawn to Hawaii — I feel I have an affinity with the people and their culture which grows stronger every time I visit. I plan on going back to work as a meditation instructor at a retreat. With such a large surfing culture, I’ll also spend a lot of time painting and gaining inspiration for my artwork. It would be a blessing to share my passion with local Hawaiian communities.

fin3

Are there any parting insights you’d like to share with the Free People community here on the BLDG 25 BLOG?

On my life journey so far I’ve discovered that you should work hard doing something you love and are passionate about, travel often, explore new places, meet new people, be positive, embrace the great outdoors, be kind, surround yourself with people you love and live by my favourite quote – “Don’t get so busy making a living, that you forget to make a life” – Dolly Parton.

Follow Shannon Bawden and The Finatics .  

Follow Free People Australia on Instagram.

0 0 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
9 years ago

So pretty – her mandalas are gorgeous. & Malua Bay sounds like such a dream!

Warm Regards,
Alexandra
http://www.littlewildheart.com

9 years ago

Such a gorgeous post!
xoxo Kennedy
Northern Indigo

9 years ago

Beautiful, inside and out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/flourishdesignco