Meet Sunni Thompson | Studio Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sunni Thompson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sunni, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
This is a question I have asked myself off and on throughout my creative life. Actually, even in the last few weeks!

Being a professional artist isn’t always easy. People may view artists as just someone who makes pretty things, paintbrush in hand, eccentric, full of life, twirling in front of a canvas. And yes, all that might be true. However, behind the scenes of an art business there are challenges such as, marketing struggles, administrative tasks, business legalities, self-doubt, comparison traps, and the pressure to please others.

In addition to creating and selling my art, I have a regular full-time job, a family, fun friends, and hobbies. Balancing these roles while working tirelessly on my passion is not easy, and progress often feels incredibly slow. Many of the pieces I’m showing now were created last year, through midnights and long weekends. For me, this isn’t a quick paint and sell process. There are so many steps involved beyond painting. Planning, documenting, editing, website building, framing, just to name a few. Each of these tasks takes time, and after all that effort, sometimes no one shows up to your show or they feel your hard work is overpriced.

To make a living, a lot of traction comes from online sources. In addition to creating and running a business, we also have to be content creators. Constantly coming up with fresh, exciting, and engaging material and in the end algorithms control the visibility. The demand can be endless. Being a professional artist means putting yourself out there for judgment, over and over again. We show up putting our souls on the line hoping that someone will also want to be a part of our story and have a shared piece of this life.

Those are just a few of the challenges that I face as an artist and when it gets hard, make me question whether I should keep going or give up.

So why do I keep going? Because creating art is a calling.

I haven’t given up because giving up on my art would mean giving up on a part of myself. I have tried in the past, but it never felt true. I always return to creating, because I must. I must capture a place, a memory, a fleeting moment. I must pair two colors together in a way that excites me, and then get giddy when it’s just so perfect. When I feel like giving up, I remind myself that being an artist is being a holder of beauty. It is my role to see the world in a way that others might not, to hold onto those moments and translate them into something tangible to share. To create something that will hopefully outlive me.

There is something deeply human about making things with our hands. For myself, it is more than just an image on a canvas, it is an experience. Tactile elements like the texture of paint, the sound of brushstrokes, the sensation of a pencil across paper, the way charcoal smudges under fingertips, make art a full experience.

Creating art isn’t just a profession or a hobby, it’s an extension of who I am. The act of making something tangible in a world that often feels fleeting is what keeps me going. Working with materials, blending colors, values, and lines to bring an idea to life fulfills my sense of purpose. It reminds me why I create, why I must keep going, even when the path feels impossible.

Beyond that, I want to inspire others who feel the same pull to create. If you feel the urge to bring ideas to life, to share your unique perspective through creativity, you are part of something special. You are a maker, a storyteller, a translator of beauty too and that is worth sharing.

Art holds value beyond the market. It tells stories, evokes emotions to the viewer, and preserves moments in time. It gives people a way to connect, to see the world differently, and to feel something profound. Even when the path is difficult, knowing that my work might inspire someone, bring them joy, or remember a moment is enough reason to continue.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Since 2010, I’ve worked under my studio name Sunni Mockingbird, exploring a wide range of mediums, from acrylics and watercolor to printmaking and pastel. I love experimenting with rich pigments, drips, and varied brushstrokes, capturing not just the physical world but the feelings it evokes. My goal isn’t just to create something beautiful, but to resonate not only with me but with those who see my work.

I grew up in rural Alabama and East Tennessee, surrounded by vast, open landscapes that shaped my love for nature. That connection to the land has stayed with me, influencing my work in ways I didn’t expect. Now whether I’m hiking mountain trails, floating down rivers, or simply observing the changing light around me, nature continues to be my biggest source of inspiration. My paintings reflect those experiences, sometimes abstract, sometimes more realistic, but always layered with emotion and memory.

Juggling a creative life hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve learned that the key is simple, show up and do the work. There were challenges along the way, but pushing through them has taught me some of my biggest lessons. Always try something new, because you never know what might work or push you to think outside the box. Although it may be frowned upon, I’ve also learned not to confine myself to one niche. Keeping my creative avenues open allows me to experiment, evolve, and most importantly, never lose my sense of wonder. I always want to ask “What happens if …?”

My work is a lifetime commitment to the connection between myself and my experiences, and between you and the memories or emotions my paintings might bring to the surface. I may create the painting with every brushstroke and emotion, with a story in mind, but once it leaves me, it’s yours.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’d kick things off catching up at Drifters in East Nashville with beers, free live music, and their relaxed patio for a chill evening. Then, we’d stroll down to Boston Commons for fish and chips for dinner.

The next day we would go record shopping at Vinyl Tap then meet up with friends for Community Hour at Lockeland Table, grabbing a seat at the bar before moving to a table for an incredible dinner.

For a nice day, we’d grab to-go burgers from Riverside Grill Shack and head to Shelby Bottoms Park for a picnic. Afterward, we’d walk it off on one of their great trails, keeping an eye out for the deer that always seem to make an appearance. Energized from a day in the sun we would get ready and go out to CHERRIES for the evening with their amazing outdoor space and vibe.

Midweek we would try the newly opened Yellow Door Cafe for coffee and crepes, and explore the Eastwood Village shops stopping at Kinda Collected, Desert and Vine Botanical Supply, The Video Store and Novelette Booksellers. Winding down with a snack and wine at Butterlamp Bread and Beverage.

Hopefully, one day would be a Thursday in the summer so we would go to Urban Cowboy who host the Nashville Women in Jazz evenings with musicians such as, Abigail Flowers in the courtyard. Inspired, and thinking we can also sing, it would be followed by a night of karaoke at The Lipstick Lounge.

On our last day heading downtown check out some art galleries, stopping at Chauvet Arts and Tinney Contemporary to take in some inspiring works. Followed by cocktails and dinner at Black Rabbit. If we are lucky, we might get to experience the Downtown Second Saturday Art Crawl, checking out the local artists in their residencies upstairs in The Arcade like Mike Windy and Sarah Clinton.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Shoutout goes to first my encouragers. Hands down, my family is my biggest cheerleaders. My studio is in my home so they see the ups and downs daily. Friends, both in person or ones I’ve never met in real life, who are always there to give a “you got this!” or just an understanding listen of what its like to be a creative in a traditional world.

Mr. Sachs my painting teacher when I was young, who was always so patient. He gave me space to be my wild self while also trying to give me fundamentals of lights and darks.

My printmaking teacher Ms. Chen in college. Though she would always chide me on my messiness, she would continuously tell me tell me I needed to follow though with details of craftmanship. This, I have found years later to be the upmost importance. Even when your style is a bit messy, reign it in to a order with the edges clean and tidy.

Website: https://www.sunnimockingbird.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnimockingbird

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunniMockingbird

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnimockingbird

Image Credits
Sunni Mockingbird