SHANNON BALL
Shannon Ball is a writer, creative, and ocean advocate who explores the interdependence between ocean and mountain ecosystems. Raised in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Shannon developed an early bond with the alpine environment through snowboarding and mountain life. But over time, her connection to the sea deepened—leading her beneath the surface as a diver and toward the coastline as both muse and medium. Today, she exists in the liminal space between mountain and tide, using art to illustrate the vital conversation between them.
Known for her striking cyanotype prints, Shannon uses kelp and sunlight to create luminous blue compositions that showcase the beauty of the underwater world. These hand-crafted pieces feel like a conversation with the ocean and are an invitation to viewers to experience the magic of the sea.
In 2025, Shannon was awarded an Ocean Culture Life (OCL) Grant, recognizing her innovative vision and commitment to ecological storytelling. Her grant project explores the symbiosis between ocean and mountain ecosystems, and the way they mirror and support each other across distance and climate.
Through artistic collaborations with independent ski, snowboard, and surfboard shapers, Shannon creates designs that weave together the visual and energetic languages of both worlds. The result is a body of work that doesn’t just celebrate outdoor culture—it reminds us that that these environments are more interconnected than we often acknowledge.
Her approach is both grounded and poetic—balancing craft with message, intimacy with scale. Whether she’s diving in coastal waters or printing cyanotypes in salt air, Shannon’s work invites us to reconsider how we relate to wild spaces—not as separate destinations, but as a single living system.
Check out more of Shannon's creative designs:
📸 Instagram: @shannon__meredith
Unless stated otherwise, all artwork and photos in this article: © Shannon Ball
How does the ocean inspire your art?
Nature has always been my muse. I’m very fortunate to have lived on the coast for many years, and the ocean has just naturally become a part of my life, and ultimately, my art. Whether it’s a surfer dancing on a wave, the intricate details of a piece of coral, or a magnificent sunset over the sea, I am constantly inspired by the beauty of the ocean, and I hope to bring the peace the ocean gives me to anyone looking at one of my pieces.
Above all, I want my art to awaken stewardship. My art is an invitation to both experience the natural beauty of the underwater world as well as ignite a desire to protect it.
Do you have a personal or first experience with the ocean that shaped your art?
I had the incredible opportunity to dive the Great African Sea Forest in South Africa. I have lived in California for many years, so I had been diving in many kelp forests, but this experience awakened something different in me. The brightness of the purple and orange urchins, the slickness of the kelp against my skin, the coolness of the Atlantic Ocean on my cheeks – it was an ethereal experience.
I stepped out of the water, fins in hand, an insane mask indentation on face, and cold water dripping down my nose, and knew that this was an ecosystem I needed to dedicate my time to. While the ocean was a huge source of inspiration long before this experience, it only became clear years later that these magical kelp forests would become a large part of what I was known for as an artist.
Tell us about art you created that is inspired by the ocean
While most of my art has some surf, dive, or coastal influence, my kelp cyanotype pieces are directly inspired by the ocean. Firstly, because I start by diving in the kelp forests to collect kelp fronds to use in the piece.
From there, I try to keep the energy of the ocean throughout the entire process – from the blue monochrome to the shape I arrange the kelp in, I want my kelp pieces to feel like being underwater – organic, flowy, and whimsical.
"My art is an invitation to both experience the natural beauty of the underwater world as well as ignite a desire to protect it."
Shannon Ball
