My name is Shannon Favia.  I'm a Chicago based artist with a B.F.A. degree along with a teaching certificate in Art Education.  From 1999-2007 I taught kindergarten-8th grade Art at Mary, Seat of Wisdom School in Park Ridge, IL.  It was there that I began to truly understood the power and the positive impact a creative environment has on children. 

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​​​The Happy Inside Project began with a simple painting, sparked by a heartfelt conversation with my son when he was just nine years old. I wanted him to understand that real happiness comes from within, it isn’t found in material things. That message resonated deeply, not only with him but with so many others; when I shared the painting and its story on social media, it quickly gathered more likes and comments than some of my previous work. The response spanned ages, races, and backgrounds—people connected with this idea at a core level. Why?

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Some of us are naturally positive, born with a sunny outlook. But for many of us, finding that inner happiness takes work: self-reflection, quieting the noise of social media, pushing past self-doubt. Yet, we all want the same thing—for ourselves, our children, our loved ones—to feel a deep, lasting happiness within.

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With The Happy Inside Project, my goal is to use this artwork and its message to reach even more people. Through after-school programs, artist residencies in schools and businesses, murals, and collaborative projects, I want to offer this as a gentle reminder: we are the ones in control of our own happiness. For children, it’s a lesson in self-worth and joy; for adults, it’s a reminder of what matters most.​