Sharon Weaver » About the Artist

An overview of her work reveals remote valleys, rugged mountains, quiet water, solitary settings; all scenes that convey peace and strength. These themes are central to Sharon’s art. Her paintings are a door to a world far removed from the frenetic life around us.

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania surrounded by farmland, Sharon remembers getting “lost” in the woods, but her love for art drew her to the city. She first cultivated her talents at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia. The art classes, museums and architecture introduced a wonderful new world filled with possibilities.  Wanting to be in the center of the art community, Sharon transferred to Parsons School of Design in New York City.

After graduating from Parsons, Sharon lived and worked as a fashion designer for more than a decade in New York City. Her career introduced her to the cultures of Europe and Asia through extensive buying trips. Always having an appreciation of beauty, she learned from her many adventures. She also traveled throughout the United States, and her trips to the Southwest led her to move to Los Angeles.

The wide open spaces of the West were a welcome change from the manmade canyons of New York. Again surrounded by nature, the memories of her childhood burst forth onto the canvas as she renewed her love of the outdoors. An accomplished acrylic painter, Sharon first explored the use of oils when taking plein air classes with California Impressionist Karl Dempwolf.

The richness of the oil colors, the immediacy of painting outdoors and the beauty of the California landscape compelled her to embark on a journey she is still following today. “I find painting outside, plein air, a compulsion. When inspiration takes over, the painting reveals itself on the canvas, as if it were there all along. It is a wonderful and exciting experience.”

As an award-winning artist, Sharon enjoys participating in juried shows and the challenge of plein air competitions. She is a member of Oil Painters of America, the California Art Club, Vice President of the San Fernando Valley Art Club and a member of Artists of the Canyon. Sharon’s work appears in galleries and museums as well as private collections.

Galleries and Exhibitions

2010

• Artists Explore Long Beach, Juried Exhibition at the Long Beach Museum of Art, Sponsored by the California Art Club, Long Beach, California May
• Carmel Art Festival 2010, Juried Plein Air Event, Carmel, California May
• An Evening of Art 2010, The REC Center, Los Angeles, California January

2009

• 2009 Paint America Top 100, National Juried Competition, Second Mini50 Winner
  
• Beauty of California Plein Air Landscape, Group Show, Carter Sexton Gallery, California December
  
• 2009 Paint the Parks, National Juried Competition, Second100 Winner
  
• Seventh Annual Small Works Show, Juried Exhibition, Segil Gallery, Monrovia, California December
• Off the Wall, Riverside Art Museum, Fundraising Event, Riverside, California December
• Pasadena: City of Trees, California Art Club Plein Air Exhibition, South Pasadena Public Library, South Pasadena, California September
• Victor Celebrates the Arts 2009, Plein Air Competition and Exhibition, Victor, Colorado September
• 12th Annual ISAP International Exhibition, National Juried Exhibition, Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, California August
• Hudson Valley Art Association 78th Annual Exhibition, National Juried Exhibition, Ridgewood Art Institute Ridgewood, New Jersey July
• San Clemente Plein Air Competition 2009, Plein Air Competition and Exhibition, San Clemente, California June-July
• Carmel Art Festival 2009, Juried Plein Air Event, Carmel, California May
• Artists of the Canyon Spring Show 2009, White’s Gallery, Montrose, California April
• TOAA 2009 Open Juried Show, Thousand Oaks Community Gallery, Thousand Oaks, California February Judged by Michael Zakian, director of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art
• Concertos in Color, California Art Club Juried Exhibition, Women’s City Club of Pasadena, California December 2008 - June 2009

2008

• Rialto Visions 2008 Icons & Landmarks of South Pasadena, California Art Club Plein Air Juried Show, SoPas Gallery South Pasadena, California November
• 2008 Plein Air San Gabriel, San Gabriel Fine Arts Association Plein Air Juried Exhibition, SGFAA Gallery, San Gabriel, California  November
• 65^th Anniversary Show, San Fernando Valley Art Club Juried Show, Finegood Gallery West Hills, California September-October
• 2008 Orange County Invitational Exhibition, Bowers Museum Plein Air Exhibition Santa Ana, California September
• Glendale Studio Tour Exhibition, Brand Library Art Galleries, Glendale, California September
• Victor Celebrates the Arts 2008, Plein Air Competition & Exhibit, Victor, Colorado August
• California Open Exhibition, Tag Gallery Juried Show, Santa Monica, California August
• Natural Beauty, California Art Club Juried Exhibition, Women’s City Club of Pasadena, Pasadena, California June - November
• Earthscapes, NoHo Gallery LA, North Hollywood, California April
• For the Love of Art, Viva Art Gallery, Sherman Oaks, California February
• TOAA 2008 Open Juried Show, Thousand Oaks Gallery, February
• NoHo Art District Show, Two Dogs Gallery, CA November 2007 – January 2008
• Monsoon Galleries, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania September 2007 – January 2008

 

Awards and Honors

• Viva L'Art - Canson Merchant Award for "Autumn Path" Judged by David Gallup
  
• 2009 Paint the Parks 2nd 100 Competition, National Juried Competition, Paint America Association
• Thousand Oaks Art Association 2009 Open Juried Show– Honorable Mention for “Morning on the Rocks” Judged by Michael Zakian, director of the Frederick R. Weisman  Museum of Art
• Victor Celebrates the Arts – Merchant Award for “Light Reflections”
• Taste of Summer, Left Coast Gallery - Third Place for “Rain on the Window” and Honorable Mention for “Majestic Reflections”
• Summer’s Palette of Color, Finegood Art Gallery - Second Place for “The Garden Awaits” and Third Place for “Autumn Falls”

 

Art Training and Education

Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Graduate of Parsons School of Design, New York City, New York

Studied with Brian Blood

Frank Serrano Workshop

David Gallup Workshop

Studied with Karl Dempwolf

Robert Tate Workshop