Sharon grew up in a small town in post-industrial Pennsylvania where the winters were cold and monotone. The use of bold colors in her art is a direct reaction against that drab landscape.
After acquiring a Fashion Design degree at Parsons School of Design, Sharon worked in the garment industry as a designer and merchandiser. Her career took her to Europe and Asia on business trips where the rich culture influenced her creativity.
Moving to California from the East Coast was a turning point for Sharon. Seeing for herself the country that inspired the California Impressionists opened her eyes to the beauty of the landscape. Her first teacher, Karl Dempwolf, showed her how to paint plein air. She quickly entered plein air events and for the next four years honed her skills
painting in these events throughout the West. Today, Sharon’s understanding of nature combined with her exceptional talent for drawing create unforgettable images. Her strong compositions and unique colors are a feast for the eyes.
An artist member of the California Art Club, Sharon was juried into the Oil Painters of America 20th Annual National Exhibition and an award winner at the Carmel Art Festival. She is a founding member of PAC6 Painters, a group dedicated to painting the
beauty of the West. A painting trip with the PAC6 into the Eastern Sierras resulted in a museum exhibition and several gallery shows. She was invited to the San Dimas Art Festival where she was awarded the Bronze Medal. Sharon’s art was featured in a four-page article in Plein Air Magazine titled Breaking Through Walls of Dissatisfaction.
Several years ago, Sharon was approached by the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art to teach a plein air class. She soon realized that as a teacher she
was learning as much as her students and continues teaching art classes through Kline Academy of Fine Art. Currently she has two online classes and a plein air class once a month. She also conducts workshops on landscape painting.