Markwardt

Backsides

Braids, Lace, Fringe

Cowgirl

Dewlap

Sharon Markwardt

I feel that good artwork will elicit an emotional response from the viewer, and engage him/her for long enough to make him curious. Enough of the real world is ugly and painful, so I prefer to create art that is beautiful, fun, or uplifting. I enjoy exploring the themes of positive and negative space, light and shadow, and of course, color. I believe every artist needs to be able to draw well, and be versed in good design. Once these fairly mechanical aspects are mastered, it is possible to stretch beyond those foundations to construct works that are uniquely human. I also feel it is important for artists to give back to their communities, so I teach drawing and painting classes, and serve as President here at the Russell Farm Art Center. I find the Saturday morning group critiques fun and rewarding. Join us!
I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1981. Over the years, I have worked in dozens of media, but predominantly watercolor. I began using oil paints about the same time I got my horse, so she nudged me in the direction of Western and Equine subject matter. I love the variety in design, color and texture of boots, spurs, tack and horses, so I keep finding exciting subjects to paint. Though I enjoy the spontaneity of my abstract work, the Spirit of the West and the grace of a horse in motion are difficult to resist.

If you’ve seen my work, you can tell I love color! I believe it adds to the beauty and intensity of living. A little extra zip, music with a dance rhythm—Visual Salsa to spice up life. Sometimes I want to create moods and emotions, but often the colors I choose are just more pure versions of what I actually see. My color motto: Push It!
One of the things I find most fun about my current, mature body of work is that each almost seems like two different paintings. From up close, you think, “Wow, what wild and crazy colors!” but from across the room, the piece suddenly appears to have realistic colors, though with a bit more sparkle. My teenagers refer to them as “High-Def”. The simplification of backgrounds places the emphasis on the subject matter and the composition, and results in works that are more contemporary than most Western art.
The opportunity for Art is everywhere—seek it out, and Enjoy! If you like what you see, visit my website for more: www.SharonMarkwardt.com

Duet

Lucky Spur

Roam

Trail's End

Untitled