About the Artist- Sharon Markwardt
Burleson, Texas (Near Ft. Worth)
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I have a degree in Fine Art, and
as the daughter of an artist, I have always created things. However, a major shift in my work occurred in
2005 when I began riding horses at age 40-something. Alone after a bad fall, I managed to climb back on, and it gave me a new sense
of courage and boldness. I moved from
watercolor to oils, my color perception altered, and my subject matter was
suddenly Western and Equine. I'm only half-joking when I say my horse threw me into western art! I have
since come full circle, and enjoy cross-training in watercolors and oil, and
occasionally sculpture, which makes me stronger in all areas. I thirst to learn something new with each
painting, and hunger to bring the colors to life. The intense joy of the
painting process feeds my soul. Others pick up on that, and comment that mine is "happy art". Enough darkness and pain exist in the world, so I feel no need to create more.
Cowboy boots are a common
theme in my work. Perhaps that is because
I am a fourth generation Texan, but in addition to interesting form and often
wild colors, they offer a symbolic message.
They are iconic of the American West and the pioneer spirit. To me, they represent boldness and
self-sufficiency, an independence from the need for the approval of
others. The stark, minimalist
backgrounds I favor refer to the unknowns and dangers that constitute life,
through which we must boldly stride. My
color usage causes the same image to appear differently when viewed from afar. Some works almost seem like two different paintings.
Other subjects I enjoy exploring are animals and their relationships with each other and with us. I believe they have personalities, and I seek to express that "soul".
Good composition and strong
design are crucial to painting, as is good draftsmanship. I also believe good art will have an
emotional impact or resonance with the viewer.
I look for the beauty in each of my subjects, and strive to leave my
viewers in an upbeat mood, ready to face the challenges of their day.
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Brief Biography
Education:
Bachelor of Fine Arts with
Honors, Biology Minor, University of Texas at Arlington, 1981
Painted with Soon Y. Warren,
and others. Taught children, adults,
demos and workshops, in both oils and watercolors. Served as Juror.
Representation and
Affiliations:
Currently represented by:
Your Private Collection, Granbury, TX (link)
Prellop Fine Art Gallery,
Salado, TX (link)
I have also sold or shown work recently at:
Morton Street Gallery, Houston (link)
Saks Cherry Creek Galleries, Denver (link)
Hue Gallery, Mansfield TX (link)
Lone Oak Winery (link)
Women Artists of the West (Associate) (link)
Oil Painters of America (link)
National League of American
Pen Women (link)
Society of Watercolor Artists
(Signature) (link)
National Watercolor Society
Texas Artists Coalition (link)
Trinity Arts Guild (link)
FW15
Selected Exhibits and
Awards
Aug-Sept, 2010 "Eclectic Visions: Through Eyes of Texas Artists" Arlington Museum of Art (Curated show)
Aug., 2010 First Place, Works on Paper, Mid Cities Fine Artists 25th Juried show
July 30 , 2010 Meet the Artist Sharon Markwardt, Your Private Collection Gallery, Granbury, TX
June, 2010 "WAOWing the Mountain State" National Juried show, Olaf Wienthorst Museum, El Cajon, CA (4 pieces accepted)
June, 2010 WOW- "Women of Worth", National League of American Pen Women show, Atrium Gallery, UNTHSC Ft. Worth
May -June First Place, watercolors,Trinity Arts Guild Open National Juried Show
April-May Work on display at Arlington Museum of Art, TX
Apr, 2010 Juror's Merit Award, Society of Watercolor Artists International Juried Show
Apr, 2010 Popular Choice award and Third place Oils, Trinity Arts Guild, Hurst, TX
Feb, 2010 Windsor & Newton Award, Arlington Visual Arts Assoc. Juried Show
Jan, 2010 “Who
Paints the Truth” FW15 group show, Ft
Worth Community Arts Center
Oct, 2009 Second
Place, Society of Watercolor Artists
Juried Show
Oct, 2009 Invited
to “Boots 2 Heal” National show, Morton Street Gallery,
Sept, 2009 Accepted to Bosque Conservatory Art
Classic National show (Sold)
Sept, 2009 Exhibited / inducted into National League
of American Pen Women
July, 2009 First Place Sculpture, Weatherford Art
Assn. Open Juried Show
May, 2009 Solo Exhibition “Color of The West”,
May, 2009 SWA Merit Award, Society of Watercolor
Artists National Show
May, ‘08 & ’09 Honorable
Mention, Trinity Arts Guild Open Juried Show
Feb., 2009 "WAOWing the Mountain State", Women
Artists of the West, National Show, Saks Galleries, Denver (sold)
July, 2008 Best of Show and Windsor & Newton Award, Weatherford Art
Association Open Juried Show
Sept, 2007 One-painter show, Hue Gallery,
"Back in the day", I sold work in many major juried shows
such as
Collectors:
My work hangs in corporate and private collections in Texas, Santa Fe, Colorado, California, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Kentucky, and beyond.
A list of names is available by request.
Publications:
Southwest Art, May 2010, ad with WAOW
Art of the West, May 2010, ad with WAOW
Article in Ft. Worth Star Telegram April 7, 2010 http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/02/2085295/texas-native-uses-color-lots-of.html
Southwest Art, Aug 2009, ad
with WAOW
Prime Living, Oct 2009, ad
with Morton Street Gallery
Burleson Now, Oct 2007, Cover painting and article
Mansfield News Mirror, Oct, 2007, Photos and write-up
Donations:
I have supported the
following charities with donations of my artwork:
Cariety Foundation (Women’s
Cancer)
Wings of Hope (Equine
Assisted Therapy)
MD Anderson’s Children’s
Cancer Fund
