Adventures in Paint & Pastel

The Juried Great Lakes Bay En Plein Air Competition in June, sponsored by the Saginaw Art Museum in Saginaw Michigan, culminates in 3 painting submissions from each artist at the end of the week long event.  Included are daily 2 hour "Quick Draws" in the various cities of Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and Frankenmuth.  The areas Review Magazine  interviewed each winning artist.  Below are my responses along with my winning 3rd Place entry "The Fine Art of Graffiti" 12 x 16 pastel.

1) Robert Martin: Please give me a bit of background in terms of how you became interested in painting and pastel work; and what you feel is the most distinguishing quality about your work.

     Sharon Will: My introduction to the arts was through the commercial/advertising arts.  I received training in graphics and illustration, and then apprenticed in one of the large illustration houses in Detroit.  Then I worked in ad agencies, doing product illustration, automotive related work, as well as freelancing magazine illustration, logo design and a bit of sign painting, etc. Being in the arts makes you versatile!  Computers were changing the illustration world and I knew if I wanted to be competitive, I had to get computer training or turn to the fine arts.  I couldn’t see myself sitting at a computer all day, so I opted for the fine arts.

I started painting in oil, studying with the late Russell Keeter and then pastel with the late Marie Larson, always working from life.  Pastel got me hooked and I worked exclusively with it for the next 25 years.  Its endless versatility of being an opaque drawing and a painting medium kept my attention and exploring it. Today I work alternately in both oil and pastel, with the landscape as my main source of inspiration.

As far as what is the most distinguishing quality of my work?  What I can tell you is my goal in painting.  I’m a firm believer in learning and working from life, so I do that when ever possible.  In my work I want to be true to nature.  And what I mean by that is, I want to be true to the principles of light, form, value and color.  Not to copy nature, but find that something that excites me about a scene and then capture it in a way that is first designed well, painted simply and then put a bit of myself into it.  That “something” or the idea to paint for me could be an interesting light or shadow pattern, contrasting color relationships, or an overall mood of a scene.    Hopefully, it’s then painted it in a way that others will resonate with the subject as I initially did, elevating the simple beauty around us in everyday situations. I also want the character and texture of the medium, whether oil or pastel, to shine through.

2) Robert Martin: What do you enjoy most about plein aire, or 'open air' creative projects and what gave you the inspiration for creating this winning entry The Fine Art of Graffiti?

     Sharon Will: I enjoy just being outdoors.  There is an immediacy or energy, and a “truth” to work that is done from life, that just doesn’t exist in working strictly from photos.  And being a representational painter, there’s just no substitution for it!  Everything we need is all there in nature, we just have to spend the time observing and learning from it, in all light conditions and all seasons.  When I started working plein air, I think my landscapes took on more subtleties of value and color that exist in nature.

Experiencing the out doors with all our senses: the sounds, smell and wind on your face, I believe somehow finds its way into the painting.  Painting things that are moving in the wind, though challenging, is the only way to really learn its character and rhythm.  That can’t be seen through a photo.  I like the idea of capturing a slice of life as it’s happening.

3rd Place Award “The Fine Art of Graffiti” 12 x 16 pastel.  I’m always attracted to architecture and color.  In past years in Saginaw I recall seeing this bridge with its colorful graffiti, but couldn’t remember exactly where it was.  So I took a shot and early my first morning decided to start at Ojibway Island.  And around that last bend, there it was!  The morning light lit it up beautifully and I knew I found my subject.  I painted on location there two sessions to complete it.

3) Robert Martin: As an artist, what do you feel is the most challenging component involved with your work?

     Sharon Will: The more I learn and grow as a painter, the more I realize how far I want to go.   Painting is about solving problems for a specific idea.  First, finding what I want to say about the world around me and painting it in a way that brings beauty to the subject in a simple and unique way.  I want to always be growing and challenging myself in that process.

4) Robert Martin: What are some of the current projects you are involved with and what are your plans for the immediate future?

     Sharon Will: To keep painting and growing as a painter!  I’m enjoying the challenge of doing more plein air events.   They hone my painting skills, while getting to visit new areas and meeting other great artists and collectors. 

Much of my plein air work has been smaller so I’m looking to push myself to work larger.  That may mean bringing a larger canvas on location for several days or doing the smaller color study plein air and working from that in the studio.  

 I continue to look for more marketing opportunities on a national level through exhibiting through competitions, as well as further gallery representation.  With the recent purchase of a camper I look forward to more travel and painting slices of life along the way.

5) Robert Martin: Please feel free to add any additional thoughts or comments about any topic that I may not have touched upon.

    Sharon Will: A selection of my original pastels and oils can be viewed on my website: www.sharonwill.com.   Along with painting, I also teach private lessons and periodic workshops, as well as run a side business of custom framing from my home/studio.