Sharon
Girdwood
A
Canadian Artist
by
Elora Weiler
Sharon
Girdwood
Biographical
Information
Sharon was born in Toronto, Ontario.
She now lives in Terrace Bay, Ontario, which is on the North Shore of
Lake Superior.
Sharon started sketching when she was a child.
She took art classes in high school.
She was a white water canoe guide all over Canada, especially western
Quebec. Sharon started sketching
seriously in 1997. She is now a
full-time artist.
Sharon has a studio in her house. Her
husband makes the frames for her work in the basement.
Sharon sells her work at art shows, on her website and in trading posts
along Highway 17. Sharon used to do
40 art shows per year, but since she moved to Terrace Bay she will only be doing
15 this year.
Sharon teaches art classes using the right side of the brain technique.
It takes Sharon 8 weeks of 5 to 8 hour days to do her sketches.
Sharon
Girdwood
Artistic
Influences
Sharon is inspired by wild life and natural scenery.
She started sketching seriously while recovering from a knee injury in
hospital. She could not move around
so Sharon picked up a pencil and a pad and did her first sketch, “Natures
Treasures,” which is a picture of her children sitting by a canoe.
She started with black and white sketches because her son is colour
blind.
Sharon was influenced by Paul Calle's pencil drawings, especially his
sketch of the first step on the moon. She
was also influenced by Jonathan Secrey-Lester's acrylic wildlife landscapes.
Sharon considers herself a trickster because she plays jokes in her
sketches. She includes hidden
pictures in her sketches. For
example, “The Wolf,” shows two wolves that are easy to spot, but if you look
more closely you can see six other wolves formed by the branches of the trees.
Sharon
Girdwood
Analysis of Art
Sharon's attention to detail is the most important aspect of her art.
Details makes pictures like “Common Loon” look very realistic.
“Visions of the Shield” uses detail to tell a story.
Figures from a legend are hidden in the rock.
Some times Sharon's medium is almost as detailed as her work.
She paints on feathers!
Sharon
Girdwood
My Response
I chose to do my project on Sharon Girdwood because I really love the
picture of the wolf that hangs in my living room.
I decided to look up her other artwork on the Internet.
When I saw her other art I noticed that she puts a lot of detail in her
work. I like Sharon's art work so
much because of the detail and the hidden pictures she includes.
I got most of the information by interviewing Sharon over the phone.
Before I did the interview I was nervous, but while I was doing the
interview I thought it was fun because Sharon was so nice.
When I got off the phone I was excited that I got to talk to a real
artist.
I really, really enjoyed doing my project on Sharon Girdwood because of
three reasons. One, she is a white
water canoe guide and I love to white water canoe with my family.
Two, I think it is so cool how she paints on feathers.
Three, she is very passionate about wildlife and outdoors, just like me.
That is why I enjoyed doing my project on Sharon Girdwood.
