Sharon Hart's Page

Sharon.was up as, an artist Ihave never seen someone with so much potential keep up the big job.by

Hi Sharon! i was just able to go to your web site; you are a very very good artist indeed!! here's something - - - i really responded to your watercolors, especially. i've NEVER even tried to do a watercolor! have always been intimidated by the kind of spontaneous control one must have, so i admire people who have mastered the medium - - as you clearly have....

yes, i've been on the cowdisely site, and have a copy of Virgil Elliot's book.... i love the section on Bouguereau; i think Virgil's re-construction of the technique is the best i've ever seen. want to try that idea of blocking in fleshtones at high chroma, then glazing over with muted greyish modeling.... i had no idea how Bouguereau achieved such perfect results, but that book finally gave me the clues.... oh, also noticed that you list Richard Lack as a favorite; about 20 years ago, i actually spoke with Mr. Lack over the phone, asked if i could become a student, but was told he only worked with people younger than myself!! i understood - - i was over 30, and, well, a bit too inflexible. he told me to contact some of the ateliers run by his former students in Minnessota, but alas, i finally chickened out... couldn't make the trip; i'm a terrible traveler, have spent my entire life within a 10 mile radius of NY city!! but aren't those people wonderful, Lack and his chain of students like Stephen Gjertson, Lisa Borman..... the "Boston School." some of the finest painters in a long time!!!

oh, i've had some interesting run-ins with post-modernism, myself. in Chelsea right now, galleries are very closely packed into about a 5-block area. i've timed it - - - walk into a gallery, look around, walk out. go 50 feet down the hall to the next gallery, walk in, look around, walk out. once, i did 20 galleries in an hour!!! on better days, i see it perhaps as my own failure; can't ask others to share my own views, and i try to understand that many post-modernists are quite serious about their work and the theories behind the work. but i think i was just born to paint in a representational manner, can't change it any more than i can change my handwriting!!

anyway, haven't had any sunny days to photograph the painting i did in acrylic, but eventually i'll get the image onto "create culture." i've decided that acrylic is the paint i love to hate!!! you are so right about the weird handling consistency of the stuff; but a break from oils is giving me new appreciation, and i know i'll return to them soon. best wishes!!! keep painting!!! mark jacobson, stuck in NY and surrounded by DECONSTRUCTIONISTS!!!

Hi Sharon
Thanks for adding me as a friend
I'm currently living in Cardiff, but originally from North Wales in a tiny village called Abergwyngregyn on the north wales coast- very pretty up there in the national park. Living in Cardiff after studying fine art here and now work for the council.
What's your story?
xx

Hi Sharon - again, my thanks for your contacting me!

admittedly, most of my work has been in oil. but every once in a while, i drag out my little bottles of acrylic and try it again. the reason is that i often try to work down to some very small details, and let's face it, oil can get pretty hard when doing little "pinpoint" highlights or tiny little dark accents. an interesting thing i've read is that jan van eyck, from back in the early 1400's, seems to have used an egg-oil emulsion in certain parts of his paintings, and i guess we all know how incredible his detailing work was! i've tried it, it works, but it's sort of an unknown, adding egg yolk to tube oil paint. i figured - hey, acrylics are terrible for blending, but good for details, i'll try it again!

so i just finished a painting with acrylic, will post it on the create culture web site within a day or two, and will certainly appreciate your feedback!! don't think they will replace oils for me, but a very interesting experiment!

oddly enough, i have very similar problems with "acceptance" here in new york! the "art scene" is very strange here, with most of the galleries showing things like pieces of string, electrical wires thrown on the floor - - - well, i'm sure you know the genre. i have absolutely no problem with freedom of expression, but somehow, i seem to be missing the genetic programming to really "get" that approach! i don't have anything like a "master's degree" in post-modern art!! so i just keep doing my little realism. yeah, i've been through far more rejection than acceptance, but one must follow one's heart and soul. i don't worry about it any more. if people enjoy the work, i thank them. if people don't, i thank them for looking anyway!!!

do keep in touch; p.s. where can i find more of your work?? i'm clicking on all the headings listed, but images of your work don't appear. as said, i am computer-illiterate!!! sincere thanks again for contacting me, and let's keep painting, no matter what!! best, mark jacobson

Thank you Sharon for the invitation. I imagine you must like Miami's art scene since you're familiar with Art Basel. This years event should be an interesting one as always. Remember, Dec 3-6.
Take care
Luis