Evolution of Art: Colors in Bloom: Floral Watercolors and Other Works by Sharon L. Safran

Join us for this unique show, examining selected works of Annandale artist, Sharon Safran, over the course of her career. Stop by, grab a cup of delicious coffee, and check out this artwork. Be sure to leave us a comment and tell us what you think. We always want to hear from you.

And now some words from Sharon about her work:

Sharon L. Safran's Artist’s Statement

My steadfast belief throughout my life as an artist is that drawing is the beginning of all art forms. 

As an art student, educator and exhibiting artist, there has been a consistency in this belief.  It was instilled in me when I became a painting major at the Rhode Island School of Design.     

A foundation in drawing established the basis of artistic expression in oils, watercolors,  pastels and printmaking.  As I moved through various artistic mediums, it became evident as well.  Drawing is an essential component of weaving, fiber art, ceramics, leather, jewelry, and glass.

For this show, I have selected representative pieces created with colored pencils, pastels, watercolors and printmaking.  The essence of the show is to demonstrate that drawing is fundamental to artistic expression.  These one-dimensional pieces allow the viewer to focus on importance of drawing.

As an artist always seeking higher forms of expression, I continue to explore the infinite world around me.

And here's Sharon's Artist Bio:

Sharon Safran began studying art at the Rhode Island School of Design as a painting major, and eventually received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Boston University.  Later in life, after raising a family, she returned to RISD where she received a Masters in Art Education.   Sharon began her career in art education at the Princeton (NJ) Art Association, where she taught for 5 years.  While there, the late Christoper Reeve was one of her students.  I knew him as a talented and precocious little boy,” says Sharon.  She later joined the Lawrence Township (NJ) Public Schools where she taught for 25 years.  Several of her articles on art education have been published in School Arts and Art Teacher.

Sharon has lived in Northern Virginia since 1994.   She is married, and has four children and eight grandchildren. While recovering from a serious illness in 1999, she rediscovered the joy of being at one with the world of nature.  It was during this period that she taught other patients about the healing power of color. 

Sharon presently specializes in silk painting, utilizing the principles of surface design.   Her work has evolved from competencies in painting (oils, acrylics, water colors, pastels) and weaving, in which texture is created through original patterns and designs.  Batik and other elements are also incorporated into the surface design process.  Her unique pieces, consisting of scarves, blouses and neckties, are created in a light and airy Northern Virginia studio. A multi-dimesional artist, Sharon’s other talents consist of  jewelry, printmaking, ceramics, drawing in all media, and basketry.  In May 2011 Sharon presented a retrospective of her life’s work at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, encompassing all elements of her artistic career.

Her affiliations include the Artisans United Gallery, Annandale where she is on the Board, Sun and Moon Yoga Studio Gallery, Fairfax, the Artisans Center of Virginia State Gallery at the Artisphere, Rosslyn, the Taubman Museum, Roanoke, and online sites of ArtisanStreet and Dharma Silk.   Sharon is a frequent exhibitor at home shows and other venues.