Bad-Ass Artist self portrait
Sharon Eisley
I paint to try to capture a timelessness or emotion and our human and animal nature’s. My animal-headed people and obscured faces with wild so-human hair are then vehicles to carry that idea. Traditionally our cultures painted zoomorphic images to represent spirituality, aspects of God, a timeless force. These chimeras capture the awe of the viewer with their strangeness. In the same way, my landscapes and figurative works act as symbolic reflections of that journey. I hope my paintings tap into this 'Mystic' as modern-day totems residing in their everyday existence, just as we are individual spiritual people living odd and humorous and challenging and normal everyday lives. I am interested in transformation, in breaking through our paradigms.
Unless otherwise marked my paintings are oil on wood panel in upcycled frames. I often stain the wood before painting, carefully choosing the wood grain to create motion in the background. Some paintings are carved with wood tools into the panel.
If you want to contact Sharon please send email to: sharoneisley@gmail.com
“Will Work For Peanuts” self portrait
oil on grandmothers paint box
Bio:
Sharon was born some time ago. College. Studied Chinese brush painting in Taiwan for a few years in the 90s. Illustrated books at Pyramid Press. Came back. Art School. Graduated CCA (California College of Art) 2002. Worked as illustrator for 15 years. Painted a lot. Lots of one month solo and group shows. Gallery representation by Valkarie gallery in Colorado 2014 to present. Started participating in open studios Sonoma County Art Trails 2016 to present. Represented at Sebastopol Gallery in California 2018 to present. Live north of San Francisco in Santa Rosa. More to come…
To see my original blog and much much older work as well as my progress along this rough but fabulous road of being an artist please visit when-in-home.blogspot.com
Showings:
COMING IN SEPT/OCT 2023:OPEN STUDIO through Sonoma County Art Trails September30,Oct.1 & Oct.7th and 8th
ONGOING work up at Oli Gallery, Guerneville CA. & Oli Gallery, Petaluma CA.
JUNE 2022: North Bay Art At the Source Open Studios- 1st and 2nd weekends- June 4/5 & 11/12 this time at the studio of Diana Majumdur in Petaluma CA.
ONGOING: Sebastopol Gallery- ongoing representation since 2018 : Open every day 11-5:00
showcase show “Flight Path” Feb-April 2022
October-January 2021-22 Fulton Crossing Gallery
SEPTEMBER 2021: North Bay Art Trails Open Studios- every 2nd and 3rd weekends in sept./oct.. (2016, ’17, ’18, ‘19, September ‘2021)
Come Visit! sonomacountyarttrails.org
OCTOBER 2021- Fulton Crossing Gallery Santa Rosa CA. 4 month show
Daredevils and Queens solo show: up May- TBD 2021. Santa Rosa CA. old Railroad Square
ONGOING: Sebastopol Gallery- ongoing representation since 2018 : Open Mon-Sun 11-5:00 www.sebastopol-gallery.com
showcase show “Unbound” January-March 2020
Valkarie Gallery- Denver, CO. 2 artist show October 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 www.valkariefineart.com
summer 2015-work showcased at HMOCA (Hawaiian Museum of Contemporary Art)
Upcycled Habitats 2 artist show at Valkarie Gallery- Denver, CO August-September 2014
Solo Show in Golden, CO. Downtown Gallery -July 2014
Show at 55 Bryant in San Francisco- March-May 2014
Small Works Show at Laguna InkSpot Gallery- Laguna Beach January 2014
group Show at Modern Eden Gallery -San Francisco- December, 2013
group Show at Modern Eden Gallery -San Francisco- August, 2013
Spokes and Stashes Show-Santa Rosa -August, 2012
Solo show at Risk Press Gallery-Sebastopol -June, 2012
Solo show at The Share Exchange-Santa Rosa -Oct-Nov. 2011
Studio S0iree -Hosted by Sono-ma.com – Oct. 27, 2011
Solo show at Castle in the Air Gallery, Berkeley, CA -April, 2010
Solo show at Daredevils and Queens -Sep, 2009
Animal PoP show at Periscope Cellars Gallery – 2008
Mustard festival Juried Show-First Place in Modern Art Category, Sonoma CA 2006
Had two children! -2004 & 2007
Solo Show at Oakland Downtown Gallery – 2003
Dime Show-Crackpot Illustration Group – 2003
Graduated CCA BA -CCAC Grad Show, Oakland CA – 2002
group show Lao Wai Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan 2001
Solo show He Ping Gallery, Taiwan 2000
Solo show Blue Front Gallery, SF 1998
Solo Show- Cafe Espresso Gallery Fairfax, CA 1997
Buck Foundation Art Scholarship