INTENTION
I paint. I work with clay as well. I'm focused on storytelling right now, - with clay and my 2D compositions. I tend toward playful and whimsical themes. I'm not driven toward realism.. though I do respect and appreciate the skill it reflects. I find fantastical, stylized environments can capture an essence and creative interpretation of a concept that can't always be achieved with realism. I ask myself a few questions before I get started... Is it thought provoking (story, humor, sadness)? Is it simple (big, bold)? Is it visually interesting (composition)? And will it transcend time (can the meaning change for person and place). There is the idea, the story being told, and then there is the meaning- what the story is about. I know what I'm saying - I just don't always know if I'm being heard. And whether it even matters.
About the Artist
Shari's artistic journey began at the University of Utah in the 1990’s when she took her first ceramics class. Encouraged by friends and family she continued her art education at Chapman University in Orange, California where she received a BFA in Studio Art. In an effort to combine her passion for art with her academic interest in social science, she completed her Ph.D. in Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine in 2004. She studied the role of security measures in public space on perception of risk and fear of terrorist attack – it’s a long story!
As with any worthwhile life journey, Shari's path to art has been far from straight. With the exception of two years selling her ceramic sculptures at the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach, California and a brief stint as a docent for Orange County’s temporary collection of Mark di Suvero sculptures, art took a back seat and she taught social science courses at Penn State University and subsequently transitioned to government service, where she had the opportunity to live overseas and spend ten years working with NATO and exploring Europe.
Today, Shari lives in Moab, Utah and she is finally able to pursue art sort of full-time
My original works are displayed at Tumbleweed at 31 North Main Street, Moab, Utah, Gallery Moab Fine Art, at 87 North Main Street, Moab, Utah, Gallery 24 in Torrey, Utah and the Kiva Koffeehouse in Escalante.
www.michaudart.com