Sharon Clawson

Sharon Clawson was raised in northwestern Nebraska. Often exploring the woods and ponds near her home, she has had a life-long interest in animals and nature. "I was always drawing as a child, especially horses which I was crazy about. At about age 12, my aunt, who was a local artist, taught me how to use oil paints and pastels. So I have been using those media for many years."

Sharon pursued her love of animals by getting bachelor's and master's degrees in biology from UNL. She followed this with marriage and raising three children, while taking courses in drawing, design, and watercolor at UNO, and workshops in pastel, watercolor, and oil with local artists. Currently, she is the Art Show Chairperson for Omaha Artists, Inc., and enjoys the stimulus of being around other artists and learning new techniques at the monthly workshops.

"I have lately gone back to pastels, which seem the easiest for me to work with. The new velour papers take the pastel so nicely and come in a wide variety of colors that give a great background to the animal portraits I do. I enjoy working from photographs and being able to get the 'essence' of an animal onto the paper. For a change of pace, I also find great pleasure in experimenting with acrylics and using mat and gel medium to make collages using various types of paper. The collages tend to have elements of nature in them in a more absract form."

Sharon lives on an acreage in rural Omaha with her husband, Bruce, two horses, two cats, and a dog.

Contact: bsclaw001@hotmail.com