About
SHARON SMITHEM

SHARON SMITHEM
Mediums: Painter & Illustrator

Bio:

I was surrounded by beauty growing up in Buffalo, NY. The large willow trees and the creek by my house were a constant source of inspiration. I spent my childhood painting and drawing, and always knew art was going to be my life's work.
After high-school I studied illustration at Kendall College of Art & Design for my Bachelor of Fine Arts and moved from the city to raise my family near Lake Michigan. During that time I did commissions for stained glass church windows and oil paintings.
Painting in oils became my love. I focused on large closeup floral oil work and also create several large mural paintings and glass mosaic murals in public places and private homes.
My work has been exhibited throughout the country and can be found in private collections in the U.S. And I am also known for my large format paintings of my Native American Horse series. Since then, I've retreated to the beauty of the Charlevoix, Michigan lakeshore. I've been lucky to work closely with authors on published book illustrations and also gold leaf and hand lettering for privatelyowned boats.
My passion is creating beauty through art and I want every person who sees one of my pieces to inspired.