Sharon Kingston is a Bellingham-WA based artist whose paintings explore the landscape through metaphor and poetry. Her most recent paintings, the Reading Rilke series, have been inspired by the writings and poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke and the atmosphere which is the Pacific Northwest. The references to landscape offer a means to wrestle with themes such as transformation, impermanence, the unknown and the unsaid. Working to modify an underlying state of complexity and to coax a simple beauty out of it all, Sharon's paintings seem minimalist at first glance but with time present a lushness and depth of color and a softness of edge that engages the viewer's imagination and conveys a sense of place through saturated layers of transparent glazes. Employing atmosphere and poetry to give her subjects their true value, her intention is to evoke the emotion, memory, and essence of her surroundings.
Sharon studied fine art at Western Washington University and has been a private art instructor for elementary age students for 6 years. Her paintings are held in private collections in the United States and Canada.
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
Group Exhibit
Simon Mace Gallery
Port Townsend, WA
January 7 - February 29th, 2012
Healing Through Art
St. Joseph Hospital Art Program
Bellingham, WA
February 3 - May 19th, 2012
Willows Inn of Lummi Island
beginning March 2012
Size Still Matters, Group Exhibit, Works on Canvas Gallery, February 2011
Landed, 3 person exhibit, Works on Canvas Gallery, December 2010 and January 2011
Whatcom Artist Studio Tour, October 2010, Juried Studio Tour
Whatcom Artist Studio Tour Preview Exhibit, September 2010
Two person exhibit, Interpretations, Allied Arts Juried Artist Serieis, July 2010
Abstract Landscapes, Barbo Furniture, June 2010
Solo show, Reading Rilke, Works on Canvas Gallery, May 2010
ALLIED ARTS MEMBER SHOW, March 2010 exhibiting artist
THIRD PERSON PLURAL, March 2010 exhibiting artist
RED show, February 2010 exhibit curator and exhibiting artist
Size Matters, January 2010 exhibit curator and exhibiting artist
Reaching for the Light, November 2008 & 2009, Non-juried group exhibit
Friends of the Blue Horse Benefit Exhibit, November 2009 Invitational Group show
Whatcom Artist Studio Tour, October 2009 Juried studio tour
Whatcom Artist Studio Tour Preview Exhibit , September 2009 exhibit curator and exhibiting artist
Flirting with Abstraction, June 2009 exhibit curator and exhibiting artist
Allied Arts Member Show, March 2009 group exhibit
Nudes on Parade, February 2008 Juried exhibit Blue Horse Gallery and Studio UFO
Public Hanging, January 2008 Blue Horse Gallery
Objects, 2008 Harris Street Cafe
South Hill Historic House Tour, Forest Street House, 2008
First Friday Downtown Bellingham Artwalk Monthly Studio Exhibitor, June 2008 to June 2011
Cover Art Linguistics at School by Kristin Denham and Anne Lobeck, Cambridge Press 2009
Honorable Mention, 2008 Nudes on Parade Juried Exhibit for painting Self Defining
Salute Auction Poster Original Art, 2007
Teaching
Developed and taught Masterminds Summer Camp program bridging art and science in conjunction with the American Museum of Radio & Electricity, 2009
Student and instructor participant in the Woodland Park Zoo Penguins on the March exhibit, 2009
Studio Friday Art Program created for St Paul's Academy elementary students, 2008/2009
Classroom Visiting Artist and after school art program instructor, 2005-present
Education
Studied fine art at Western Washington University (2004-2006)
MBA Marketing, Santa Clara University (1997)
BS Minnesota State University (1987)
