About the Artist
Biography

 Years ago as a young mother, Sharon took a painting class which introduced her to the unique brightly colored European folk arts. That started her life long journey into the world of vivid color, spontaneous brushwork and imaginative design. Opportunities to travel to Europe to study with highly respected Scandinavian and German artists furthered her knowledge and skill.

As her painting career evolved she published over 20 decorative art books, taught decorative painting for fifteen years in her store, The Gingerbread Haus, taught at national conventions and published articles in art magazines.

The folk art field gradually led to successfully designing and painting murals, trompe l’oeil and one-of-a-kind art furniture for private and public patrons.

Each step as an artist provided her with years of experience and an abundance of ideas and inspiration, which found new expression in painting fine art for adults and children.

Sharon Furner Fine Art offers paintings filled with ebullient color, energetic brushwork, spiritual intensity and abundant imaginative design. Sharon’s signature style offers freshness, originality and an emotionally positive outlook on life. Sharon’s artistic expression offers hope for a peaceful world. Her focus is on color, harmony, patterns and elements of storytelling. She paints a variety of themes in oil, acrylic and gouache.

Lah-de-Dah Designs features original storybook-style paintings that have been created for the young at heart. Bright, vibrant paintings for children are offered as original art work or canvas reproductions. Many designs are licensed through Oopsy Daisy, a California based business selling to stores and catalogues through out the country.                             

Resume

 Present-2008
   Sharon Furner Fine Art--full time artist
   Licensing-- children's art market, boutiques, catalogs
   Gallery representation--juried eastcoast art shows, juried exhibitions,  commissions, charitable donations
   Juried Art Exhibitions--see events listings

Community Service
   Volunteer--Art with a Heart--teaching disadvantaged, mentally challenged  adults and children
   Volunteer--art projects in public school
   Volunteer--Boys and Girls Club
   Support-  www.womenforwomen.org     
                  www.penniesforpeace.org building schools in Pakistan
                  www.ikat.org   

Professional Experience
    S.Furner Fine Art Studio, Havre de Grace, MD--2004-present
    Painterly Touch--owner Chicago, IL; Gaithersburg, MD--1990-2003
   Gingerbread Haus Folk Art Studio--Reno, NV -1980-1989
    Elementary School --teacher
   Art\Instructor-- Girl/Boy Scouts, public schools, community programs
   Teacher/Folk Art--15 years, local, national
   Co-chair--Women of Faith Art Exhibit, Washington, DC 2003-04 
   Cultural Arts Committee--Washington DC, Visitors' Center
   Invented--Dip 'n Dotter, precursor of today's stencil stamping tools 

Gallery Representation, Publications, Exhibitions
    Sequllah--Feature artist for the Summer 2008 publication.
   Galleries--Towson Art Collective, Towson, MD; RiverView Gallery, Havre de Grace, MD; Kent Gallery, Galena, MD; Corte Real Galeria, Portugal; R 'n R Restaurant, Timonium, MD; International Art Gallery, Gaithersburg, MD
   Fine Art Exhibitions--Faces and Figures, Towson, Maryland; Art at the Library, Bel Air, MD; Towson First Annual Art Exhibition, Towson, MD; Pictures at an Exhibition, Bel Air, MD; Rockfield Manor Art Exhibit, Bel Air, Maryland; American Mother's Art Exhibit, Washington, DC; Women of Faith Art Exhibit, Washington, DC; Jewish Community Art Exhibit, Rockville, MD; Internatioinal Art Gallery, Gaithersburg, MD
   Licensed Art--children, Oopsy Daisy wholesale distributor
   Awards--all levels art festivals, photo newspaper recognition and articles
   Author and co-author--20 decorative art books, magazine articles.
   Teacher/Lecturer--decorative arts conventions, seminars- national/ local  
   Illustrator--Swiss cookbook privately published; LDS Women's cookbook, Privately published

Education  
   University of Utah--BS Education
   Graduate level courses--children's literature, writing
   Workshops/seminars--fine art painting, children's literature/writing, marketing, acrylic, oil, decorative art
     European Study--folk artists in Norway, Sweden, Germany and Switzerland
   Workshops: Connie Winters, Leslie Rich, Robert Burridge