Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Walker.
Sharon, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was always excited about painting or any creative endeavor really. As a kid, I was always creating something; like latch hook rugs, sketching clothes, etching in wood. In high school, I started making my clothes and sometimes for others and took photography. None of what I did was really encourage in my home so it never occurred to me to follow a creative pursuit when I went to college. My mom was a nurse an occupation she hated so I was encouraged to be a physical therapist; regular hours and the pay was good. That lasted all of one semester when I found out I had to dissect a rat in science lab the first day of class second semester. I walked out and straight to the registrar to drop the class and that started my endless pursuit of what I should do. I landed on a general business degree but it didn’t thrill me and to make it through, I took an art class every semester. Fast forward through a couple of unfulfilling jobs, and businesses slowly making my way to the creative career of a visual artist.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road but my struggles were mainly internal, overcoming the conditioning of my mind and my own negative thoughts that said that I can’t do this, I’m not good enough. I was also torn between a deep interest and desire to pursue a career in the spiritual and mystical field, creating art and helping people. I couldn’t see a way to merge them.
Three years ago, I found myself at a panel discussion sponsored by an art incubator which consisted of four artists who were making a living with their craft. I say I found myself there because at the time, I didn’t consider myself an artist but it looked interesting. The first artist decked out in a blue tutu gave a great talk about her life as an artist. As I sat in the audience, I felt the sensation of two balls of energy on each side of me slowly merge together in my center. I made the decision that day that I was somehow going to make my life as an artist work. As I said, I had many doubts, stops, and starts but I kept going. I did a lot of work on my ‘self’ through reading, meditation, affirmations, and the like to get where I am today painting, writing, and telling my story and sharing with others how to live the life of their dreams by listening to their heart.
Please tell us more about your art.
My business is fluid and developing. Right now, I create intuitive abstract paintings, write about my creative journey, both internal and external. I also create a video blog to help others learn to listen to their heart to live the life of their dreams. I am a lifelong learner and currently am chronicling Sharon’s Great Art Adventure, my journey through an art mastery program.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that Atlanta is a city that has everything to offer; museums, botanical gardens, theatre, aquarium, the beltline, and murals around town but isn’t as big as say New York. I love that I can live so close to downtown/midtown but still enjoy neighborhoods with homes trees and lots of green spaces. I appreciate that there are four seasons with a mild winter after having lived in places with only two seasons. Atlanta traffic is definitely my least favorite thing. Fortunately for me, my life is designed so that I don’t have to contend with it that often.
Contact Info:
- Website: SharonWalkerArt.com
- Email: sharonwalkerart@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sharonwalker.art/
- Facebook: facebook.com/sharonwalkerart
- Other: https://youtube.com/channel/UCFC3-SJu91DBhxI2lqV60pA
Image Credit:
Laura Palacios
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