About Me
Shari Abelson
Lives & works in Connecticut
Visual Arts Teacher
I was born in Stamford CT and grew up in Westport, CT. I received degrees in art from Syracuse University (BFA) and the University of Manchester - England (MA). After working in museums and art centers for many years while showing my artwork in locations such as the SoNo Arts Festival, Silvermine Artist Guild and the Mamaroneck Artist Guild, I returned to school to obtain my teaching certification in art. I currently teach elementary art in Cheshire and live in Southbury with my husband and two sons. For many years, I focused upon my family and teaching career while only painting for myself. But something inspired me to go further - I rediscovered watercolors and began creating multiple series of landscape inspired paintings.
I like to think of myself as a re-emerging artist. I have shown multiple pieces at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists, Danbury Art and Frame and was accepted into the Accessible Art Project sponsored by the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut. Through that program, I held a two month solo exhibition in Danbury from February-April 2016. In the past year, I have also shown new work at the Slater Art Museum in Norwich and the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury.
Artist Statement
Creating art is a constant progression toward a common goal – artwork that is personal and engaging to both the artist and viewer. Whether working with different sources of inspiration or multiple dimensions, each piece is part of the story with each painting having its own narrative and direction. Some focus more on the sky around us while others tell the story of the land but all have a dynamic focus on environment, the natural world and relationships. Shape, line, color and space are the predominate elements to my paintings. My current series of artworks, all done in watercolor, have focused upon places I’ve visited, roads I’ve traveled, mindsets of locations that I would like to re-create. But they also take viewers on their own trip to places they can relate with and connect to. Whether it is a period of beauty breaking up the commute home or an observed moment on vacation, inspiring colors and spaces can bring you to a place of contentment.
