Sharon Hudson

There have been many influences on my work. Perhaps my down-to-earth childhood in the Midwest, surrounded by nature and hard work, underlies my preference for art that is direct and structurally sound. From an early age my parents’Asian art collection encouraged me to appreciate elegant form and decoration. Graduating from the University of California at Berkeley with degrees in art and psychology, my interest in the role of art in the psyche continues. Stylistically I am inspired by masters of sensuality like Gauguin, Klimt, and Matisse, as well as by stained glass and quiltmaking.

My many travels have also enriched my art. In addition to my many camping trips across North America, including Alaska, I have camped across Africa, taught English and studied calligraphy in Japan, and backpacked around East Asia, Mexico, and Guatemala. Japanese ukiyo-e prints, brilliant Mexican color, Pacific Northwest Indian design, African abstraction, and textiles from around the world have all left their marks. Images of beaches, shells, fish, and luxuriant plants from the tropics appear regularly in my painting.