sharon grader biography
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I am an abstract encaustic painter drawn to the elemental aspects of molten wax. Because hot wax cools quickly, there is an immediate battle between time and desire. Once the wax cools, the moment is gone, encouraging a new direction, a different path. This process constantly challenges me to discover the boundaries of my limitations.
When I paint, every line, every color, every shape has a purpose, a meaning and a relationship to each adjacent component. My work is disciplined, yet free and unexpected, calm and thought provoking. For me, this is a journey of discovery and happy accidents.
ARTISTS'S BIOGRAPHY
Art and creativity have always been an important part of Sharon Grader’s life. Growing up in Eugene, Oregon with access to the University of Oregon’s museums and galleries helped establish art as a cornerstone for her creativity.
Relocating to Seattle opened a whole new world view. Art and cultural were available everywhere—leading to a career in graphic design. As a professional graphic designer for more than 30 years, she discovered the language of design and how to see as an artist. All of the elements of composition such as shape, line, and color are carried forward into her art.
Since leaving the corporate world, she has unlocked the joy of creating for herself and coloring outside the lines. In 2013 she discovered encaustic painting and fell in love immediately—there was no courtship, just a primal connection to the magical ephemeral quality of molten beeswax.
Exploration and experimentation are major elements of her artistic journey of discovery. She often works with found objects, dyed silk, rusted paper, encaustic monoprinting, watercolor, oil, and pastels. She is fascinated with the creative process and the constant wonder that surprises her every day.
ARTIST'S CV
EDUCATION
2016 EDGE Professional Development Program for Visual Artists
1994 Graphic Design, Shoreline Community College
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017 The Gallery at Town Center, Lake Forest Park, WA (September)
Lynn Hanson Gallery, Words & Tides, Sharon & Bill Grader, Seattle, WA (May)
2016 Art Walk Edmonds, Edmonds, WA (September)
Art Walk Edmonds, Edmonds, WA (March)
Mountlake Terrace Library, Mountlake Terrace, WA (February)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 Wax on Washington (WOW), Arts Festival Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June - August)
2019 Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Art Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June)
2018 Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Art Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June)
2017 Lynn Hanson Gallery, ICON 5th Annual Juried Show, Seattle, WA (September)
Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Art Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June)
2016 Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, 6x6NW Art Show
Lynn Hanson Gallery, ICON 4th Annual Juried Show, Seattle, WA (September)
Arts of the Terrace Juried Art Show, Mountlake Terrace, WA (September)
Lynn Hanson Gallery, Taking a Leap, EDGE 2016 Graduation Exhibition, Featured Artist,
Seattle, WA (June)
Parklane Gallery, Around the Block—Colors of Summer, Juried Show, Kirkland, WA
Shoreline Arts Festival, Shoreline, WA (June)
Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Art Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June)
EDGE Professional Development Program Group Exhibition
Shack Art Center Juried Exhibit, Everett, WA (April)
2015 Arts of the Terrace Juried Art Show, Mountlake Terrace, WA (September)
Shoreline Arts Festival, Shoreline, WA (June)
Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Art Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June)
AWARDS
2018 ArtSpot, Paint a Series, Painter's Challenge, Display Award
2016 Arts Council Staff Choice, Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, 6x6NW Art Show Shoreline, WA
2016 Creative Spirit Award, ArtSpot, Lynn Hanson Gallery, ICON Juried Show, Seattle, WA (September)
2008 How Magazine “Business-to Business” In-Howse Design Merit National Award
FlexoTech International Print and Innovations Award, Gold Award, London, UK
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
2019 Current member, Women Painters of Washington
2019 Current member, Seattle Co~Arts
2018 Current member, Wax on Washington, Encaustics Group
2018-2019 Citizens Advisory Committee Member, City of Edmonds Gateway Sign Project
2017–2018 Board Member, Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation
2017 Current Vice Chair, Citizens Oversite Panel, Sound Transit
2016–2017 First Vice President, Edmonds Arts Festival
2016 Current member, Artist Trust
2013-2017, Director, Artist Booths, Edmonds Arts Festival
2013 Citizens Advisory Committee Member, City of Edmonds Cultural Plan Update
2012 Citizens Advisory Committee Member, City of Edmonds Hazel Miller Garden Design
STUDIED PAINTING & MONOPRINTING UNDER:
Shary Bartlett
Pamela Beer
Michelle Belto
Tracy Felix
Victoria Foster Harrison
Crystal Neubauer
Pam Nichols
Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch
Susan Stover
Alicia Tormey
Jodi Waltier
Donna Watson
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2005–2014 Principal Technical Associate, Graphic Design, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Seattle, WA
I am an abstract encaustic painter drawn to the elemental aspects of molten wax. Because hot wax cools quickly, there is an immediate battle between time and desire. Once the wax cools, the moment is gone, encouraging a new direction, a different path. This process constantly challenges me to discover the boundaries of my limitations.
When I paint, every line, every color, every shape has a purpose, a meaning and a relationship to each adjacent component. My work is disciplined, yet free and unexpected, calm and thought provoking. For me, this is a journey of discovery and happy accidents.
ARTISTS'S BIOGRAPHY
Art and creativity have always been an important part of Sharon Grader’s life. Growing up in Eugene, Oregon with access to the University of Oregon’s museums and galleries helped establish art as a cornerstone for her creativity.
Relocating to Seattle opened a whole new world view. Art and cultural were available everywhere—leading to a career in graphic design. As a professional graphic designer for more than 30 years, she discovered the language of design and how to see as an artist. All of the elements of composition such as shape, line, and color are carried forward into her art.
Since leaving the corporate world, she has unlocked the joy of creating for herself and coloring outside the lines. In 2013 she discovered encaustic painting and fell in love immediately—there was no courtship, just a primal connection to the magical ephemeral quality of molten beeswax.
Exploration and experimentation are major elements of her artistic journey of discovery. She often works with found objects, dyed silk, rusted paper, encaustic monoprinting, watercolor, oil, and pastels. She is fascinated with the creative process and the constant wonder that surprises her every day.
ARTIST'S CV
EDUCATION
2016 EDGE Professional Development Program for Visual Artists
1994 Graphic Design, Shoreline Community College
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017 The Gallery at Town Center, Lake Forest Park, WA (September)
Lynn Hanson Gallery, Words & Tides, Sharon & Bill Grader, Seattle, WA (May)
2016 Art Walk Edmonds, Edmonds, WA (September)
Art Walk Edmonds, Edmonds, WA (March)
Mountlake Terrace Library, Mountlake Terrace, WA (February)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 Wax on Washington (WOW), Arts Festival Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June - August)
2019 Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Art Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June)
2018 Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Art Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June)
2017 Lynn Hanson Gallery, ICON 5th Annual Juried Show, Seattle, WA (September)
Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Art Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June)
2016 Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, 6x6NW Art Show
Lynn Hanson Gallery, ICON 4th Annual Juried Show, Seattle, WA (September)
Arts of the Terrace Juried Art Show, Mountlake Terrace, WA (September)
Lynn Hanson Gallery, Taking a Leap, EDGE 2016 Graduation Exhibition, Featured Artist,
Seattle, WA (June)
Parklane Gallery, Around the Block—Colors of Summer, Juried Show, Kirkland, WA
Shoreline Arts Festival, Shoreline, WA (June)
Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Art Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June)
EDGE Professional Development Program Group Exhibition
Shack Art Center Juried Exhibit, Everett, WA (April)
2015 Arts of the Terrace Juried Art Show, Mountlake Terrace, WA (September)
Shoreline Arts Festival, Shoreline, WA (June)
Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Art Gallery, Edmonds, WA (June)
AWARDS
2018 ArtSpot, Paint a Series, Painter's Challenge, Display Award
2016 Arts Council Staff Choice, Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, 6x6NW Art Show Shoreline, WA
2016 Creative Spirit Award, ArtSpot, Lynn Hanson Gallery, ICON Juried Show, Seattle, WA (September)
2008 How Magazine “Business-to Business” In-Howse Design Merit National Award
FlexoTech International Print and Innovations Award, Gold Award, London, UK
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
2019 Current member, Women Painters of Washington
2019 Current member, Seattle Co~Arts
2018 Current member, Wax on Washington, Encaustics Group
2018-2019 Citizens Advisory Committee Member, City of Edmonds Gateway Sign Project
2017–2018 Board Member, Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation
2017 Current Vice Chair, Citizens Oversite Panel, Sound Transit
2016–2017 First Vice President, Edmonds Arts Festival
2016 Current member, Artist Trust
2013-2017, Director, Artist Booths, Edmonds Arts Festival
2013 Citizens Advisory Committee Member, City of Edmonds Cultural Plan Update
2012 Citizens Advisory Committee Member, City of Edmonds Hazel Miller Garden Design
STUDIED PAINTING & MONOPRINTING UNDER:
Shary Bartlett
Pamela Beer
Michelle Belto
Tracy Felix
Victoria Foster Harrison
Crystal Neubauer
Pam Nichols
Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch
Susan Stover
Alicia Tormey
Jodi Waltier
Donna Watson
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2005–2014 Principal Technical Associate, Graphic Design, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Seattle, WA