Focus On... Sharon Schock And A Giveaway!

Ask my mother, I've always had a strange fascination with fake fruit. As a kid, I was drawn to the glitter-encrusted pears in Michaels, the papier-mache apples at school. When I got a discount at Pottery Barn, I stocked up on wine bottle charms shaped like little grape bunches. I try not to stock up on kitschy fruit-shaped items these days (if only for lack of space), but I'm a sucker for fruit-themed artwork. Enter Sharon Schock, the artist behind the etsy shop of the same name who creates gorgeous oil and watercolor paintings of.. fruit! And occasionally landscapes and seascapes, but the fruit is my personal favorite. Sharon has answered my questions and offered 4 pieces of her beautiful work for a giveaway!

Tell me some basic info about yourself.

I started oil painting when I was 5. My grandma was very supportive of my interest and helped pay for my afterschool art classes throughout my childhood. I graduated from college in 2006 with a B.A. in Fine Arts, but I can’t say I grew much as an artist during those years. It wasn’t until I moved to Colorado in 2008 and was without roommates for the first time that I really started applying myself. I finally had space to set up a studio and could paint without feeling guilty about the fumes I was making everyone breathe! I found that daily painting (finishing a new small painting each day) really fit my style and chosen subject matter.

{tiny avocado}

What kind of mediums do you use and why?

Mostly oils, I just love how they work and how easily they glide on the surface. I occasionally make ink and watercolor drawings, which are also really fun. They’re easily transportable for times I can’t be in my studio. But oils have always been my favorite. Sometimes I get frustrated with how long they take to dry, and I’ll try to convince myself that acrylics are just as good.. but it never works.

{lemons in a bowl - my favorite!}

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

Two things, the first one was that my studio was getting too full. I was painting every day almost and then the paintings would just sit there, I didn’t know what I could do with them. The second was that I had never tried selling my work before, I guess I was scared to try. Etsy seemed like the perfect way to start, and if it didn’t work then it wasn’t a huge investment wasted. I’m so glad I did, it’s been much more successful than I thought it would be.

{in the kitchen II - watercolor ACEOs}

Where do you get your inspiration?

I try to finish a new painting every day, sometimes I don’t make it, but that’s my goal. And that means I’m constantly looking for inspiration. I usually look at things that are around me everyday, and try to pretend I’m seeing them for the first time, I try to see what’s particularly beautiful about a scene, like a perfect blue shadow or an interesting reflected light, and then I try to think how I can portray that on a canvas.

{Macintosh}

What is your favorite music to craft by?

Well I know that you’re “supposed” to paint to classical music… but I get kind of bored with that, I also completely lose track of time and suddenly it’s 4 hours later, I have paint all over my face, and have forgotten to pick up my sister at the airport. Most of the time I listen to audiobooks or radio dramas.

{denver skyline}

If you were an animal, what would you be?

I think I would have to pick some sea creature because I love being in the ocean. I’d probably pick a Monk seal; they just lay on the beach all day, and occasionally go swimming.

{under the sea - watercolor ACEOs}

What's your favorite piece of your own?

I really like Red Delicious and Pears on a Plate; they both turned out exactly how I pictured them in my head.

What are your favorite blogs right now?

I really enjoy Edward B Gordon’s daily painting blog, everyday he manages to paint a masterpiece, I just love them. Michael Naples also has some really great stuff . His paintings are playful and well executed.

You can find Sharon at any of the following links:

Etsy Shop

The Paint Stained Apartment - Sharon's Blog

Sharon has offered 4 ACEO's to a lucky winner!

One lucky guy or gal will win all four of these watercolor ACEOs.

to enter:

head on over to Sharon Schock's Etsy Shop, select your favorite item, then come on back and tell me what it is!

more ways to enter (!!!):

for an additional entry, you can do any of the following. please leave a separate entry for each.

- become a follower of Kate and Oli -

-become a follower of The Paint Stained Apartment -

- tweet about this giveaway and leave me a link -

- blog about this giveaway and leave me a link -

Good Luck!

Fine print: Giveaway begins when it is posted and ends 11:59 pacific standard time Wednesday, March 3, 2010. A winner will be selected by a random number generator on the morning of Thursday, March 4, 2010 and will be emailed promptly. Sharon Schock will ship anywhere in the world!

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Today is the last day to enter the Little Pink Plum giveaway! Also, please, please vote for me here! I've been nominated for a spot in Adelle's Top 20 Art/Craft Blogs!