Interview
Sharon Lobo
Sharon was born in India, and she grew up travelling the world as her father was a marine engineer on oil tankers. She developed an art portfolio while in high school, and attended Cooper Union for art and architecture. Today, she owns her own architecture firm, and believes that art and architecture inform each other in many ways. Sharon uses drawing in architecture to express ideas and technical solutions. Likewise, an understanding of architecture underpins structure in her paintings and drawings. She is simultaneously drawn to order, symmetry and expression. Sharon also has a love of history, archeology and geology. These fields all intersect with art and architecture and inspire her to draw and paint the world as we know it today. Sharon travels as often as her time permits, and brings her easel to do plein air. She has gone to Scotland, Egypt, India, England and all over the US. Today, Sharon lives and works in Long Island, in a house with a historic cemetery, which gives her much inspiration.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Born in India, I grew up travelling the world with my family. My family settled in NY State and I attended Cooper Union for art and architecture. Today, I own my own architecture firm. I enjoy history, archeology and geology, in which order and expression intersect.”
What inspires you?
“New places, cultures and people inspire me. I have travelled since I was a child and I have always focused on absorbing new surroundings. I enjoy learning for its own sake as well as to inform my understanding of the world. I am inspired by nature, living things and the earth as our steward.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I pursue color and abstraction. I enjoy contrasting colors and using opposing and unexpected colors for their hue and value. I layer colors over other colors. My message is to celebrate nature and its living and past creatures. I hope to make each painting my best yet, but sometimes it doesn't come together in a cohesive way. Still, each attempt is a lesson learned and I have my moments!”
How would you describe your work?
“My work started in my teens as oil paints and I struggled then with pastels. Since I discovered soft pastels in my later years, my work has been almost exclusively in pastels, with no further interest in oils. Today, my work is generally abstracted plein air, still life and portraits. I try to create depth as well as two dimensional visual plays among abstract shapes. I try not to sweat the small details but seek to find the marks that create a mood and emotional quality of the subject.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I have been influenced by Picasso, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec. Many living artists are also inspirational to me.”
“Today, my work is generally abstracted plein air, still life and portraits. I try to create depth as well as two dimensional visual plays among abstract shapes.”
What is your creative process like?
“I work quickly and in short bursts. I need several cycles of working on a painting. Some paintings are done in one day while others take years. Some may never be finished.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Artists are more valuable today that they have ever been. With the world's reliance on technology and data, we need human sensibility, sensitivity and empathy that art fosters. Artists have roles in all levels of society, and function as teachers, scientists, writers and many other professions. Artists must keep their flame alive and not be discouraged by negativity and cynicism.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My recent exhibitions include a solo exhibition in 2017 in Greenlawn NY; Poster Art for the Tri-State ZNA Koi Club in 2018; Absolutely Abstract Exhibition - Huntington Arts Council, Huntington NY in 2018; among others.”
Instagram: @sharon.lobo.90
