Artist's Statement:
Making art is what I do to cope with life… to maintain balance. Drawing and painting have been my most constant choice of mediums, but I’ve also spent years creating figurative sculptures in clay and mixed media sculpture. Turning once again to the easel and the drawing board, my newest series tells the story of my life, beginning with my relationship with animals and my study of the arts as a child. Art and animals were both instrumental in my psychological survival of the dysfunctional family I grew up in, as well as the heartaches life dished out later.
Early in life, it was the study of ballet and the piano that opened a world of beauty, peace, and harmony to me, unlike anything I had ever experienced at home. During those first 18 years, I was immersed in a life of art, while in companionship with my dogs and horses. It was these animals and the experience of art that sheltered and nourished me. That early taste of artful expression was followed by 54 years of visual art practice. I earned my BFA in painting and drawing which helped me to process life events while offering my audience things of beauty and contemplation. My memoir is taking shape with my newest paintings and drawings standing beside the stories of my journey, giving a visual impression of my life experiences that I hope will connect with others.
Sharon Matusiak - Marion, Illinois. 2024