Featured Artist Sharon Sayegh

Sharon Sayegh’s paintings contain layers of meaning, symbolism and narrative. Visit her website to learn more about this fascinating artist.

 

 

Making art was always my passion. I majored in painting in college and attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Several years ago, I decided to free myself from working from the model and make up figures from my imagination.

 

 

I’ve always loved primitive art, perhaps because I grew up with the paintings of my parents’ close friend and naive painter Malcah Zeldis’ art on their walls. Freeing myself that way gave me access to an internal world. Many of my paintings are interior self-portraits that express my preoccupations and concerns.

 

 

My paintings have layers of meaning, and there is a lot of symbolism as well as narrative running through them. Inspiration is everywhere for me. I am inspired by life events, nature, politics and literature. It all makes its way into my art. All of the figures are either from my imagination or are of family and friends.

 

 

When I see a work of art that I am moved by, I ask myself, “Why does this move me?” I try to understand what it is about the painting that is capturing my attention and admiration.

 

 

Often, it may be the narrative, or scale, of the piece. Or, it is what I have heard referred to by Vincent Desiderio as the “technical narrative” or the way it is executed. This is an important part of the self-teaching I engage in.

 

 

More recently, I have begun incorporating and designing my frames. I am integrating the frame into the painting, which makes the overall piece more of an object. My framer has been very helpful in terms of offering me free leftover wood and providing guidance from his years of experience.

 

 

I work predominantly in oils and gold leaf. I incorporate 17th century painting techniques with contemporary methods and subject matter. I like to take my time working on a piece. Therefore, I have several pieces in various stages of progress going on simultaneously.

 

 

To me, success is about evolving, growing, discovering, learning, and challenging myself as an artist. There is nothing more exciting to me than engaging in the process of creating a piece of art.

 

Artist Sharon Sayegh invites you to follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Subscribe to our twice-monthly Updates, and get a free e-book on Where to Sell Art Online right now!