DPW Spotlight Interview: Shari Buelt

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Shari's painting, "Surfer Boy" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Shari's DPW Gallery:

I grew up surrounded by the beautiful, tropical colors unique to Hawaii. My love of the ocean continued after moving to the Pacific Northwest and discovering the Oregon coast and the Salish Sea. Many of my painting express the beauty I am surrounded by daily. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I have always loved art, but mostly dabbled in drawing, ceramic sculpture, and decorative painting.  When our youngest daughter was about six months old, I decided to check out a local painting class.  That was fourteen years ago and my passion was ignited!

Surfer Boy
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Shari's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Definitely!  The longest "stop" was when we began home schooling our girls and moved onto our sailboat.  That was about seven years of very little painting.  When we weren't schooling the girls and the weather was nice, I'd get out my easel and paint outside on the back deck of our boat.  Also, while we were living aboard, my husband gave me a "vacation" for Christmas every year.  I would go away for a few days and stay somewhere by the sea, and paint my heart out.  So I had little plugs of painting to keep the embers of creativity warm.  Four years ago, we moved off our boat and into our house in Olympia, Washington.  It didn't take long for me to start painting again on a semi- regular basis. About a year and a half ago, while browsing through various art magazines, I saw an article about Carol Marine's Daily Painting.  It was like a light bulb went off in my head! Painting small and often... Genius!  I ordered her book and the rest is history.

Heron of the Sea
(click to view)

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

My first few paintings I did back in 2002 were done in acrylics.  It didn't take long for me to give oils a try and fall head over heals in love with their buttery consistency and richness of color.  When we decided to move onto our sailboat, I knew I would not be able to continue my love affair with oils;  The dry time would be ridiculously slow as well as not having space to store them as they dried.  I also didn't want to subject our kids to the odors of the various solvents.  Soooo, back to acrylics I went.  Through the years, I learned to love the flexibility of acrylic paints and the dry time can't be beat!  I fantasize of painting with oils again, so it's definitely something that could be showing up in my paintings in the future.

The Sand Man and Beyond
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

Housework, laundry, and playing with the dog!  I am terrible about this.  I can't stand dirty clothes piling up or dust bunnies accumulating around the house.  A good friend of mine sent me this wonderful quote, "Don't let housework stop you from achieving your dreams".  I try to remember that when I'm vacuuming instead of painting.  As for our dog, Salty, I'm a sucker for him, so there's no helping that!

Plump Little Robin
(click to view)

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

The biggest thing for me is prioritizing my artwork.  It has to be on the top of my list, or I will whittle away my time with nonsense.  Getting a routine down really helps me too. After our girls are off to school and I've walked the dog, I make coffee and get to work.  If I put off painting until the afternoon... forget it!  It won't happen.

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Most of my ideas come from my surroundings.  Whether it be when we are out sailing, walking about, volunteering at the dog shelter, watching our girls grow...

Dad and Daughter Beach Day
(click to view)

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

Striving to be better with each painting helps me as well as mixing it up.  I don't stick to one subject matter.  I paint what inspires me that day.  I always want to have fun and feel gratification from my work.  Once it becomes a chore, the spark is lost for me.

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I am trying to loosen up a bit in my painting.   I want to be a little less realistic and a bit more impressionistic.

Thanks, Shari!

© 2016 Sophie Marine