passions
Sharon Searle shares her love of painting watercolors and creating jewelry in classes at her Mill Valley studio.
Sharon Searle says her artistic leaning “began when I was born. It’s been lifelong.” Like many artists, the watercolorist and metal-clay jewelry maker initially created for her own pure pleasure, not for financial gain. In the 1990s, however, she offered to teach friends who admired her talent. “The more I taught, the more people wanted to buy” her paintings. A full-time career, coming after 17 years as an editorial assistant at the San Francisco Chronicle, was born. Searle now owns a studio in Mill Valley, where she holds classes. She also teaches at Riley Street Art Supply in San Rafael. Yet another gift was discovered when her sister asked for a tallit (prayer shawl) for her nephew. The one Searle fashioned was painted on silk; one-of-a-kind scarves are now part of her offerings. Though she participates in small shows like the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, Searle prefers even more intimate events in her studio. “Best of all is doing things one on one, or with a group of friends,” she says. Her signature look is “very bold, with strong colors,” where “life, with a capital L” serves as inspiration. Searle is also a practitioner of The Journey, transformative and healing work developed by Brandon Bays. Searle says The Journey is a process that accesses “the body’s own wisdom at the deepest level of being and inner knowing.” With it, she says, “More of a life force comes through me, the joy of being present and sharing that with others.
It’s becoming more honest, of being more self-aware.” It informs her artwork, for sure. Fineartbysharon.com
In the spacious downstairs studio where ceramicist
Cheryl Wolff turns out elegant pottery pieces,
the scene is quiet and composed. The bucolic Walnut Creek location near the downtown area allows for plenty of contemplation. “Sometimes,” she says, “I feel really inspired when I’m making things and envisioning how they’ll be used. I think about the fact that someone will take it out of their cabinet, and I say to myself, ‘Won’t this be beautiful on a table?’ ” Wolff’s art has been enhancing homes and gardens for more than 30 years. Her style is clean, uncomplicated. “I like to keep my glazes simple, because they feel calm and organic,’’ she says. That affinity for clay was discovered in her 20s; within a few years, she was expert enough to sell at progressively larger shows. Then, about two years ago, Wolff set up her first shop on Etsy. com, one devoted exclusively to homeware. Six months later, she opened a garden shop as well. Even though she can now reach buyers from as far away as New Zealand and England, Wolff still packs up
spring 2012 • Scene • 55